New Park Manor Hotel Review (Amazing Baby Friendly Hotel in the New Forest)
I almost don’t want to write about New Park Manor, to keep it for those in the know. But, I need to share this amazing baby friendly hotel with you via a New Park Manor Hotel review. It’s one of the top hotel experiences of my life, and I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels.
I was looking for somewhere special to stay for Ben, baby Reggie and I, but just couldn’t find anywhere I wanted to spend the money on.
I wanted a nice, luxury hotel experience where Reggie was as welcome as us and we were all happy. I didn’t want to be on holiday with other people’s children.
I just couldn’t find anything in England, until my friend Fiona recommended New Park Manor Spa Hotel. Just a 45-minute drive from us in the New Forest, it was perfect. I booked us in for a Friday night at £150 in a cosy room.
Included in the price of the room
New Park Manor Hotel was great value compared to some hotels I’d been looking at. For that we got our cosy room, breakfast for two, use of the spa facilities, free parking and free roam of the New Park Manor grounds. We also got 90 minutes of free childcare at the on-site crèche. Also, a great bottle sterilising service we used where you could pick them up from reception.
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The creche at New Park Manor Hotel
Apart from a three-hour stint where our lovely friends looked after Reggie while we went to see Stewart Lee (a comedian) in Southampton about two weeks ago, either me or Ben have been by Reggie’s side 24/7 since he was born almost four months ago. We haven’t left him with anyone else. The thought of 90 minutes free was… liberating, as well as worrying.
I emailed and checked the credentials and staff ratios beforehand and on the day, the creche and the staff were so lovely and reassuring it was a little too easy to drop him off. Even easier given the fact the spa was about ten steps away next door which is where we’d be, and they had our phone numbers of course.
Reggie is now my world but those 90 minutes were glorious. We relaxed in the hydrotherapy pool, went in the steam room, and finished off with a gin and tonic by the pool before going to pick him up.
And seeing him, hearing he’d been perfectly happy (had he even noticed?!) was music to my ears. We booked him in again for 10am the next day.
I think that has to be one of my top new mum travel tips: book a hotel with a creche you can trust.
New Park Manor Hotel Review: The spa
So you’ve heard about the spa – hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms, sauna, cold showers. Well, the next day we went back, during our 90-minute creche break, and I booked in for a 25-minute Elemis neck, shoulders and back massage. After four months of a hunched back for feeding, strained shoulders from picking him up, and of contorting in all angles to care for him, it was much needed.
My masseuse was lovely and sympathised with my parenting struggle. I told her to ‘get in there’ and smooth out those knots. She did a great job in 25 minutes and despite feeling her work away at those knots it was very relaxing too. Again, little Reggie was about 12 steps away right now, being well cared for, so I could truly chill out.
We spent the rest of our child-free time in the hot tub that overlooked the New Forest. It was a beautifully sunny day and we could see deer across the fields. Thanks to the sun I think the rest of the hotel were out walking and making the most of the forest, while we had the place to ourselves. There are many wonderful things to do in the New Forest, but seeing as we only live 45 minutes away, we were just ready to relax.
Cue Kinder Buenos and Prosecco in the hot tub for us!
Check out the prices for New Park Manor Hotel on Booking.com
Food and drink at New Park Manor Hotel
We arrived at about 1:30pm on the Friday afternoon, and promptly ordered a glass of wine and a cider, and fed Reggie his milk right away. We sat outside at the garden tables, overlooking the outdoor swimming pool which unfortunately wasn’t open yet (start of May). You can just charge everything to your room during your stay, which of course makes things easier, but also makes you forget how much you’ve spent till the end!
Seeing as we had Reggie with us we had to eat our evening meal in the kid-friendly room, rather than the nice bar upstairs. I’m still getting used to this ‘being a parent’ and would much rather have eaten in the bar, but alas, I’ve joined the other side.
Reggie managed to peacefully sleep between the screaming and shouting children, thankfully. And I managed to eat my dinner with a knife and fork, properly. I’m sure if you have children a little older you’ll be happy to hear about all the other children making noise – they’re all in it together.
I went for Owton pork sausages and mash, while Ben had the Owton burger. Both were great. A good hearty meal after a fun day.
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The bedroom at New Park Manor Hotel
I was confused as we’d booked a ‘cosy room’ and this was bigger than our room at home. We didn’t say anything until check out when we found out that yes, we had been upgraded. We had a superior room for our night at the New Park Manor Hotel.
This was lovely, and so useful with all the baby stuff. And it wasn’t because I’m a blogger writing this New Park Manor hotel review – kept that secret!
We had a large double bed, great bathroom, armchair, travel cot and plenty of space to move around. We also had a lovely view over the fields of the New Forest.
New Park Manor Hotel grounds
Seeing as Reggie had slept so early through dinner, he was awake at about 6am, so we went for a peaceful walk around the grounds. The light was gorgeous, and it felt really special that the two of us were up together before everyone else on our weekend in the New Forest.
After our walk we went and sat in one of the lounges looking out of the window while I gave him his milk. A lovely waitress came to check we were ok, and got me a flat white. Such a great way to start the day, and we felt very looked after.
There was another lounge in the hotel, especially for children with lots of great books. There was also a play room with some sort of computer, and a Wii Fit, and fusball and other games too. We didn’t use it but a quick walk through showed a few kids having a great time.
Staying at New Park Manor Hotel with a baby
I said at the start this was one of my favourite hotel experiences. Right now, it’s THE favourite. Being new parents, without nearby childcare, it was just so relaxing and wonderful to have those three hours knowing he was absolutely fine and we had the run of the spa to enjoy.
Every member of staff we spoke to at New Park Manor Hotel was so lovely and welcoming. From the guy at breakfast offering his knowledge of every walk in the area, to the waitress who got me a coffee at 7am as I fed Reggie, and onto the creche staff who were so great with Reggie. This is undoubtedly one of the best luxury hotels in the New Forest.
I’d absolutely recommend you book a stay at the New Park Manor Hotel, I genuinely can’t wait to go back.