THREE of the top five hotels in Britain, recognised in this year’s prestigious Conde Nast Traveller Reader Awards, are in the New Forest.

The Pig Hotel in Brockenhurst won Best UK Holiday Hotel and runners up included nearby Lime Wood and Chewton Glen and further afield, Babington House and Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

Robin Hutson, inspiration behind The Pig and Lime Wood and a former director of Babington House and Chewton Glen says: “The calibre of hotels in the New Forest has made this area of the UK even more attractive to visitors.

"The friendly service, high standards, quality of food and beautiful locations of The Pig, Lime Wood and Chewton Glen are recognised by visitors year-round.

"The Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ are some of the most discerning travellers globally and it’s gratifying to see that they recognise the greatness of the New Forest hotel scene.”

The New Forest attracts around 13.5 million visitors a year which is more visitors per square kilometre than any other national park in the UK.