Forest Lodge Hotel, Lyndhurst, New Forest

Due to it's fantastic location, just a five-minute stroll outside of Lyndhurst, we loved being able to pop to the shops to buy forgotten toiletries and be back in the room within 15 minutes.

Well located for exploring Lyndhurst and the New Forest.

By car: 25 minutes from Southampton, 33 minutes from Bournemouth and 2 hours from Bristol. Free parking is available at the hotel.

By train: Brockenhurst, Beaulieu Road and Ashurst New Forest stations are a 10-minute drive away, with trains from Bournemouth (30 mins) and Southampton Central (10 mins). thetrainline.com

Dog-friendly and in the heart of the New Forest, this hotel is perfect for couples with furry friends and families. We loved the pictures of the surrounding area that line the staircase, encouraging you to get out and explore.

All the staff here are wonderful and restaurant staff are no exception, they're happy to recommend dishes and wines. Dogs are warmly welcomed and all but four rooms are dog-friendly.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Indoor swimming pool
• Family rooms
• Accessible room
• Terrace
• Garden
• Family-friendly
• Pet-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

For £15 per dog, per night you'll get a dog bowl, towel and rubber mat and you can dine with dogs in the bar area.

Our favourite room is Room 7, it's one of the largest rooms and has a modern four-poster bed and brown leather sofa - it's used as the bridal suite. The large bottle of house-filtered water available in all the rooms is a nice touch.

Cosy Keepers, Classic Agisters, Superior Crowns, Family Verderer

Facilities include: ensuite bathroom with Temple Spa bath products, TV, 24-hour room service, tea and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi

Vegan's are well-catered for here and vegan choices on the main menu include spiced cauliflower steak with quinoa salad and pomegranate. Our favourite dish was the The 1820 potato hash with portobello mushrooms, spinach, chilli oil and sunny-side up free-range eggs - making for a great start to the day.

1820 Grill and Brasserie: classic dining, local steaks, afternoon teas. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Mains from £14. Breakfast is served in the bright and airy Forest Room.