Godshill Village, New Forest National Park Hampshire, Fordingbridge SP6 2JZ England
E-mail hotel
Hotel direct offer!Up to 10% off!
Get rewarded with One Key
Get rewarded with One Key
Agoda.com
Booking.com
ZenHotels.com
View all 7 deals
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Full view
View all photos (1,729)1,729
Room & Suite (215)
Videos (1)
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
#3 of 9 campsites in Fordingbridge
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
Surrounded by the outstanding natural beauty of the New Forest National Park, Sandy Balls unites an enviable location with an excellent choice of facilities. The perfect getaway for families, couples or groups of friends in this wonderful, unique area of England.
You’ll find something for everyone on the park, with indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, spa, an arcade and a wealth of activities and entertainment. Make friends with our resident alpacas or hop on a segway and zip through the forest. Take your pick from a whole host of services conveniently located within The Village Square. Too chilled to cook? Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, let the team rustle you up something delicious in one of the restaurants to keep you out of the kitchen. Visit The Woodside Inn for gourmet pub grub, or Aubrey’s Forest Kitchen for artisan pizzas, steaks and pasta dishes. And if you've forgotten any essentials, you can pop into Acorn Place Shop & Deli for that important ingredient, local produce and a coffee.
Whatever your budget, we’ve got accommodation covered; from classic caravans and lodges to our exclusive accommodation. Sink into a hot tub holiday, enjoy a log cabin with woodland views or soothe your spirit in the sanctuary of a Zen holiday home. Our exclusive Knightwood accommodation, named after the largest oak tree in the forest, is like nothing Sandy Balls has seen before with hot tubs, BBQ's, cosy outdoor seating, bike rack and dog shower! The Heartwood has a woodland tartan theme, cosy and totally unique. We’ve got our accessible and Westwood units. Both have wider doors, ramp access and a wet room.
The New Forest begs for exploration, bursting with wildlife, fantastic walks, cycle tracks and visitor centres. Watching wild ponies roaming across the heathland offers an unmissable treat to any visitor. A host of picturesque towns and villages await on the doorstep, whilst Bournemouth and Poole are nearby.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Archery
Bicycle rental
Children's playground
Parking
Public wifi
Indoor pool
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Fitness classes
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Game room
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Highchairs available
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Convenience store
Gift shop
Picnic area
Shops
ATM on site
Self-serve laundry
Show more
Room features
Private balcony
Seating area
Sofa
Kitchenette
Microwave
Oven
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Electric kettle
Kitchenware
Show more
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Location
Godshill Village, New Forest National Park Hampshire, Fordingbridge SP6 2JZ England
E-mail hotel
Getting there
Car HireSee all Fordingbridge car hire
2081Reviews158Q+A100Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Traveller rating
- 930
- 465
- 318
- 194
- 175
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
Booked a December 3 night break here with my 8 month old & husband as was told by family the break would be festive good value. I’m ashamed to say we went with quite low expectations as we (pre child!) we don’t tend to stay in holiday parks. I originally booked the superior lodge with hot tub but called up a couple of days before to enquire about an upgrade & managed to be price matched and was instead allocated to an indulgent lodge (7 the glades). The lodge was absolutely fantastic, modern & spotlessly clean. There was even a real Christmas tree in the corner which was a really special touch. I naively genuinely never thought a caravan / lodge could be so nice. We ate a couple of times at Aubrey’s which was quite basic in terms of food for what they are charging but none the less a nice setting. we went swimming one morning & found the pool (although a little dated) to be a good temperature for an 8 month old. We also took advantage of the free festive carol singalong in the Forrest of light. We loved the cute little farm shop on site which had essentials & found all the staff to be friendly. Overall we had a fantastic festive time as a family, we will definitely be looking at coming back - I cannot believe what fantastic value our trip was.…
Read more
Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Price match before you go
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Property's Favourite Review
