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Our Weekend At Knoll House Hotel In Studland Dorset – Part 1

amomentwithfranca · 18 December 2018 · 47 Comments

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to stay at Knoll House Hotel in Dorset for a couple of nights. We have not been in this part of Dorset before so we were really excited. It is about 2 to 3 hours drive from London. We left on a Friday and came back on a Sunday. The day when we left was very cold, dark and a bit wet too. We were worried our journey would take longer but we managed to arrive just in time for dinner which we had already arranged in advance.

You will find Knoll House at Studland Bay on the Isle of Purbeck between Poole and Old Harry Rocks. Purbeck is a quiet landscape of coast, cliffs, heath and woodland, and a haven for wildlife. It’s perfect for cycling and exploring, and a wonderful place for dog walking all year round, including being perfect for a UK Autumn break.

We made a video of our weekend at Knoll House, which you can see below:

HISTORY OF KNOLL HOUSE

The hotel has an interesting history. Apparently, Knoll House was built at the start of the 20th century as a summer retreat for a member of the Bankes family of Kingston Lacy. Over the decades the Bankes leased the house as a summer let, including to the Duke of Hamilton in the 1920s.

Panoramic view of the hotel

The last tenants were Francis ‘Chris’ and Marjorie ‘Poppy’ Smith who eventually bought the house and opened it as a hotel in 1931. After the war, Chris and Poppy Smith slowly began to repair their hotel, and eventually reopened in 1946. The couple retired in 1959 and sold Knoll House to Kenneth Ferguson who continued to manage the hotel for years to come.

In summer 2017, the hotel passed hands to new owners, Kingfisher Resorts, a luxury hotel group. They are very respectful of the history and heritage of Knoll House.

ARRIVAL TO THE HOTEL

Reception Area

Arriving at 8:30pm, we went to the reception to check-in. The lady that was doing the night shift was very nice and helpful. We gave our vehicle registration (done via a tablet) so we could park in the hotel car park.

DINNER

Family photo at dinner time

We were super hungry after the journey so we went straight to the restaurant to have our dinner. As I mentioned we had already booked in advance so there was a table reserved for us. We were given the same table that Enid Blyton, the famous writer, used to sit at when she was visiting the hotel. It has a fantastic view which is obviously much better during the day or perhaps on summer evenings when the sun is out. I will talk more about Enid Blyton later.

We were actually given this same table to use for the rest of our stay. I thought that was lovely! It made us feel more at home. We were served by the manager of the restaurant who was very nice and told us a lot of stories about the hotel as well as what things we could do in the hotel and outside the hotel.

Our Meals

We were given the menu to order our meals so Sienna had fish fingers with chips and veggies; Bella had chicken nuggets with chips and veggies, Nick had Asian Crispy Duck for his starter and Pork Belly for his main meal. I ordered the soup of the day which was butternut squash and Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini as my main meal. The girls also had garlic bread with cheese on top.

Our Desserts

We were super full from our starter and mains so we asked if we could take our desserts to our room to eat later, which they were happy for us to do. The girls ordered ice creams, Nick ordered a tiramisu and I ordered a cake with berries. Everything was yummy!

OUR ROOM

Lovely Swans

The girls were very excited!

After dinner, we went to our room which we were very curious to see. It was a double room (double bed) with an en-suite bathroom and access to a balcony with sea view. There was also a connected room with 2 single beds and a large sink.

Yummy cakes left on our room! Very thoughtful! 

When we entered the room we found 2 towel swans on our bed as well as some cakes to try too! I thought this was a lovely touch. The room also had a Roberts classic-style digital radio, TV, hairdryer, tea-coffee making facilities and telephone.

MORE PHOTOS OF OUR ROOM ON DAY LIGHT

View from our balcony

Our Balcony

The following morning the girls woke up very early because they were so keen to explore the hotel and its facilities. The first thing they wanted to do was to go outside onto the balcony to see the views we had. We were very lucky because our view was amazing and we were able to see the sea. It was a very windy and cold day but still, the feeling of being so close to the beach and being able to breathe in that fresh air was mesmerising.

Sitting area immediately before the balcony doors

Kids Room (Sienna slept there)

Kids Room (Bella slept there)

The double room was very big and comfortable. If you watch the video you will see my little tour of it. It had a lot of wardrobes and drawers, so there was plenty of space to put our things away. This would be particularly handy if you are staying for a week or more.

BATHROOM

En-suite bathroom

The en-suite bathroom looks recently renovated as it has a very modern look. They also provided Elemis shampoo, conditioner and bath gel which was nice. The only problem we had was that the water pressure was a bit low in our room so it took a lit longer to fill the bath and the shower wasn’t as strong as we’d like. But we spoke with the hotel and they have fixed this now.

