1 month ago
16 
The best things in life often arrive when you least expect them.
For weeks, I had been looking forward to a trip to the South Coast, a stay at The Nici Hotel in Bournemouth pencilled into my diary.
From the Sandbanks to beachfront restaurants, I couldn’t wait to unwind in one of England’s most raved-about staycation spots.
However, after a last-minute change saw my hotel reservation move to The Nici Hotel in Lymington, I ended up stumbling across one of the country’s best-kept secrets.
Tucked away in Hampshire, right on the edge of the New Forest, this charming town feels a bit like Bournemouth’s quieter, lesser-known sibling.
While it may lack the enormous sandy beaches and lively centre, Lymington makes up for it with a more quaint, laid-back vibe.
After a three-hour drive from Essex, my fiancé and I popped into the town for a quick bite on Friday night.
We landed at the Elderflower Restaurant, where we tucked into freshly caught fish and scallops. Living in London, it was refreshing to find such a lovely restaurant without booking ahead.
The following day was Lymington’s Saturday market, which has been running for more than 770 years.
Cobbled streets with elegant Georgian and Victorian architecture line the High Street, and there are plenty of independent shops, cafes and pubs.
Dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, the ancient seaport of Lymington was known for salt-making and shipbuilding.
Now, families and tourists can be seen sitting by the waterfront as boats gently bob in the harbour and kids go crabbing.
Dotted around the town are several historic pubs, many with live music.
The Ship Inn does an excellent Sunday roast, and The Chequers, which has been standing since the 16th century, offers a little slice of local history.
About 15 minutes by car will take you to the New Forest, where – if you’re lucky like us – you might catch some of the 5,000 or so wild horses roaming free.
On our drive back to Lymington, we must have seen at least 20. With the sun setting, it was dream-like.
As for Lymington as a whole, I absolutely loved it. There are no huge crowds spilling onto the pavements, no rows of arcades, and none of the frantic holiday buzz you often feel in bigger seaside resorts.
Instead, it felt charming and chill. There was something almost old-fashioned about it.
It’s not trying to compete with the likes of Bournemouth; it’s the opposite, and it’s all for the better.
We stayed at the Nici New Forest, well placed just a 10-minute walk from the town centre.
Having opened its doors in June, the resort is gleaming and new, with gorgeous decor and plants dotted about.
The rooms (around £295 on average) felt spacious, and if you pay for a balcony, you’ll be treated to lovely views of the River Lymington.
From throughout the hotel, gorgeous views are offered through tall hanging trees of the impressive grounds here at the Nici.
The hotel has two restaurants, Martha’s Restaurant & Bar and Elms Café, plus a pool, gym and a play area for kids.
We may or may not have played 10 games of table tennis there.
In terms of food, Elms Café offers a delicious range of options for breakfast, as well as a killer lunch menu and bar area for a pre-dinner cocktail.
Martha’s is a great place for sunset and is perfectly positioned with a fantastic view of Lymington river.
A main course of seafood soup, pork belly with gravy and a veal milanese, accompanied by a truffle mac and cheese topped off with an apple tart for dessert, made for one of the most splendid meals I have had this year.
The pool was still being renovated during our visit, but it’s shaping up to be stunning.
Perhaps I’ll go back to try it out, and spend more time exploring this lesser-shouted seaside town.
Bournemouth might be the biggest name on the South Coast, but Lymington offers fewer crowds, a slower pace and more room to breathe.
Milo Pope was a guest of the Nici New Forest, but don’t expect us to sugarcoat anything — our reviews are 100% independent.
Rooms from £295 per night.
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