From Thursday 2 - Sunday 5 June, we are being treated to an extra long Bank Holiday weekend in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

With long days and balmy nights, this upcoming Bank Holiday weekend is a fantastic opportunity to explore all that the New Forest has to offer. From themed afternoon teas to endurance challenges, you’ll find plenty happening here over the weekend. Plan your New Forest break today…

Celebrate with some traditional fare

What better way to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne than enjoying an afternoon tea?

Join in with the luxurious surroundings of Chewton Glen Hotel on the Friday to celebrate. Afternoon tea will include a glass of English sparkling wine and live music from the strolling, acoustic trio, ‘Wandering Hands’. Rest assured come rain or shine, this will be a memorable occasion.


Image - Chewton Glen Hotel

The Thatched Cottage Hotel in Brockenhurst will be offering a Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea daily across the Bank Holiday weekend, 12.30pm - 5pm.

Balmer Lawn Hotel are inviting you to join them for an afternoon tea like no other to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee on Thursday 2 June! With the ambience of a buzzing British street party combined with the eloquence of a traditional afternoon tea, indulge in a delicious array of sweet and savoury delights. Plus, there will be an in-house DJ bringing great music on Thursday and throughout the rest of the weekend.


Image - Balmer Lawn Hotel

On the Sunday, Calshot Activities Centre is bringing the community together (with visitors welcome too) with afternoon tea, entertainment, and a licensed bar to the backdrop of views across the Solent.

For other tempting food offers, look out for the Forest Park Hotel’s special lunch for the Jubilee. Served on the Friday and Saturday, you can choose whether to dine within the restaurant or the hotel’s garden.

Perhaps you’d like to arrange a picnic to take out into the forest? We’ve lots of lovely picnic spots to choose from. Added to that, The Forest Foodie are putting together picnic packs including the aptly named Jubilee Extravaganza (for 2 people, £55pp, for 4+ people, £50pp) as well as afternoon teas on the go which feature a wealth of locally-sourced products. Yum!


Image - The Forest Foodie

To take home as a gift, or to simply enjoy over the weekend, be sure to try the ‘Red, White & Blue’ of New Forest Shortbread’s Jubilee-themed flavours. June's special offer to celebrate the marking of the Queen's 70 years of service is as follows:

Red - Raspberry flavoured New Forest Shortbread - box of 4
White - Original All Butter New Forest Shortbread - box of 8
Blue - Earl Grey flavoured New Forest Shortbread - box of 4

£15 inclusive of postage and packaging.

Head to Ringwood for the town’s celebrations

In the heart of Ringwood, The Furlong shopping centre will be running events across the weekend. Events include:

Thursday – Live music from 12noon - 2pm and then in the evening. At 9.45pm a beacon will be lit to celebrate the historic milestone the Queen has achieved.

Friday – From 10.30am - 11am, Stagecoach children will offer a performance. Then from 12noon - 2pm, Avon Valley Concerts will be performing some relaxed, classical music. For the younger visitors, from 10am - 2pm, there’ll be free face painting on offer.


Image - The Furlong 

Saturday – Scarlett Swing will perform a range of songs from the 40s, 50s, 60s and some modern classics in the courtyard. The sets will run from 10.30am - 11.15am and 11.30am - 12.15pm.

On the Sunday, Party in the Park will take place at Carvers Recreation Ground from 12noon - 6pm. A fantastic event with a live music stage and plenty of family entertainment including circus skills, game stalls, steam train, refreshments and a pop-up bar. Simply pitch up with a picnic blanket and enjoy these joyful celebrations.

Enjoy an active Bank Holiday weekend

There’s nothing better than getting active here in the New Forest.

Why not hire a bike from one of our hire centres such as the Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre or New Forest Cycling Tours? In fact, you could also embark on the New Forest Cycling Tours’ new tour, Coast to Forest Jaunt-E Tour with Jaunt-E Bikes, with E-bike hire from Keyhaven, near Lymington.


Image - Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre

There are plenty of other opportunities to get active at Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre over the weekend. These include taking on the centre’s new Tree Top Trail (suitable for ages 8+) or booking onto a 90-minute Go Adventure Activities session where you can try a multitude of outdoor activities such as archery, high ropes and bushcraft.

Of course, a visit to the New Forest wouldn’t be complete without a walk. Don’t forget to browse our walking routes and take a peaceful amble through our beautiful forest, across our heathland or following along some of our coastline.

From dogs to steamships! There’s plenty going on

If you are travelling to the New Forest with your four-legged friend then you won’t want to miss Dogstival (Saturday and Sunday). A celebration of all things doggie-related, with dog displays, stalls selling everything your pup could imagine and much more. This year, the festival is taking place at Broadlands Park, Romsey.


Image - Dogstival

The long weekend also allows Southampton's heritage vessel Steamship Shieldhall the opportunity to steam up for three consecutive days between 3 - 5 June. The Friday will see a special commentary and talk on Southampton’s links with RMS Titanic (cruise between 2pm – 7pm). The Saturday sees Shieldhall welcome the Selsey Shantymen (cruise between 3.30pm – 7pm) whilst on Sunday (cruise between 3.30pm – 7pm) an ‘All Things Steam’ cruise is being staged. This is an opportunity to highlight the steam engines of all shapes and sizes to be found on Shieldhall, with additional miniature steam engines to admire alongside.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our what’s on listings for other events due to take place over the Jubilee weekend.

Make a break of it

It’s not too late to make a break of it so be sure to take a look at our amazing accommodation options for last-minute getaways across the Bank Holiday weekend.


Image - Back of Beyond Touring Park

Back of Beyond Touring Park, near Ringwood has late availability in some of its glamping units and some camping pitches available too*. A site for adults only, there will be plenty to see and do over the Platinum Jubilee weekend including visiting caterers and the chance to join in with a street-party style afternoon/evening at the site’s own outdoor bar on the Friday evening. Special themed Jubilee afternoon teas are also available to pre-book for guests staying over the weekend.

We wish you an enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend!

As you can see, there’s a lot of things happening in and around the New Forest this weekend, you’ll be spoilt for choice. We wish you a fantastic weekend, do share your pictures with us when out and about by tagging @thenewforestuk on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter!

*Please note, availability was correct at time of writing and is subject to change.