BREAKFAST

We went to the restaurant to have our breakfast. Now there was daylight we were able to appreciate the view from our table. The views from that spot were so beautiful. I can understand why Enid Blyton chose this table. These were the same views we had from our balcony so we were able to see the sea from there too.

Breakfast Buffet

For breakfast, there was a buffet as well as a menu if you wanted to order something different. The buffet was really good with a lot to offer. They had the typical English breakfast but you could also have fruit, yoghurt with different toppings, cereal, croissants, cakes, muffins as well as toast and for the girls what they love the most, Nutella!

EXPLORING THE HOTEL

After breakfast, we explored the hotel. The manager kindly gave us a tour, explaining a little bit of the history to us. There are a lot of different rooms and areas to relax and have some time resting with your family. The main sitting area near the reception has an open fireplace which was nice to be around in the evening after dinner. They also had a communal TV room. In the past this used to be the only TV room but now each room has one.

Dog-Friendly Hotel

I really like that this hotel is dog-friendly. We don’t have a dog at the moment but it is definitely a possibility in the future so knowing that Knoll House is a dog-friendly, is of course, a bonus. My parents in law have a dog so this would be very appealing to them.

They welcome up to two dogs per booking. There is a £15 charge per dog per night and they ask that you bring your own pet bedding. They have a special area where you can eat with your dog. Dogs are restricted from the main restaurant, children’s areas and leisure facilities. Apart from that, you can freely walk your dog around the hotel grounds and gardens.

Library & Reading Room

The reading room has a selection of books to choose from so you can have a lovely time getting lost in a book. There is also a dedicated games room with a pool table, table tennis and table football, as well as some vintage arcade games.

Enid Blyton

The manager also took us to a hall where they had a lot of original Enid Blyton books, an English children’s writer whose books have been among the world’s best-sellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Enid would often stay at Knoll House hotel in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. She got a lot of inspiration being there and wrote a lot of her books from Knoll House. She is famous for writing The Famous Five and Noddy. It was lovely to know all of that!

This is the end of PART ONE of our visit to Knoll House. Please, check PART TWO to read about the rest of our stay there.

Have you visited Studland Bay before? What do you think of Knoll House so far? 

*Disclosure: We were invited to stay at Knoll House for two nights, so the food and accommodation were complimentary for the purpose of this blog post.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

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Filed Under: Press Trips, Review, Reviews, Travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margaret GALLAGHER says

    31 December 2018 at

    Looks amazing – so scenic and the food delicious – somewhere Id consider staying too

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      31 December 2018 at

      Yes it was lovely! Great place to stay with the family! 🙂 x

      Reply
  2. Susie Wilkinson says

    31 December 2018 at

    I love that it’s dog friendly, we’re trying to find places we can take our Beagle as we can’t bear the thought of him going into kennels as he is a rescue and we don’t want him to feel abandoned!

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      31 December 2018 at

      This place is perfect for families with dogs! I was impressed! 🙂 x

      Reply
  3. Davina Mellon says

    2 January 2019 at

    What a lovely hotel, and the food looks delicious! We’ve never been to Dorset but it’s next on our list so will consider Knoll House Hotel!

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      2 January 2019 at

      It is really comfy and great for families and also for dogs! 🙂 x

      Reply
  4. amy pest says

    3 January 2019 at

    this looks lovely I bet you had made such lovely family memories

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      4 January 2019 at

      Thank you! Yes we had a lovely time which we won’t forget! 🙂 x

      Reply
  5. Stacey Carnell says

    3 January 2019 at

    Wow the food looks lovely 🙂

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      4 January 2019 at

      Yes! We really enjoyed it specially the breakfast! 🙂 x

      Reply
  6. paula cheadle says

    4 January 2019 at

    looks a very nice place

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      4 January 2019 at

      Yes, it was really lovely! Thank you! X

      Reply
  7. Charlene Merrall says

    4 January 2019 at

    What a lovely little place! I ADORE that they left you cakes! I would never leave if they did that for me haha

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      4 January 2019 at

      Haha I know! It was a lovely gesture! Very thoughtful! X

      Reply
  8. Veronica Lee says

    6 January 2019 at

    I grew up on Enid Blyton’s books! My faves were the Secret Seven and Famous Five series. I’d love to visit Knoll House someday. Love the photos, Franca.
    #Kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      6 January 2019 at

      That is fantastic! It was really nice to learn more about Enid Blyton. Siting down in thr same table that she used to sit what a real treat for us! Thank you lovely! X

      Reply
  9. Karen, the next best thing to mummy says

    6 January 2019 at

    Dorset is beautiful, isn’t it? I live in Devon which is only a few counties away, the hotel looks fabulous#kcacols@_karendennis

    Reply
  10. Ann from Rainbows are too beautiful says

    6 January 2019 at

    This place looks great, just got a dog and really need our own space and places because of the boys. Pinning! #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      6 January 2019 at

      Yes it was great for families with dogs! Even the beach in front had lots of dogs around! X

      Reply
  11. Jen Cannon says

    7 January 2019 at

    This looks like an amazing family trip. The more travel blogs that I see about the UK, the more that I want to visit. Through these blogs, I am discovering that there is much more to see than London!