We really enjoyed our 3 night stay (family with 3-year old child and a dog) Firstly the accommodation was lovely, very clean, exactly like the photos, and the welcome pack exceeded expectations with lots of goodies for everyone including the dog! The restaurants were great, delicious food and quick service. As it was very quiet one of the restaurants wasn’t open everyday, but they were very accommodating with allowing dogs into the other restaurant whilst the dog-friendly one was closed. The swimming pool, soft play etc were great and kept my daughter busy. But by far the best aspect was the staff working there, the team doing the evening entertainment and kids activities worked so hard even for a small audience which can’t have been easy! I can’t remember all their names but Bill and Jess spoke to us a few times and were fantastic! The level of customer service here far exceeded my expectations. I just mentioned that I had struggled to find out what activities I could book, and within 2 hours the manager phoned me so she could personally book me on any activities we would like to do! Overall it’s a great place for a short break and we will definitely return!…
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Dean Hinshelwood, Other at Sandy Balls Holiday Village
Responded 3 Mar 2023
Thank you for the 5 star review! We're glad you were impressed with the accommodation and enjoyed the welcome packs. We're also pleased you enjoyed the facilities and entertainment! We hope to welcome you back soon. 😊
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Absolutely love Sandy balls. This is our 3rd time for a festive break. It’s so beautiful ar Christmas. The woodland and grounds are stunning. Would def recommend to anyone. Lodges were well equipped and comfortable.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Hi guys, Firstly, stop reading this review... And book now (the zen lodges) even if just for a weekend!!! Spent 3 nights here in December and have to say it's a magical place: I'll break it down: Setting: beautiful forrestry location Zen lodge: hot tub, large fridge, freezer, oven that works, massive tvs, central heating that works, comfy beds, dual shower, dual bathrooms... Spacious.... I could live here... Happily!!! Theres a leisure centre (with state of the art gym) , decent bar, restaurant, laundrette, arcade, messy play area, soft play area..its got it all!! Special props to the farm shop that stocks a huge amount of fresh produce, craft beers, hard to get beers(hawkstone) , gins and anything you could want.... All at non - ripoff prices!!!! This was December and the whole place was beautifully lit up for Xmas!!! Definately book again in a heartbeat!!! …
Read more
Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
4th time here and stayed in the same luxury wooden Lodge deep in the forest with a lovely hot tub nothing better than lying in the tub watching the wildlife in the trees terrific walks and a couple of off site pubs both worth a visit also Aubreys too worth a visit only just a bit pricey love every minute here
Read more
Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
3rd year in a row we have visited Sandy Balls at this time of year (already booked next year). We go for the locality, facilities, friendliness of staff, choice of accommodation, cost and most of all hot tub, which is great regardless of how cold it is outside (the colder and darker the better to see the stars). The seasonal light show on site and surrounding villages/towns make it a nice break before Christmas fully arrives. Facilities are never busy at this time of year and although the Inn is shut at the beginning of the week everything else is open and well maintained.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
What a disappointment our stay turned out to be. Last year we had a great time and felt we had a very special break. This year however.. No welcome pack dispute it still being advertised as included online. Lodge not cleaned very well my Dog found a discarded rawhide chew under the table and nearly choked on it. Shower blocked and flooded the Bathroom. Prices in Restaurant high and service slow. I sent my concerns via the app on the first day but only got a reply on the day before we left which basically said pack had been withdrawn, tough. So sad as we loved the site and visited often but not again unless customer service improves.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Check facilities advertised are still included.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Lodges scruffy need a deep clean . No basics not even shampoo or soap bring your own . No welcome pack and poor quality for money , Food terrible in the restaurant, very few staff . Very kind but cold and unappetising . Someone really needs to have a rethink to retain regular customers . This place is going to the dogs quite literally . Furnishings scratched and grotty , Please re think and get this beautiful place back on track
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4 Helpful votes
Helpful
We stayed in one of their luxury lodges with a hot tub for two nights with friends and our two small children. Pros -lodge was spacious, clean and as described - we enjoyed the area which is beautiful and has good walks - we enjoyed the variety of on site facilities and activities - really great for kids - hot tub was a lovely treat and well maintained - check in and out was quick and easy - lovely and quiet and we felt safe - staff we met were friendly and helpful Cons - lodge was described as luxury but was actually a bit worn and in need of some TLC. Sofa was very worn with stains, old gas oven and hob needs replacing with new electric, shower doors were wobbly and leaked, showers varied but one was scalding and couldn’t be turned down, the bathroom door stuck. Whilst the kitchen is well equipped, some items need replacing like the sad single frying pan and very blunt knives. - soft play was very grubby and needed a good hoover and wipe down. - changing rooms at pool were clean but again a bit old and sad. Overall we were pretty happy for a short break. Park was quiet as we were visiting in November and very cheap.…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
