These Are the Most Luxurious Tree Houses in the U.K. — Perfectly Perched Between the Forest and Coast

With private hot tubs and log-burning fires, Chewton Glen's luxury tree houses are especially magical at Christmastime.

Set on 130 acres between the bucolic New Forest and the cliffs and beaches of the South Coast, Chewton Glen is a true English countryside escape, with rooms overlooking its manicured gardens and classically British croquet lawns. But to level up your stay — quite literally — you’ll want to book one of its private tree houses.

These are not glamping tree houses, with bare-bone amenities dressed up in rustic-chic decor. These are Relais & Châteaux accommodations, with personal concierge service, fully stocked kitchenettes, and forest-view hot tubs. Here, you can watch a movie while taking a bath in a deep soaking tub, any thoughts of roughing it left firmly on the ground. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more luxurious dwelling among the treetops in all of the United Kingdom.

In this part of England, taking time to envelop your senses in the sights and sounds of the forest is essential, but it’s not always easy to soak in the serenity from the forest floor. Visiting in December with a golden retriever in tow (yes, the tree houses are dog-friendly) meant we were often soaking in other things — like grassy puddles and mud. It’s all part of the British experience, and I grew to look forward to putting on my wellies and getting dirty on a scenic but messy walk to see the resident sheep before retiring to the laid-back Kitchen, where we’d warm up with a hearty lunch.

I can’t deny, however, that it’s easier to enjoy a rainy day in nature when you’re looking down over it from your deck’s warm, bubbling hot tub, English sparkling wine in hand, before retreating inside to a log-burning fire. All-day access to pristine indoor spa pools doesn’t hurt either, and the aforementioned en-suite soaking tub made it much easier to rinse off the mud and get dressed up for a festive dinner in the elegant Dining Room. There, through hotel halls properly decked with Christmas trees, wreaths, and baubles, executive head chef Luke Matthews puts on roast New Forest bronze turkey and confit duck this time of year, followed by a perfect Christmas pudding.

In the morning, a picnic-ready breakfast hamper is delivered to each tree house, but you won’t be taking it on a picnic. You’ll enjoy your fresh-baked morning treats from the comfort of your fluffy white bed, wrapped up in a warm, dry robe, made all that much sweeter by the sound of raindrops falling on the forest 35 feet below.

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