Where to stay 2 hours from London
- Undercastle Cottage
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Two hours is all it takes to find another world...
Leave London late Friday afternoon, zip down the M3 and before you know it, you're winding through pretty woods and rolling heather-covered heathlands, slowing down for a pony standing in the middle of the road (that's a traffic jam here) and wondering why life suddenly feels so much calmer.
That's why, if you're looking for where to stay 2 hours from London, I'd always recommend finding somewhere that lets you experience real life in the New Forest rather than just visit it as an outsider.
Londoners often think of the New Forest as somewhere good to go for a day trip. I watch cars park up, wander around one of the villages, stop for lunch, walk 500m, watch the ponies for half an hour and head home again. Honestly, they've barely scratched the surface.
If you've got a long weekend, or even better, a week or two, the New Forest morphs into something completely different from what you first thought. You’ll notice things you rushed past on your first day.
From the sun terrace of Undercastle Cottage, I’ve watched dawn mist drift across the water meadows while kingfishers and wild otters hunt for breakfast in the river. Deer step out of the bushes as the sun sets, and owls swoop through the trees. They are all moments that stay with me long after I’ve headed back home.
Why the New Forest is the perfect escape from London
I know there are plenty of places within a couple of hours of London; I’ve visited loads of them, but very few (if any, in my opinion) offer such variety in such a compact area as the New Forest. That’s why I bought Undercastle Cottage.
I’ve spent my mornings wandering beneath the canopy of ancient oak trees, passing the watch free-roaming ponies and super cute donkeys grazing on the hedgerow. By lunchtime, I’m in the Horse and Groom, the little pub in Woodgreen village at the end of the lane, enjoying their gorgeous food. Later in the afternoon, I’ve walked barefoot on the soft, sandy beach watching seals and sometimes even dolphins playing just off the coast on Highcliffe Beach. Every day here can be completely different.
A place that changes with the seasons
One of the things I love most is that the New Forest is always changing. Spring splashes with huge carpets of bluebells, blossom and newborn foals taking their first wobbly steps.
Summer is all about long evenings under millions of brightly shining stars because the forest at Undercastle has almost no light pollution and is pretty much a dark area. Then there are picnics on the grass beside the river, watching the wildlife and long, lazy lunches in country pubs with beautiful beer gardens, with our dogs fast asleep under the table.
Autumn transforms the woods and landscape into rich, almost illuminated shades of copper and gold. The colours are so bright and vivid, I always think it’s like someone has turned a light on. Then winter has its own quiet beauty. I adore walking past the trees laden so heavily with frost that they start to twinkle before heading back to the cottage and a cosy log fire.
I honestly don't think one season is better than another to enjoy time at Undercastle Cottage. Every season has its own personality, and I love them all.
It's not just about ponies
Of course, you'll see birds and wildlife plus the famous New Forest ponies; there are around 6,000 of them that roam freely across the National Park. They are joined by donkeys, cattle, a few sheep and pigs during autumn. You can read about the autumn Pannage season and New Forest Pannage Pigs in the Undercastle Cottage Journal.
One of my favourite times of day is early morning, before the rest of my entourage are awake. I sit in the garden with a coffee - wrapped up in a blanket if it's chilly and watch Mother Nature doing her thing. Birds are singing, the light filters through the trees, and the whole place has a calm that sometimes feels increasingly difficult to find.
If wildlife is something you enjoy, you can find out more about our guided wildlife experiences on our Experiences page, where guests can enjoy everything from badger watching and fishing tuition to birdwatching and nature photography.
Why is Undercastle Cottage different?
If you're searching for a dog-friendly cottage in the New Forest, you'll quickly discover that many welcome dogs, but very few combine so many walks from the doorstep, private river frontage and wildlife experiences in quite the same way.
But what else makes one New Forest holiday cottage stand out from another? For me, our best holidays aren't remembered because the kitchen was lovely or the sofa was comfortable - although they certainly are at Undercastle. They're remembered because of what happened while we were there.
