Passford House Hotel, Lymington, Hampshire

This wonderful old country house, nestled in a rural setting is just a ten-minute drive from Lymington - making it a great place to combine a visit to the vibrant Georgian market town with walks in the New Forest. If you fancy exploring further, Henry VIII's Hurst Castle is 15 minutes away at Milford on Sea and The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is a 20-minute drive away.

Brockenhurst is ten minutes away, where you can pick up a fast train to London.

By car: The hotel is 2 hours 15 mins from London and Bristol, and 35 mins from Southampton. There is free private parking on-site.

By train: London Waterloo to Brockenhurst takes around 1 hour 30 mins. The station is a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Book trains to Brockenhurst.

Choose between three comfortable lounges each with roaring log fires at this historic property (there's been a house on the site since 1550). With its old fashioned, attentive service, gilt showerheads, sunken baths and white tablecloths, you'd be forgiven for thinking stepping into this hotel is like stepping back in time.

Winter can be spent enjoying the indoor pool and sauna, whilst the outdoor pool is popular in summer and two croquet lawns encourage competition. Staff are optimistic and sunny and make you feel immediately welcome. Whether you want the sauna turned on or the fire lit, they are more than happy to help.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Gardens
• Swimming pool
• Croquet lawn
• Spa treatments
• Pet-friendly
• Family rooms
• Free parking
• Free W-Fi

Rooms, which are spread between the old house and two modern wings, vary in shape and character and were all upgraded at different times, so you may find some wonderful examples of late 20th-century bathroom tiles. Some boast impressive four-poster beds with bay windows, others offer French doors to gardens.

Room types: Standard Rooms, Superior Rooms, Four Poster Rooms

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, luxury toiletries, TV, tea and coffee facilities, hairdryer, complimentary water, free Wi-Fi

Everything is cooked to order, which means they are flexible on what's included in your dish - if you are vegan they will ask you what your favourite thing is to eat and then cook this up for you for breakfast, whilst non-vegans can enjoy full-size buttery pastries and haddock with a poached egg. Step back in time with an order of paté and melba toast or Chicken Chasseur, or go for a flavoursome butternut squash risotto with crispy sage.

Passford House Hotel Resaturant: modern European cuisine, fine dining, light lunches, Afternoon Tea. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mains from £16.