    #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      9 January 2019 at

      Oh yes! The countryside here is gorgeous! I really love travelling by car and visit new towns and explore new areas! It is all very exciting! X

      Reply
  12. Sam Kay says

    7 January 2019 at

    Wow the hotel looks amazing and those meals – yum!! Would love to stay here one day 🙂

    #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      9 January 2019 at

      It is a lovely hotel! I hope you do! I am sure you will love it! 🙂 x

      Reply
  13. Su (Ethan & Evelyn) says

    9 January 2019 at

    It does look like a very cosy place to stay. I think Dorset is a beautiful part of the country, especially Poole. I have been there before and really enjoyed it. #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      9 January 2019 at

      Dorset os gorgeous! So many places to explore there! I haven’t been there nuch so I really want to come back and keep visiting new towns! I love being near the beach! X

      Reply
  14. tracey bowden says

    9 January 2019 at

    Franca it looks gorgeous there! I love the idea fo the reading room and that they have so much Enid Blyton memorabilia too #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      9 January 2019 at

      Yes it was lovely! You would have loved it there Tracey! I think you would feel very inspired there too like Enid Blyton! It is a very peaceful place and the views are the best! X

      Reply
  15. jeremy-thirstydaddy says

    10 January 2019 at

    looks like a very relaxing place to spend a weekend away #KCACOLS

    Reply
  16. Sarah | Digital Motherhood says

    12 January 2019 at

    The hotel looks lovely, we ‘ve driven past loads of times as we live in Poole but have never been in. Glad you had a good time! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  17. Lana says

    13 January 2019 at

    I loved this! I really enjoyed your video. The views are so beautiful and I loved the room. I shared this on Twitter. 🙂 #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      13 January 2019 at

      Aww thank you so much! So happy to hear that you watched and enjoyed the video! Yee! 🙂 xx

      Reply
  18. Carol Cameleon says

    13 January 2019 at

    Looks like a lovely place Franca. I love the reading room and the love the connections with Enid Blyton! Thanks for hosting #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      13 January 2019 at

      I think you would love that hotel Carol! Perfect for reading and writing too xx

      Reply
  19. Becka @ Becka’s Bubble says

    14 January 2019 at

    This looks lovely Franca. The kids bedrooms are so adorable and the food looks delicious! #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      14 January 2019 at

      Thank you Becka! It was a really lovely hotel with a best view! 🙂 x

      Reply
  20. jenna says

    14 January 2019 at

    OH MY GOODNESS how quaint is this place! I love it

    I have to admit I hadn’t heard of it before! What an honour to sit where Enid Blyton sat! I really like the extra touch of having the same table for your whole stay, that’s so lovely,

    Off to read part two now 🙂

    #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      14 January 2019 at

      Yes! It was very special fod us! Aww thank you so much for reading part 2! 🙂 xx

      Reply
  21. Clare says

    14 January 2019 at

    It looks lovely here, especially the food!!! Oh and I can’t resist a bit of towel art left on the bed!! #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      14 January 2019 at

      Yes we love that too! The girls were so excited when they saw thise swans! 🙂 xx

      Reply
  22. Laura - MUMMYLAURETTA says

    16 January 2019 at

    It looks lovely, really comfy room and the food looks delicious. I hope you had a wonderful time #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      16 January 2019 at

      Yes we did! Thank you! Xx

      Reply
  23. Ali Duke says

    16 January 2019 at

    You should have let me know you were coming, I live in Poole! It would have been very nice to meet you in person. It is lovely down here isn’t it. Knoll gardens are lovely.
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      17 January 2019 at

      Ahh I forgot you were in Poole. That would have been nice yes! It is very pretty! I really want to visit again in the summer. It must be a completely different experience! 🙂 x

      Reply
  24. Crummy Mummy says

    18 January 2019 at

    My mum & dad live in Dorset but I haven’t heard of this before – it looks fab! #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      18 January 2019 at

      You should definitely visit! It is lovely! 🙂 x

      Reply
  25. PEACHY and CLEMENTINE says

    19 January 2019 at

    It looks beautiful. I love the cakes left in your room. Those look so yummy and that’s such a nice touch. #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      20 January 2019 at

      Yes, those cakes were so yummy! I agree it was a lovely touch! 🙂 x

      Reply

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HI THERE, I’M FRANCA!

Hi, I'm Franca, a lawyer mum of 2 gorgeous girls married to my best friend, living in London. Award nominated parenting & lifestyle blogger. Read More…

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