With a stay at The Knoll House in Swanage, you'll be by the sea, just a 1-minute walk from Studland Beach and Nature Reserve and 8 minutes by foot from Knoll Beach. .This beach hotel is 8.2 mi (13.1 km) from Poole Harbour and 16.7 mi (26.9 km) from New Forest National Park.
What's nearby
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
Knoll Beach - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
Studland South Beach - 14 min walk - 0.8 miles
Dorset and East Devon Coast - 5 min drive - 1.1 miles
Swanage Beach - 6 min drive - 3.6 miles
Getting around
Swanage Herston Halt Station - 14 min drive
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 42 min drive
Restaurants
Ocean Bay Beach Bar & Restaurant - 6 min drive
Bankes Arms - 17 min walk
Coastal Crust Pizzeria - 7 min drive
Greggs - 7 min drive
The Cellar Bar - 7 min drive
About this property
The Knoll House
Beach hotel with outdoor pool
The Knoll House offers 70 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.
Bathrooms include showers with rainfall showerheads, and complimentary toiletries. This Swanage hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided daily.
An indoor pool and an outdoor pool are on site. Other recreational amenities include an outdoor tennis court and a sauna.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Stay in one of 70 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature showers with rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include phones, as well as coffee/tea makers and blackout drapes/curtains.
Enjoy a range of recreational amenities, including an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and an outdoor tennis court. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, an arcade/game room, and a banquet hall.
At The Knoll House, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. A complimentary full breakfast is served daily from 8 AM to 10 AM.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and a meeting room. Free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary full breakfast is served each morning between 8 AM and 10 AM.
Onsite venue - This restaurant specializes in British cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A children's menu is available.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Free self parking on site
Food and drink
Free full breakfast available daily 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
A bar/lounge
A restaurant
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Indoor pool
Library
Outdoor pool
Outdoor tennis court
Playground
Sauna
Steam room
Family friendly
Arcade/game room
Indoor pool
Laundry facilities
Outdoor pool
Playground
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Business services
Conference space
Meeting room
Outdoors
Garden
Terrace
Accessibility
No elevator
More
Banquet hall
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Rainfall showerhead
Shampoo
Shower
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
Flat-screen TV with digital channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
More
Heating
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of GBP 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: GBP 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are exempt from fees
Spa fee: GBP 10 per day
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Property is also known as
Knoll House Hotel Swanage
Knoll House Swanage
The Knoll House Hotel
The Knoll House Swanage
The Knoll House Hotel Swanage
The Knoll House Reviews
Reviews
8.6
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Excellent location and staff were efficient, attentive and friendly. I had mixed feelings about our room on arrival, it was larger than average with enormous bathroom, 2 x beautiful wood fitted wardrobes and great mirrors. The walk in shower was really nice and ideal for us due to mobility issues. However the flooring throughout needed attention in places. I felt like bathroom floor in particular needed a good scrub. The beds were comfortable and linen was nice. Our room was on ground floor and unfortunately the lights from cars shone right through our windows until after 11pm, this would only have affected about 6 rooms at the back of the main hotel. The breakfast was very satisfying and tables were not too close to each other. Lovely views and National Trust maintained beach on your doorstep. A good hotel for families and those with dogs.
The dining staff were excellent, friendly and helpful. The price for these facilities was excellent. Only gripe at this dog friendly place is that some of them smelled really bad. The room was really clean and spacious
Laura
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
6/10 Okay
Beverley
Traveled with family
Aug 31, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Quirky! Agatha Christie and Fawlty Towers vibes!
At first I wanted to check out and go somewhere different! But I am pleased we didn’t. Go with the flow, I thought. Bed sheets good quality linen, therefore slept well. Plenty of hot water.
Dont expect AC or room fans on hot days.
Good things
Location, studland and the beach, swimming pool and spa, great for families and fantastic for dogs! Separate dining room to have dogs with you. Bar billiards, lots of sitting areas.
