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New Forest Attractions

If you are coming to the New Forest to walk or cycle, please plan ahead and find out more about our local car parks and toilet facilities in the New Forest here. Always follow the New Forest Code when in the New Forest.

There are plenty of attractions in the New Forest, all of which offer fantastic days out for all the family to enjoy. From historic houses, theme parks and animal attractions, there is plenty to choose from come rain or shine and no matter what time of year you visit. Whether you are travelling to the area as a couple, a family or an individual, you will be amazed at the variety of attractions that are on offer here in the New Forest.

Family attractions and days out

Whether you have young family, older children, or simply want the entire family to spend a day together then you will find the perfect option in The New Forest with all of our amazing family friendly attractions.

If you are here on a family holiday then there are some fantastic family attractions on offer, including the theme park at Paulton’s Park (home to the ever-popular Peppa Pig World). Here you can get the pulse racing with rollercoaster rides, flumes, play areas and themed Peppa Pig characters.

Another theme park that’s well worth a visit is Adventure Wonderland, located on the outskirts of Bournemouth.

For anyone who enjoys learning about wildlife then the New Forest Wildlife Park and Marwell Zoo make great places to visit. At both sites you can discover some of the species of animal from across the globe. Find out about farmyard animals at Longdown Activity Farm, near Ashurst and at the Dorset Heavy Horse Centre.

Bring the dog too, we have a great choice of dog friendly attractions that your four-legged friend will enjoy just as much as you!

If you're looking for some evening entertainment, we are home to loads of local cinemas, theatres and live music venues, such as Hanger Farm Arts Centre and Forest Forge Theatre. Find out more about all of this great entertainment for the whole family here.

Parks, gardens and nature

Take a stroll through our local parks and gardens and take in the sights and fragrances of the different seasons.

The famous Exbury Gardens, encompasses a large bit of land in the south of the New Forest National Park. A popular time to visit is during spring for the colourful display of rhododendrons and azaleas. Visitors of all ages usually enjoy the miniature steam railway which circulates part of the garden as well.

Slightly more informal are the Furzey Gardens at Minstead. Established in 1922, these gardens offer a spot of tranquillity with woodland walks, a lake and a children’s play area.

Visit Fairweather's Garden Centre where you can find a huge array of beautiful flora and fauna, have a wander around their shop and enjoy something to eat at Steff's Kitchen.

Near to Ringwood and Fordingbridge is also the lovely Hockey's Farm, where you can meet loads of new friends including, ponies, sheep, pigs, donkeys and even alpacas! Head to their wonderful local produce shop and enjoy some delicious food and a refreshing drink while you're there too.

Discover more about the area’s flora and fauna on a trip to the New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst or by stopping by at the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary or seeing more stunning deer with New Forest Deer Safari. There are several nature reserves including Blashford Lakes, Landford Bog and the Keyhaven Marshes where bird watchers and nature enthusiasts can enjoy exploring.

Or why not simply embark on a nature walk in our beautiful national park before or after visiting some of our attractions? There are a wealth of different walk available, not matter what your ability.

History, heritage and cultural attractions in The New Forest

Take yourself on a journey back in time to discover the history and heritage of the New Forest. Discover the unique history of the area by starting at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst. Some of our fantastic museums and historic houses include the ship building village at Buckler’s Hard (which is also home to the maritime museum), Hurst Castle - built as a defence castle by Henry VIII and of course, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. At Beaulieu, you can also explore the site’s history as a monastery, until its demise during the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII and the Victorian ways of life that were enjoyed at Palace House.

See even more historic monuments within the New Forest at the unique archaeological site and museum of Rockbourne Roman Villa, or wander around the beautiful Breamore House, an Elizabethan Manor completed in 1583.

Lovers of historic motorcycles should add the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum to their itinerary as well as stopping in at Beaulieu’s for the World of Top Gear and other motoring related exhibitions.

Head to the Eling Tide Mill Experience to see the 900 year old mill in action! Go and check out how the power of the tide turns the watermill and powers the millstones to grind wheat into flour - learn all about the mill at their new interactive exhibition.

If you enjoy the arts, then be sure to explore our local crafts and art galleries as well as the theatre and performances at Forest Arts Centre and temporary art exhibitions at both the New Forest Heritage Centre (mentioned above) and the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington.

Some of our attractions are also based around our amazing local food & drink too! Go on a tour around the famous Ringwood Brewery, learning about and seeing with your own eyes how some of the best New Forest ales are made, you will even get to try some yourself during the Tour!

Enjoy our attractions virtually

You can still experience loads of our wonderful Attractions virtually! From 24 hour webcams, livestreams and daily video updates, there's loads of fun things for you to watch and enjoy. Click here to watch now.

Discover more about the attractions in the New Forest

Use these pages to help you to explore just how much there is to see and do in the area. If you get stuck, the search box on this page will help you to find the perfect things to do or take a look for one of our local information points across the forest.

Keep an eye on our blog, where we feature top ideas for what to do over bank holiday weekends, school holidays and more. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well where we share tips on days out and what you can see and do at the time of your visit to the New Forest.

We would also highly recommend that you purchase the £10 Go New Forest Card before you visit. This will help give you nearly 400 money-saving offers on days out, activities, places to eat and drink and even places to stay.

