Jubilee Bank Holiday Breaks in The New Forest
Celebrate Queen Elizabeth II and her 70-year reign and get the royal treatment at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa.
The extra bank holiday in June means you can take a four-day trip over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, so here’s how we recommend to spend it.
Your Kingdom to Explore
Formerly a Royal hunting lodge for the king and his entourage, Careys Manor Hotel nestles in the year-round beauty of the New Forest National Park which was founded by King William I (William The Conqueror) in 1079 as a royal hunting ground. Around 90% of the land in the New Forest is still owned by The Crown but has been managed by Forestry England since 1923.
A Jubilee weekend break away to this former royal playground offers the chance to slow down and wander through meadows grazed by playful ponies or trails of picturesque villages. A million miles from city cacophony, a spa break in the New Forest at Careys Manor is accompanied by a peaceful afternoon at SenSpa. We’re talking amazing Thai inspired treatments, a hydrotherapy pool with massaging jets, tropical rainfall experience showers and the best night’s sleep you’ve had in ages. You’re feeling relaxed just thinking about it aren’t you?
With three restaurants, there is plenty to choose from whether you prefer modern British in our flagship restaurant Cambium, a relaxed atmosphere in our French bistro, Le Blaireau, or a taste of the exotic with authentic Thai cuisine at The Zen Garden.
Jubilicious Treats
Introduced in 1840 by the 7th Duchess of Bedford, Afternoon Tea is a quintessential English pastime and the perfect way to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. Treat yourself to a Careys Manor Jubilee afternoon tea during your bank holiday weekend getaway with a selection of classic English favourites such as Coronation Chicken finger sandwiches, Battenburg cake and traditional scones topped with your choice of strawberry jam or lemon curd and clotted cream. Of course, all served with a delicious cup of tea… or two or three!
Royal Places of Interest
Her Majesty has visited the New Forest many times during her reign, including a visit to Lymington in 1969, an appearance at The New Forest and Hampshire County Show during her Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012 and a trip through the Ornamental Drive in an open top Landau in 1979. The tall trees of the Rhinefield Ornamental drive are a must-see during your visit. Stop at Blackwater and walk the tall trees trail, spot the largest and most famous Oak tree en route to Bolderwood and look out for fallow deer as well as our famous New Forest ponies.
The Rufus Stone (located off the A31, 16 mins drive from Careys Manor) is a monument that is supposed to mark the spot where King William Rufus (King William II) was killed by an arrow while out hunting in the Forest in the year 1100. No-one knows for certain if the king was shot deliberately or by accident, but the monument remains popular with tourists and locals alike for its picnic spots and walking trails.
Or why not take a day trip to the Isle of Wight during your weekend break? Built in the 1800s, Osborne House was known as being a favourite hideaway for Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II gave permission for the ground floor rooms in the royal pavilion to be opened to the public and there are several ornate furnishings and artefacts on display. You can get a ferry over to the Island from nearby Southampton and The house is located 1 mile from East Cowes Ferry terminal.
Pampering Fit for a King or Queen
Get the royal treatment at SenSpa and be pampered from head to toe with our Jubilee inspired spa day.
Experience an authentic royal Thai body scrub and massage treatment with aromatic lime and lemongrass; a powerful antidote to stress leaving you feeling serene and sparkling like a jewel. Then melt away all tension and float in the divine waters of our award winning spa before tantalising your taste buds with the exciting and mouth-watering fragrances of Royal Thai cuisine – A spa day fit for a king or queen.
