Stuck in a rut on what to do when the weather isn’t playing ball? Check out some of the top indoor attractions found in the New Forest. From state-of-the-art museums through to indoor climbing walls, plan your visit to some of these amazing days out.
Step into our fascinating museums
Whether you have a particular interest such as cars or motorbikes, or you just love history, a visit to some of the New Forest’s museums is a must.
Delve further into the unique landscape of the New Forest at the New Forest Heritage Centre, Lyndhurst. Here, you can learn more about the verderers, commoners and ancient traditions such as pannage (releasing of pigs into the forest in the autumn months). This is an excellent place to start any visit to the New Forest, particularly if you are new to the area.
Image - New Forest Heritage Centre
With the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu packs a punch for a day out. Not only can you absorb the history of decades or motoring past, you can also explore Palace House and much more. Look out for special events taking place at Beaulieu, including talks and lectures plus, for families, regular activity trails during the school holidays. What’s more? Beaulieu is open throughout the year so is perfect as a day out during those chillier months.
Set in the beautiful village of Buckler’s Hard, uncover the village’s rich maritime history at the Buckler’s Hard Museum. Step inside the Shipwright’s Cottage, also within Buckler's Hard, and be transported back in time to see how shipwright, Thomas Burlace and his family once lived.
Image - Buckler's Hard
Motorbike enthusiasts should definitely add the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum to their itinerary. This museum showcases around 500 rare and exotic motorcycles from across the world. Added to this, the museum is also home to several arts and craft shops and its own tea room.
Plan a visit to the Eling Tide Mill Experience, whereby you can learn about how flour was ground using the power of water and more importantly, the tide. As one of the only fully working tide mills remaining in the UK, you can find out all about flour production and the mill’s impact on the local area. Look out for family activities and events taking place at various points throughout the year and usually held in the site’s activity room.
Image - Eling Tide Mill Experience
Explore our Elizabethan past
Journey back to the Elizabethan days on a trip to Breamore House and Museum, near Fordingbridge. Book onto one of the house tours (running April-October) and discover what life was like here in the 18th century.
The adjacent Countryside Museum offers an insight into traditional village life, with a particular focus on old farming machinery, a functioning steam workshop and a collection of rural scenes such as a dairy and school.
Image - Breamore House and Museum
Delve into the New Forest’s arts scene
Set in the coastal town of Lymington, St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery brings an eclectic mix of exhibitions, talks, cinema screenings and family events.
St Barbe’s local history collection helps visitors young and old find out more about Lymington and the wider New Forest coastline.
Catch many a play, performance or comedy night at Hanger Farm Arts Centre, in Totton. Alternatively, use the New Forest as your base to spend time out at the Mayflower Theatre (Southampton), Bournemouth International Centre and Pavilion (Bournemouth) and other arts venues nearby.
Image - Hanger Farm Arts Centre
Discover other indoor things to do in the New Forest
Whether it’s exploring some of our top indoor activities or indulging in a New Forest spa break, take a further look at our website to seek out other ideas for what to do indoors.
You will also find that some of our attractions which although predominantly outdoors, also have some indoor areas perfect for escaping any pesky bad weather. For example, Peppa Pig World has a large indoor soft play area perfect for little ones to burn off some steam, and Marwell Zoo has its large tropical zone where you can lookout for butterflies, colourful birds and much more. Plus, don’t forget that from May 2025, Paultons Park will be featuring a brand-new indoor ride, Ghostly Manor.