Sway Road, Brockenhurst, United Kingdom | (888) 708-2081
A three-minute walk to the New Forest National Park
Homey, stylish rooms with beautiful reclaimed wood furniture
Hot breakfast with vegan and vegetarian options included in rates
Free cake offered all day in the Snug Room
Bike rentals (including tandem bikes) available on-site
Small on-site restaurant with locally sourced ingredients
Free on-site parking
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Rooms can be noisy
Wi-Fi can be spotty in rooms
The Cottage Lodge Hotel is a quaint mid-range hotel complete with wood fires, creaky floorboards, and modern English rooms. Located in the New Forest National Park near the village of Brockenhurst, the hotel is geared towards couples and older guests who want a quiet time in the country. Rooms have reclaimed wood furniture and relatively large bathrooms for such a small place, though the thin walls can sometimes be a problem. A free breakfast is offered at the on-site restaurant, which features locally sourced food, and Wi-Fi and parking are also free. Rooms only sleep two people, so families should look elsewhere.
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Scene
Rustic cottage decor made trendy with reclaimed wood furniture
The tiny 15-room Cottage Lodge Hotel gives off a homey vibe even from the road, with its brown gravel driveway, white-brick exterior, and cheery yellow front door. Inside, the whitewashed Snug Lounge -- the hotel's lobby lounge -- is filled with reclaimed wooden benches and tables and features a quaint wood-burning stove lined with handmade bricks. The ceilings are crafted from old ship timber and free cake is available to guests throughout the day. The white, grey, and tan decor is set off with idyllic country paintings and framed maps of the surrounding area. The clientele is mostly couples looking for a romantic getaway weekend or older patrons wanting to get out into nature in the nearby New Forest, only a three-minute walk away.
Location
In a small village in a national park, with forest trails nearby
The hotel is located in the small village of Brockenhurst, inside the New Forest National Park. It is only a three-minute walk to forest trails for biking and hiking and a six-minute walk to the Brockenhurst train station. There are three pubs and eight restaurants (as well as a few shops and a supermarket) within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. All the major sights within the park are within easy driving distance: It's an 11-minute drive to Beaulieu, where the 13th-century Palace House is located; a 14-minute drive to the New Forest Wildlife Park; 17-minute drive to Buckler's Hard, an 18th-century village with maritime history; and a 20-minute drive to the famous Exbury Gardens.
Rooms
Charming rooms with country style; some have four-poster beds that look to be made out of driftwood
The most distinctive features of the rooms at the Cottage Lodge are the furniture pieces made out of reclaimed wood (often with log shapes and knots in tact). Whether it be a four-poster bed, a nightstand, or a TV table, these furnishings give the rooms an eclectic, charmingly woodsy feel. Decor varies between rooms, but most also have plenty of country charm, in the way of a few pieces of white-wood furniture, wallpaper accents, or wicker chairs. Every room comes with a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle, a safe, and a hairdryer (but there are no fridges or microwaves). The clean, tan-tiled bathrooms have large walk-in showers with detachable showerheads. Rooms can be noisy because of the older architecture of the building (think thin walls and creaky floorboards) and the proximity to the road.
Features
On-site restaurant with locally sourced ingredients and free breakfast, plus bicycles and free Wi-Fi
The Cottage Lodge has a small on-site restaurant, the Fallen Tree, which serves food made from locally sourced ingredients. The free hot breakfast served every morning offers the traditional English breakfast, as well as unusual offerings such as vegan bubble and squeak (a traditional dish of cabbage and fried mashed potatoes) and gluten-free veggie sausages. Be sure to make reservations for dinner, as seating can fill up quickly. The hotel also offers free on-site parking and free Wi-Fi, although the connection can be spotty at times. Bikes (including tandem bicycles for two) are available for rent at reception.