There are so many times I have loved staying at Undercastle because of the new memories I’ve made. I was so excited watching the badgers in the Nature Hut for the first time. They were just a few feet away, and I got some gorgeous photos. I'll never forget landing my very first barbel (which was absolutely HUGE) after an afternoon fishing on the pontoon at the bottom of the garden. And I always find that just sitting on the terrace with a glass of wine, with nothing more than the view of the woods, water meadows, the river softly flowing and birdsong filling the air brings some sort of highlight or another.
Experience the New Forest, don't just stay in it
One of the things that's always been important at Undercastle Cottage is for me to advise guests before they arrive so they can experience the forest in ways many visitors will never discover or even get to know about.
For instance, one of the reasons I bought Undercastle was its location. The Hampshire Avon River, which flows along the bottom of the garden, gives guests access to 2,500m of exclusive private fishing. The Hampshire Avon is regarded as one of Britain's best fly-fishing rivers and even featured in the first series of the BBC's Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. Whether you've been fishing for years or have always fancied giving it a go, you can read more about our fishing experiences on our River Fishing page, including one-to-one tuition with an experienced local guide.
If you’re a wildlife lover like me, I’d urge you to spend an evening watching badgers from a purpose-built Nature Hide. Staying at the cottage, keen photographers often come to capture kingfishers, deer, and owls, but if you are super quiet, you might catch one of the otters that like to play here. It's these sort of experiences that often become the highlight of a stay.
Things to do in the New Forest
Now, if relaxing isn’t your thing and you prefer to keep busy, you'll never run out of options. One day could be spent exploring the forest's villages like Brockenhurst, Beaulieu or Burley, each filled with independent shops, cafés and country pubs. Or out and about at one of the many attractions in the area. If history and motors are one of your things, the world-famous National Motor Museum in Beaulieu makes a really good day out. Home to more than 250 classic, racing and famous vehicles, it also includes Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and stunning formal gardens and the hugely popular World of Top Gear exhibition.
If you fancy taking to the saddle and seeing the area on horseback, Arniss riding stables a mile or so down the lane offer everything from gentle walks for beginners to longer hacks across open heathland.
And for those who like their adventures a tad more exhilarating, you can even take flying lessons, helicopter experiences from Bournemouth Airport. And if you're feeling particularly brave, tandem skydives are available just beyond the northern edge of the New Forest.
You see, there's a reason so many guests return to the cottage year after year. They never quite manage to fit everything into one visit. I’ve been coming since 2012, and I’ve still got a bucket list of what to do when staying at Undercastle Cottage.
So, if you're still wondering where to stay 2 hours from London, I hope I've given you a glimpse of why I fell in love with this little corner of the New Forest...
Is the New Forest really only two hours from London?
Yes. Obviously it depends which part of London you're travelling from. You can usually get to the cottage in around two hours by car, making it ideal for long weekends and short breaks. If you want to come by train, we are usually free to pick you up from Salisbury, about ten miles away.
What's the best time of year to visit the New Forest?
Honestly, every season offers something different. Spring for bluebells and foals, summer is perfect for beaches and al fresco dining, autumn offers spectacular woodland colours, and winter is just wonderfully pretty, and I think it’s the best time of year for those cosy pub lunches and peaceful walks.
Is Undercastle Cottage dog friendly?
Oh absolutely yes. Dogs are welcomed at the cottage with open arms, and you’ll find almost all the pubs, cafes and eateries in and around the forest are as well. I think it’s one of the most dog-friendly destinations in the UK.
What makes Undercastle Cottage different from other New Forest holiday cottages?
Undercastle offers exclusive experiences, including private fishing on the Hampshire Avon, wildlife watching, badger experiences, birdwatching, and complete privacy surrounded by beautiful woodland and water meadows. It’s true luxury; I don’t think you’ll ever want to leave – well, that’s what most guests who stay here say!
Like to stay with us? See our availability here