I will begin at the cabin and then talk about the rest of the park, so we booked a disabled cabin as my mum uses a wheelchair to get around outside the house and a walker inside the house as she has a very bad mobility after looking at all of the photographs online and all of the write up, we decided that sand balls was a good place to go for my mum‘s first holiday after being in and out of hospital for awhile When we got there we checked in from the comfort of our car so that was great. We didn’t need to get Mum out of the car to go to reception. We drove round to our cabin when we got to cabin. The first thing I noticed was that once we park the car on the concrete area, there was no area to get Mum out and into the wheelchair without going onto the grass so we really had to squeeze the car over And we were treading on mud all the time to get her in and out we went up the slope to the door. The slope was very slippery and this was November but there was nothing. There was no sort of anything or any grips on the slope when we got to the door, there was a lip going over the door, so it wasn’t a smooth for a wheelchair user. I had to bounce Mum over the lip to get her into the cabin. Once you’re in the cabin to the right hand side was a bedroom that had two single bed push together. There wasn’t enough room to get a wheelchair around the outside of the beds. There was no hoist in the rooms either, and these were shown in the photos in the other bedroom, it was two single beds and like an L shape again there was no kind of hoist or bars on the wall or anything to get out of bed. These had been taken away. We did ask the maintenance team and they said that sand balls are taken away due to a change in legislation Wasn’t very helpful for us at this point into the bathroom. Unfortunately has like a hill to get into the bathroom a slope and then there’s two about one and a half inch high bitch you have to get over. These are obviously to stop the water coming out of the bathroom, but unfortunately it means that it’s quite difficult. If you’re going in with the Walker or the wheelchair so you have to push up the slump go over a hill and then you’re to the toilet area but because there’s another Inch and a high ridge I was supposed you would call it going to the shower area you then can’t turn a walk all the wheelchair round in that area. This made it incredibly difficult for my mum and honestly she nearly fell over a couple of times in the shower itself, you did have a pull down seat that was marvellous the curtain pulled around you. However, there was nowhere to put anything there was no trays on the walls. There was nothing nearby that you could put your shampoo conditioner, et cetera Mum can’t lean over in the shower she would top up so we had to get a chair from the balcony and put it in there The same with the sink there was nowhere to sit down in the sink area. There was no pulldown chair that side of the room. We again use the one from the garden. This wasn’t ideal. It was slippery, but we had no other choice at this point, the kitchen surfaces are lowered that is correct, but the cabins not particularly wide enough for a wheelchair user to get up and down you couldn’t move around in the kitchen area easily and the plates et cetera. One a very high shelf I could just about reach 5 foot two, certainly not accessible for a disabled person in any shape where full the front room was nice, the sofa was very low and in terrible disrepair it had rips all over it very low again for a disabled person to transfer in and out of the table and chairs are nice in the corner. There was a huge coffee table in the middle of the room that we had to move out of the way, which was rather heavy due to the fact that you couldn’t get a walker or wheelchair in the room with the coffee table in the middle. The balcony was a nice little balcony overlook the bins in the maintenance department which wasn’t particularly nice but you couldn’t get out there being a wheelchair user or with a walker they had put no ramp over it so it was a step out that there was no other way to get in and out of there so the cabin was a large disappointment. It was a very difficult few days for myself and my mum as I had to lift her in her wheelchair in her walker over many lumps bumps, it was difficult for her to get out of bed into bed. If she didn’t have me with her. I don’t know what she would’ve done. I’m sorry Sandy balls but this is not an accessible cabin. It is not suitable for anybody with my ability issues that needs a walker or a wheelchair and to be honest the surface of the bathroom is so slippery that it’s an easy trip and full hazard and you really need looking into going onto the park itself. We were close