New Forest hotels the first to achieve Michelin key status

Lime Wood Hotel in Lyndhurst has been named in the prestigious list as a ‘Two Key’ hotel.

The accolade from The Michelin Guide means the hotel offers an “exceptional” stay.

Lime Wood Hotel is one of 37 hotels to achieve Two Key status.

Boasting “casual, almost effortless luxury”, the hotel is praised for the friendly help offered by staff and its impressive history.

And it is “family-friendly without turning into one big romper room.”

“Lime Wood gets the balance just right — which is something worth paying for”, the guide reads, also praising the hotels chefs, staff and spa offering.

READ MORE: Meet the celebrated chef delighting diners at luxury New Forest hotel Lime Wood

Chewton Glen Hotel in New Milton also achieved Two Key status.

Chewton Glen in New Milton (Image: Supplied) The country-house hotel in Christchurch Road is praised for its “spectacular” location and in-house restaurant Vetiver which offers “a quintessentially English dining experience”.

The hotel’s award-winning spa boasts a “dizzying array of treatments” and a 17-meter ozone-treated indoor pool.

A range of outdoor activities are also on offer, including golf, tennis and croquet.

Earlier this year the guide unveiled a new ranking system which would award particularly impressive Michelin-recognised hotels with One, Two or Three Keys.

One Key hotels offer guests a "very special stay", Two Key hotels offer an "exceptional stay" and Three Key hotels offer an "extraordinary stay".