Food taste. Sitting out front overlooking the sea on a warm morning was magical.
Downside
Expensive for what it is 3star
Food 2 courses for £34 menu changes daily, but portion control on the 2 meals we had was stingy. I had to hunt for both the goats cheese on first night and mackerel on the 2nd.
But main course i had tasted good even if small. Husband had the lamb which was tough. Therefore we
Recommend if you have children or dogs, very Hi de Hi!
This is a great base to explore Studland and surrounding areas. There is a bus stop just outside which you can hop on and off to Swanage, Poole, Bournemouth , Corfe Castle and Sandbanks. The hotel is super dog friendly so you can take the whole family! There are lots of deer in the nearby woodlands and some occasionally visit the hotel grounds. Although the hotel is in need of selective repairs, all rooms are clean and comfortable. The staff are all friendly and helpful without being overbearing or pushy. We would definitely stay again if we are in the area.
Agree with previous comments on room 107. Stayed in room 106, one of their “garden suites”. Was meant to stay for four nights, left after two. Room not in great condition, out dated, mould in bathroom, couldn’t open bathroom window, no proper wardrobes, no headboard for one of the beds so chance of knocking against radiator. Forget having WiFi in the room as it doesn’t reach that far. Hotel will claim they don’t promise this but it’s written in the property details when booking through hotels.com. Main hotel might be better but the garden suites is anything but.
Asked for lunchtime/bar food on Sunday. Only did roast dinner. Not ideal while at the pool.
Overall not a very relaxing break. Shame
Enjoyed early morning swims, in the beautiful pool. Plenty of seating areas around the hotel to relax or socialise The beds were comfy, plenty of choice for the delicious breakfast.
We had a problem with ants in our room but were quickly offered another room which was an upgrade. Staff were friendly and accommodating.
Yvonne
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
Beverley
Traveled with family
Aug 14, 2025
Stopped here for my daughters wedding for 2 nights
The surrounding area is amazing and the hotel is set in charming grounds
Buffet breakfast was excellent
Food at the wedding was fantastic
Staff were charming and always willing to help
Hotel needs a good deep clean and more attention to keeping it clean
But overall a wonderful charming dog friendly hotel which I would whole heartedly reccomend and would return to.
It’s a pity the owners don’t spend a little money on renovating this very charming hotel instead of following the trend and knocking down and rebuilding the glass fronted no charm no atmosphere hotels that are in this area
Bev
The property was lovely and clean and well kept. The pools were lovely and clean. Some areas just needed decorating.
Julie
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
Claire
Traveled with family
Aug 10, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Great staff and location
Had a lovely stay at the Knoll House. The location is perfect and the staff were dedicated. The bedroom was comfortable although the decor was a little shabby. Dinner was wonderful but breakfast left a lot to be desired compared to other hotels I visit.
We’ve been to this hotel on several occasions and will continue to do so. It’s hard to describe – a bit like stepping back in time but such a warm, friendly and quirky hotel that sits right opposite Knoll beach and is perfectly placed for the Isle of Purbeck and Poole. The bus stops right outside for easy access into Swanage and the beaches are exceptional. Breakfast at the hotel is excellent, the rooms we’ve had are usually compact but comfortable – maybe a little dated but that’s part of the charm! We bring our dog so have to sit in a different dining area which is fine but space can sometimes be limited depending on how many dogs are staying, however the staff are very accommodating.
Tracey
Stayed 1 night in May 2025
6/10 Okay
Louise
Traveled with family
Aug 2, 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Evening meals were very good, staff helpful and polite, breakfast buffet okay. position right by Knoll beach is lovely, Excellent view from terrace and dining room out to sea and headland. Internet access in rooms is poor, rooms are out of date and small with tired decor out of the 1950s, sound insulation non-existent, bathrooms basic, only one electric socket in each bedroom, furniture feels cheap. Pool is okay though again old-fashioned, golf course rough and ready, terrace and steps outside a bit hazardous with uneven paving. The whole place needs a serious make-over.