With a stay at The Knoll House in Swanage, you'll be by the sea, within a 10-minute drive of Corfe Castle and Studland Beach and Nature Reserve. .This beach hotel is 8.2 mi (13.1 km) from Poole Harbour and 8.1 mi (13 km) from Bournemouth Beach.
What's nearby
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Swanage Beach - 6 min drive - 5.8 km
Shell Bay Beach - 7 min drive - 4.8 km
Sandbanks Beach - 9 min drive - 6.4 km
Old Harry Rocks - 12 min drive - 2.7 km
Getting around
Swanage Herston Halt Station - 14 min drive
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 42 min drive
Restaurants
Greggs - 7 min drive
Bankes Arms - 17 min walk
Down The Beach Cafe - 5 min drive
Ocean Bay Beach Bar & Restaurant - 6 min drive
Coastal Crust Pizzeria - 7 min drive
About this property
The Knoll House
Beach hotel with free breakfast and a sauna
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 transport
Free self parking on site
Food and drink
Free full breakfast available daily 8 AM to 10 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 lift
More
Banquet hall
Smoke-free property
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
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
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
Reviews
The Knoll House Reviews
8.6
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers 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.
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
Travelled with family
10 Aug 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
Travelled with family
2 Aug 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.
We had a great time at Knoll House - a truly old British affair - vintage and well loved, quirky, fun, v friendly and efficient staff, good dinner, excellent breakfast. Perfect for a family break with plenty of facilities and brilliantly located. We took our small dog who was welcomed by staff. By the very nature of being dog and family friendly this is a cosy place, gentile but not fancy - ideal for active guests with plenty of space for grandparent to join too!
Avoid the “garden suite” room 107. Over 650 for two nights, we left after one. Bad condition, smelt musty, stains, bathroom you couldn’t swing a cat! Heavy fire doors, everything just poor quality from the artex damaged walls to the woodchip. There is no garden view! Rotten wood on the “porch” - whole experience just awful.
Main hotel is in a stunning location. But has been left to rot since planning refused. Can’t believe some ratings are more than 5/10.
Visited about 7 years ago and it was better presented then. What a shame….
The location is stunning. The actual hotel, less so. We’ve stayed a number of times, but this time, it’s very obvious the hotel needs investment. I used to think it was shabby chic but more shabby these days. Shame.
This was a very old style hotel that had been kept very good order in keepingwith its age our stay was very enjoyable with a lovely swim in the outdoor heated pool, the breakfast in my opinion was faultless lovely good and very well presented with a good choice to choose from we wouldn't hesitate to stay at knoll house again
Our stay was comfortable,however we stayed 2 nights our room was not cleaned while we were there.The hotel stated dog freindly which it was, but at breakfast the dog friendly area was reserved even though we were told it was first come first served basis so a Large party took preference over other guests with no provision made for others.TV does not have ITV.
Loved the location..could use some updates but was clean an lots of amenities.
Teresa
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Verified traveller
Travelled with group
17 July 2025
Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The hotel was quite tired, but the staff and facilities made up for this. The outdoor pool was a great place to chill out by and it had everything we needed.
Verified traveller
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Michael
17 July 2025
Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Great Location
Peaceful and relatively quiet stay in a stunningly beautiful area.
Michael
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
2/10 Terrible
Terence
14 July 2025
We have been to this hotel many times before and it never disappoints us