Christmas shopping and markets in the New Forest
There's something magical about Christmas shopping in the New Forest. Festive lights twinkling along village high streets, independent shops filled with thoughtful gifts, the smell of freshly made fudge and Christmas markets bringing together talented local makers and producers.
Whether you're searching for the perfect present, filling the cupboards with festive treats or simply looking for an excuse to enjoy a Christmas day out, the New Forest is full of places to make your Christmas shopping a little more special.
And with so many wonderful independent businesses to support, you might just find something you wouldn't find anywhere else.
Make a day of Christmas shopping in our towns and villages
Forget rushing from shop to shop. Christmas shopping in the New Forest is best enjoyed at a slower pace, with time for a coffee, a little browsing and perhaps lunch along the way.
Lymington is a wonderful place to start, with its Georgian High Street lined with independent boutiques, gift shops and familiar favourites. Visit on a Saturday and you'll find the bustling weekly market too, with stalls selling everything from local produce to handmade gifts.
Over in Lyndhurst, browse the independent shops and pick up something special at Sofikas, with its beautiful collection of clothing and jewellery, or stop by Pages of Lyndhurst for New Forest-inspired gifts, locally roasted coffee and regional produce.
Image - Lyndhurst High Street
For a little bit of everything, head to The Furlong Shopping Centre in Ringwood. With a mix of independent businesses and popular brands, including Waterstones, FatFace and Joules, it's a brilliant place to tick a few presents off your list before enjoying a festive coffee or bite to eat.
And don't overlook our smaller villages. Burley, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge and Milford on Sea all have their own independent shops and lovely places to stop along the way.
Find something special from our independent shops
Some of the best Christmas presents are the ones you weren't expecting to find. For the outdoor adventurer in your life, The Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst is a great place to browse cycling gifts and accessories, while Páramo Directional Clothing in Ringwood offers practical outdoor clothing for those who love exploring, whatever the weather.
If you're shopping for someone with green fingers, head to Fairweather's Garden Centre in Beaulieu or Stewarts Garden Centres, where you'll find plants, gifts, homeware and plenty of seasonal inspiration. You could even make a festive day of it with a visit to Santa's Winter Wonderland.
Image - Stewarts Garden Centre
You can even combine Christmas shopping with a day out. Gift shops at the National Motor Museum Beaulieu, Paultons Park and the New Forest Heritage Centre offer another opportunity to find something memorable.
From beautiful homeware and handmade crafts to books, clothing and gifts inspired by the New Forest, there's no shortage of thoughtful presents waiting to be found.
Give a little taste of the New Forest this Christmas
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without plenty of delicious food and drink, and the New Forest has some wonderful local producers to help fill your festive cupboards.
In Burley, a visit to Burley Fudge Shop is practically essential. Choose from a tempting selection of handmade fudge, perfect for stockings, gifts or a little treat for yourself. While you're in the village, stop by New Forest Cider for traditionally made cider, apple juice and local produce.
Image - New Forest Cider
For those with a sweet tooth, New Forest Shortbread makes a lovely gift, with delicious locally made shortbread that's perfect for sharing over Christmas. Or, for something a little stronger, explore the small-batch spirits crafted by 820 Spirits, inspired by the New Forest landscape.
For a present that brings together several New Forest favourites, The New Forest Hamper Company in Sway creates beautiful hampers filled with locally produced food and drink.
If you're preparing for Christmas at home, head to Hockey's Farm Shop near Fordingbridge for locally sourced meat and produce, or visit Longdown Farm Shop for more local ingredients and festive essentials.
Image - Minstead Community Shop
Our community shops are worth a visit too. Minstead Community Shop and East Boldre Community Shop offer a lovely selection of local produce and everyday favourites, making it easy to support smaller businesses while preparing for Christmas.
Look out for the New Forest Marque when shopping, too. It celebrates produce and products with a genuine connection to the New Forest, helping you choose gifts that support local growers, makers and producers.
Get into the festive spirit at New Forest Christmas markets
There's nothing quite like a Christmas market to get you feeling festive. From handmade decorations and artisan gifts to delicious food, warming drinks and local crafts, our Christmas markets bring together some of the very best of the New Forest.
Here are some festive shopping events you'll want in your diary this year.
Image - Eats 'n' Treats
New Forest Eats 'n' Treats - Sunday 15 November 2026
10am–3pm | Brockenhurst College
One of the New Forest's favourite festive shopping events returns for 2026, bringing together over 70 stallholders for a day filled with local food, drink, handmade gifts, artisan crafts and Christmas treats.
New Forest Eats 'n' Treats is the perfect opportunity to get ahead with your Christmas shopping while meeting some of the talented producers and makers behind the products.
There's live music and family fun to enjoy too, so bring everyone along and make a day of it.
Entry is £3 for adults, with free entry for children under 16. Free parking is available, and there's no need to book in advance. Please note that dogs aren't permitted on site.
Find out more about New Forest Eats 'n' Treats 2026.
Image - Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Christmas Fair at Exbury Gardens - 28–29 November and 5–6 December 2026
10am–4.30pm | Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Imagine doing your Christmas shopping surrounded by the beautiful woodland gardens of Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway.
Across two festive weekends, Exbury Gardens will host its Christmas Fair, bringing together local producers, independent makers and seasonal food and drink.
And there's plenty more to enjoy beyond the shopping, including a family Christmas trail, arts and crafts, visiting donkeys and opportunities to book festive railway experiences and visits to Father Christmas.
With different stallholders across the two weekends, you might even find a reason to visit twice!
Admission is £7 for adults, with free entry for children under 16. Additional activities may require separate tickets.
Find out more about Christmas at Exbury.
There are more festive shopping opportunities to enjoy, too! Pop along to the Christmas Market at Hyde Country Stores for some seasonal shopping inspiration, or or head to THE NICI New Forest to enjoy Christmas Shopping with Helen and Sarah, a special two-day shopping event raising funds for Oakhaven Hospice.
Explore more Christmas markets across the New Forest
The festive shopping doesn't stop there. Throughout November and December, towns and villages across the New Forest host Christmas fairs, craft markets and seasonal shopping events, giving you even more opportunities to find something special.
Our regular markets in Lymington, Ringwood, Hythe and New Milton are also wonderful places to visit in the lead-up to Christmas, with independent traders selling everything from fresh produce and food to gifts, clothing and crafts.
Image - Paultons Park
Keep an eye on our Christmas Markets in the New Forest page for the latest events and dates as they're announced.
Make Christmas shopping part of a New Forest day out
The best part about Christmas shopping in the New Forest? There's always something else to enjoy while you're here. Start the morning browsing independent shops, stop for a festive lunch or afternoon tea, and finish with a peaceful winter walk through the ancient woodland or along the coast.
Image - Alice's Christmas Wonderland at the National Motor Museum Beaulieu
You could also plan your visit around one of our Christmas markets, taking time to enjoy the festive atmosphere, discover local makers and indulge in a few seasonal treats. However you choose to spend your day, there's plenty to enjoy beyond the shopping itself.
Shop local and make Christmas extra special
Behind so many of the New Forest's shops, market stalls and local products are people who put care, creativity and passion into what they do. Choosing to shop locally means supporting those businesses, helping our towns and villages thrive and taking home something with a little more meaning.
So this Christmas, make time to explore somewhere new, browse a little longer and enjoy everything our wonderful New Forest businesses have to offer. You might find the perfect gift. You might find your new favourite shop. And you'll certainly find plenty of reasons to come back.
Explore shopping in the New Forest and start planning your festive day out.
Image - Burley Fudge Shop
