1 Night, 1 Round
Set in 10,000 acres of glorious Warwickshire countryside, the Forest of Arden is one of the Midlands' flagship golf resorts, combining two championship courses by Donald Steel with a 4-star hotel and spa. The headline layout is the Arden Course, a three-time host of the European Senior Masters and a proper test of accuracy and course management. Its sister, the Aylesford, offers a contrasting but equally rewarding round. Despite being less than 30 minutes from Birmingham city centre and 10 minutes from the NEC and Birmingham Airport, the resort feels properly rural, with mature woodland, open parkland and a sense of space that's rare this close to a major city.
Off the course you've got the full 4-star set-up: spacious rooms, solid service and enough on-site facilities that you can actually switch off between rounds. The Cedarwood Spa is a standout feature, while the Fairway Bar & Grill serves quality food in a relaxed setting. Whether you're here for a quick overnight or a longer stay, the Forest of Arden strikes a smart balance between serious golf and proper downtime.
Who is this for?
Golfers who want an easy Midlands escape with two strong courses, a proper hotel and spa, and no faff getting there.
Who is it best for?
Groups and societies who want 36 holes with a bit of variety, couples who like the golf-and-spa combo, and mid-to-low handicappers who'll appreciate the Arden's tighter test.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
1 Night, 1 Round
1 Night, 2 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
The Championship Arden Course at the Forest of Arden Golf Club is one of the country's most established tournament layouts, having hosted the cream of the European Tour for the British Masters from 1997-1999 and in 2003, and the English Open between 1993-1997, from 2000-2002 and again in 2020 where the event changed its name to the Hero Open.
Scoring was often good during these professional events with low scoring totals achieved by Ian Woosnam (1993) and Per-Ulrik Johansson (1997) with 4-round scores of -19. Champions at Forest of Arden also include Colin Montgomerie (1994) and Darren Clarke (2000 & 2002) and Sam Horsfield in 2020 with an overall score of -18.
This is indicative of the quality of the course, which has some truly distinctive holes, especially the 18th, an exacting par-3. The layout suits golfers of all abilities and when stretched to its fullest, the Arden will measure 7,213 yards, demanding the absolute best in striking in order to score well. Should you manage to find the green in regulation, the outstanding putting surfaces will give you a good chance to convert. With the quality of the course it is easy to see why so many enjoy golf breaks at The Forest of Arden each year.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1992 |
| Previously hosted | British Masters (1997-98, 2003-05) |
| Championship | 7,213 yards | SSS 73 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,707 yards | SSS 73 |
| Yellow | 6,451 yards | SSS 71 |
| Red | 5,654 yards | SSS 72 |
The Aylesford Resort Course at the Forest of Arden Golf Club is considerably shorter than its prestigious neighbour, but the expert attention of the greenkeepers ensures that it remains in equally immaculate condition. The Aylesford may be less than 6,000 yards, but underestimate it at your peril, as there are penalties to be paid for the wayward. This charming little course adds good variety to the Forest of Arden's repertoire, and emphasises the quality of a golf break at the resort.
| Par | 69 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1992 |
| White | 5,809 yards | SSS 68 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 5,579 yards | SSS 69 |
| Red | 5,068 yards | SSS 69 |
In addition, the Forest of Arden Golf Club is home to a first class golf academy, where visitors can seek the guidance of one of the resident PGA professionals.
Alongside the two golf courses there is a 16 bay floodlit driving range with an extensive short game and bunker area including a separate putting green.
The Forest of Arden's 214-room hotel sits at the heart of the resort, offering the kind of space, comfort and service you'd expect from a 4-star property. Rooms are contemporary in style, tastefully furnished and genuinely spacious, making them ideal for golfers who want to unwind properly after 36 holes. The hotel's location, surrounded by countryside yet within easy reach of Birmingham, the NEC and the airport, makes it a practical choice for groups flying in or driving from across the UK.
The Fairway Bar & Grill is the main dining option, serving international cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients. It's a proper sit-down restaurant rather than a casual clubhouse setup, and the quality reflects that. Breakfast is a full English or continental spread, while afternoon tea is also available for those who want a more leisurely pace. For something lighter, Zest offers all-day snacks and casual dishes, with an outdoor terrace that's perfect for a post-round drink when the weather plays along. Big screens around the bar areas mean you won't miss the sport, and the atmosphere is relaxed without being overly formal.
The Cedarwood Spa is the pick of the bunch, offering a full menu of treatments including body scrubs, wraps, facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. It's a proper spa rather than a token leisure add-on, making the Forest of Arden a strong choice for mixed groups or couples where one half wants serious golf and the other prefers serious relaxation. The leisure club includes a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym, plus outdoor options such as tennis courts, table tennis and croquet. For golfers, that means you can stretch out tired legs, loosen up before a round, or simply switch off completely between tee times.
The combination of two championship courses, quality accommodation and extensive leisure facilities makes the Forest of Arden one of the most complete golf resort experiences in the Midlands. It's particularly well suited to groups who want variety, couples looking for a mix of golf and spa time, and anyone after a convenient but high-quality UK break.
Address: Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, Birmingham, Warwickshire, CV7 7HR
Kevin
✓1 Jun 2026
Drinks very expensive. No discounts in hotel or spike bar. On arrival checked availability of buggies was told book the day before/then told fully booked the full 4 days
Nigel
✓31 May 2026
Absolutely perfect for my party of 26 golfers , I would highly recommend recommend it.
Michael
✓27 May 2026
Very slow service in the bars, enjoyed our stay but waiting on the tees and in the bars spoilt a great over night stay. More bar staff a longer times between 4 balls we’re required.
Sam
✓26 May 2026
Dustin
✓23 May 2026
The food was very poor on the half board. We would have preferred the bar, by far.
Neil
✓18 May 2026
Felt it was better value for money when it was the set menu. The buffet was nice but no reduction in price for a buffet over a set meal seems a bit unfair.
Gary
✓13 May 2026
All very nice but the group just felt that the drinks and bar meals were a little too expensive
Andrew
✓10 May 2026
Clive
✓5 May 2026
A wonderful stay at the FOA - enjoyed by all 12 players
Matt
✓4 May 2026
Fairly basic, rooms / bathrooms in need of a makeover. Everything we needed and clean. Check-in staff could’ve been friendlier and the bar areas could have been comfier - many struggled for a place to sit
Kevin
✓1 Jun 2026
Course top class..
Kevin
✓1 Jun 2026
Golf course top class
Nigel
✓31 May 2026
An amazing course, clearly one of the better courses this country has to offer ( especially for the money) Would definitely play here again 👍🏻
Nigel
✓31 May 2026
The better players blew the course away , the lesser players struggled with the rough as it was quite long and very close to the fairway. Myself I shot 3 over on a course I’d never seen so very happy.
Michael
✓27 May 2026
Very challenging course but never played it all, when we got to the 12 and 4 1/2 hours had passed we decided to call it a day, it was looking like at least a 6 hour round.
Michael
✓27 May 2026
Sam
✓26 May 2026
Sam
✓26 May 2026
Dustin
✓23 May 2026
The course was very nice although the greens, in general for the area, were very hard and you couldn’t control the ball (no spin and fast rollout).
Neil
✓18 May 2026
Both days we were helped by the Pro’s to get out at a more convenient time for us, which was much appreciated
