Knoll House Hotel, Swanage

About us

A stone's throw from Studland Beach, Knoll House is a charming family and dog friendly hotel. Explore the natural beauty of the Jurassic Coast on our doorstep.

You’ll find us 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. We’re a dog-friendly hotel, so you’re welcome to bring your canine companion with you.

While there’s plenty to see and do around the local area, we also have fantastic facilities on-site, so you can choose to relax in the way that suits you. Our golf course, tennis courts and indoor and outdoor swimming pools are there for you to use at your leisure. We've also got a steam room and sauna for ultimate relaxation.

As a family-friendly hotel, we also have things to keep the little ones entertained, including an adventure playground, an indoor games room and cinema room where we will show films on request.

Our main restaurant specialises in Anglo-French cuisine, and is open for breakfast and dinner. At the heart of the hotel is a focus on traditional hospitality for guests of all ages, with comfortable rooms, wonderful facilities and fine food freshly prepared. We look forward to welcoming you to Knoll House, and the beauty of the Studland Bay.

History

Knoll House was built around the turn 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.

The last tenants were Francis ‘Chris’ and Marjorie ‘Poppy’ Smith, two young hoteliers from Dorchester, who eventually bought the house and opened it as a hotel in 1931. They then began extending the building and adding new family suites, which brought immediate success.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, the hotel was requisitioned for troops erecting beach defences (such as the dragon’s teeth dotted along the coast). During 1943-44, soldiers used the beach and hinterlands to rehearse the D-Day landings. 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, an engineer from Newcastle, and his wife Pauline. The Ferguson family continued to manage the hotel for years to come, regularly upgrading staff and guest facilities.

In summer 2017, the hotel passed hands to new owners and management. Respectful of the history and heritage of Knoll House, the new owners plan to carry on improving the hotel, while retaining its traditional charm.

Modern tiled dining room offering fine dining in Dorset

Library and reading area at Dorset beach hotel Knoll House.

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Reviews

635 reviews

4.2/5

julie perry

1 year ago

Stopped briefly for a cream tea, and it was a lovely cream tea. Light and fluffy scones with a crunchy outside warmed in the oven, not microwaved. A generous portion of jam and clotted cream and two huge teapots of tea. The chap behind the bar where we ordered was friendly and accommodating. The hotel itself was like a time warp of the 70s. Lots of interesting bits and bobs to see and the tiles in the ladies toilets were amazing. Plenty of people checking in and lots of fabulous dogs too. Obviously very dog friendly. Good views over the sea and terraces for use in the summer look great.

Elena Kir

2 years ago

Knoll House is in dire need of repairs and thorough cleaning. The rooms are outdated, with torn carpets and peeling paint on window frames. Additionally, the game room was neglected, covered in spider webs, and equipped with worn-out equipment, making it virtually unusable. However, the most disappointing aspect was the spa area, especially the second floor. Our decision to stay here was influenced by the prospect of relaxing in the spa after a day of hiking in the beautiful surroundings. Regrettably, the spa closed at 5 pm, just an hour after the check-in time. This unexpected closure completely ruined our plans and left us feeling utterly dissatisfied. The lack of maintenance in the spa area and the limited operating hours not only impacted our overall experience but also contradicted the hotel's advertised amenities. Knoll House possesses immense potential owing to its stunning location, but it urgently requires attention to maintenance, cleanliness, and more accommodating service hours, particularly for its spa facilities. Unfortunately, this experience fell far short of our expectations and significantly dampened what should have been a rejuvenating getaway for both of us.

Caroline Holder

2 years ago

I hate writing bad reviews but this hotel has SO much potential! We used to come here as a family in the 90’s and nothing has changed. That’s part of its charm, stepping back in time but equally the hotel is rundown, under staffed, dirty with poor service. The bedrooms are dated but nice, have everything you need but… could definitely be cleaner. I don’t think the skirting boards have seen a duster since I was last there, 30 years ago! I couldn’t put my clothes in the draws for the crumbs and sweet wrappers left there. The pool area is neglected, inside and out side, both areas were rundown and dirty. There was a rather large dead spider in the steam room on the seat, which was there for the 4days we were! If you want a drink or snack between breakfast and lunch, forget it! They are unable or unwilling to serve anything until the bar opens at 12pm. No soft drinks, crisps, etc only tap water, tea or coffee. Which when you are with children and they want a drink or are getting peckish, is really frustrating!! If you’re planning a visit, take some drinks, snacks and antibacterial! I hope someone takes over this hotel, invests in the business and staff, it could be a real gem!

Daniel T

2 years ago

Personal favorite place for a short break. Facing the sea, a short walk to a National Trust managed beach and site. Variety of walks in the vicinity of the hotel. Very good for couples, families and accepting dogs. Spa and pools. Old fashioned hotel,clean & warm. Perfect for us.

Rosie Spalding

2 years ago

I loved this hotel. It has not changed much since I last visited as a child around 1966 and that is what is so wonderful. A real trip down memory lane and a perfect meeting place for the whole family. There is so much to do with 2 swimming pools, a games room, pitch and putt, tennis courts and very close to a beautiful safe, sandy beach. It is extremely dog friendly and breakfast is excellent. Dinner menu is limited, especially if you are a vegetarian.