by to the amenities which was great but walking down the roads, there was no pavement either side of the roads so we had to push a wheelchair over speed bumps continuously to get anywhere which was a real shame you need to have a pathway going down one side and then the roadway in the middle. This would’ve made it safer all round for children pedestrians in general and especially disabled people you couldn’t go sort of down there on your own in a wheelchair. You would struggle to get over the speed bumps. The rest of the park was accessible. The restaurant was we couldn’t go into the pub we went to go there on the Sunday and they shut it. Nobody knew why which was a real disappointment. The shop was accessible. We went into the soft play for my daughter and we could get a wheelchair in there. That was all fine. We looked at the swimming pool. They did have a hoist. They did say that my mum could go in there but the changing facilities weren’t particularly great for a disabled person they had a room that was right by reception. It wasn’t in the best Condition, so my mum chose not to use those when we went into the swimming pool. It was quite steep steps to get in although they did have bars going around the pool itself. It’s just an old swimming pool and not really made for disabled people we did have a few problems with the cabinet self, the door lock wouldn’t work and my disabled mum and my little girl had to wait outside late in the evening whilst we had to walk round to get services to get somebody to fix it because there’s no phone reception on site or very little on some networks we had bulbs go and the fireplace didn’t work. We also had problems with the central heating as that was flicking off every three hours so in the middle of the night we woke up one day and it was 60°. The maintenance staff were fabulous and a big shout out to them. They were brilliant they come straight away and they sorted out everything even the toilet seat broke and they were straight over and fixed it so that side of things yeah absolute wonderful. The reception staff did try their best whilst we was having the problems with the heating and everything and did offer us different accommodation. Unfortunately it’s very limited to the disabled mobility and there was nowhere that we could’ve got my mum in all the other cabins either had a shower tray that she couldn’t use or baths or a lot of steps to get up to, so we had to stay where we are, but they did try their best with that, and they did give us vouchers to spend in the restaurant as a sorry that the door locks et cetera hadn’t worked, so customer service side of things that are very good maintenance team very good. The cabin itself was the major letdown because it’s just not what it’s described. As on the Sunday evening we went to go to the entertainment for our little girl, play a game of bingo do a quiz when we walked in. We found that because the pub decided to shut that also meant that the bar in the entertainment room was also shut the entertainment team did have no idea why so that kind of put a stop to the evening because there was nowhere to get a drink or anything. This was a real shame especially this is a holiday park. We couldn’t understand why the pub was shut on a Sunday and we couldn’t understand why this then affected the entertainment because it meant there was nowhere to go on site on the Sunday. The only place was the restaurant which you and had your table for a couple of hours until it was given to the next people. This was a roulette down as well the lights Christmas lights there were very pretty and the shop itself was lovely that sold a lot of local produce had a good array of bits and pieces to buy and that was wonderful. The kids soft play was good. My daughter enjoyed very much going in there so really it was just the cabins if you’re looking for a disabled cabin and your any more needs of than just having a walking stick, then I would say this isn’t for you. If you need a mobility scooter I push along Zimmer frame or scooter or wheelchair. The accessible cabins are not actually accessible.…
Read more
Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$72 - US$216 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sandy balls holiday centre hotel fordingbridge
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandHampshireNew Forest National Park HampshireFordingbridge
NUMBER OF ROOMS
300
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingSANDY BALLS HOLIDAY VILLAGE - Updated 2023 (Fordingbridge)
Frequently Asked Questions about Sandy Balls Holiday Village
Which popular attractions are close to Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Nearby attractions include Insight Activities New Forest (2.4 miles), Breamore House (3.0 miles), and The Horse and Groom (1.9 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Cartwheel Inn, La Lambretta, and Rose and Thistle.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and fitness classes during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to Sandy Balls Holiday Village?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Sarum College (4.4 miles), Rockbourne Roman Villa (3.5 miles), and Newhouse (4.7 miles).
Is Sandy Balls Holiday Village accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.