Top tips on how to become a Forest-friendly visitor

The New Forest National Park is a wonderful place to visit and you can help it stay that way by being a Forest-friendly visitor.

The ponies and other animals have no road sense and frequently stand or walk on the unfenced roads, so give them (and walkers, cyclists and horse-riders) a wide berth and be especially careful when driving at night.

Highlights

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is now open! More than 100 years in the making, Exbury Gardens &…

National Motor Museum Beaulieu

Beaulieu featuring the world-famous National Motor Museum, Palace House home of the Montagu family…

Archery in the New Forest, woodland based

Insight Activities provide authentic woodland activities from a gorgeous private woodland in the…

Number of results:

Number of results: 59

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
9642 reviews
Paultons Park, Home of Peppa Pig World

Location:

Romsey

Paultons Park, home to the UK's only Peppa Pig World, has more than 70 wonderful rides and attractions included in the admission price.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
7270 reviews
National Motor Museum Beaulieu

Beaulieu featuring the world-famous National Motor Museum, Palace House home of the Montagu family and Abbey Ruins containing an exhibition of monastic life.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
433 reviews
Lepe Country Park

Location:

Southampton

With over a mile of beach, pine fringed cliffs, wildflower meadows, woods and historic D-Day remains, Lepe Country Park is the ideal place to relax and watch the world go by.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1840 reviews
Buckler's Hard

A unique 18th century village where warships for Nelson's Navy were built. Historic 18th century cottages, riverside walk, maritime museum and seasonal river cruise.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1328 reviews
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Location:

Southampton

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is now open!
More than 100 years in the making, Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a spectacular collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, contemporary and formal gardens, in a unique riverside location. Exbury…

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Forest Forge Theatre

Location:

RINGWOOD

Currently offering online courses and workshops! Forest Forge Theatre Company is a charity (Charity Number:289644) based in Ringwood specialises in creating professional performances, running participation groups and workshops for all, working with…

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
508 reviews
Furzey Gardens

Location:

Minstead

Furzey Gardens is open seven days a week, our tea rooms reopen on Saturday 19 February 10am - 4pm. Pre-book your visit online at furzey-gardens.org
Furzey Gardens is an informal woodland garden nestled in a tranquil New Forest setting, full of…

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49 reviews
Rockbourne Roman Villa

Location:

Fordingbridge

Rockbourne Roman Villa is a unique archaeological site and museum, situated in a peaceful part of Hampshire near the historic town of Fordingbridge, on the edge of the New Forest.

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Ringwood Brewery

Location:

Ringwood

Come and taste the different malted barleys, sniff the hops, see the fermentatious bubbling and sample the delicious beers from Ringwood Brewery including Razorback, Boondoggle, Circadian IPA, Forty Niner and Old Thumper.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
631 reviews
Fairweather's Garden Centre

Location:

Beaulieu

Using passion and expertise Fairweather’s have created a unique Plant and Garden Centre in the heart of Beaulieu.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1361 reviews
Hurst Castle & Hurst Castle Ferry

Location:

Milford on Sea

Come and discover this artillery fortress, built by Henry VIII in 1544, at the seaward end of a coastal spit, which was once a prison of Charles 1st. Castle takeaway is open daily. Frequent ferry service from Keyhaven Quay.

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Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum

Location:

Bashley Cross Road, New Milton

Apart from the Museum itself, the Museum Complex contains the Bashley Manor Tearooms, three craft & gift shops: Krafty Korner, Gifts With A Smile and Seahorse Yarns, FREE parking and many animals to pet and enjoy. Our new 10,000 sq ft two storey…

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Longdown Activity Farm

Location:

Ashurst

Fun for all ages with a schedule of activities every day including bottle-feeding calves and kid goats, and duck feeding. Lots of outdoor playtime fun. Tearoom, kiosk, and farm produce shop.

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Adventure Wonderland

Location:

Hurn

Dorset’s multi award-winning family theme park, Adventure Wonderland, is the perfect spot to unlock the fun this summer.
A wide range of outside rides and attractions are open daily including family favourites such as Jungle Falls, Battle Boats,…
Special Offers
- Kids get £5 OFF in fancy dress
  Children dressed as Alice, the Mad Hatter or any other Alice in Wonderland character will get £5.00 off entry* to Adventure Wonderland when accompanied by a full paying adult this May Bank Holiday weekend, 4th-6th May.
  Plus, there will be the chance for them to win a child's season ticket with a daily fancy dress competition, judged by the park's very own resident Alice and Mad Hatter. There will be two categories, Under 5's and 5 & overs.
  And, if that isn’t enough, Alice and Hatter will be hosting a FREE tea party every day at 4pm with Queen of Hearts jam tarts and squash.
  There's also loads of outside rides and attractions and visitors can meet some pint-sized ponies in the new Shetland World, where they’ll have the opportunity to pat and stroke them.
  Inside, the kids can let off some steam in the vast Aztec adventure play centre, Wild Thing! including the brand new interactive Jungle Zap Zone and enjoy (new show, Alice at the Musicals in the Happydrome Theatre)(storytime twice a day).
  Plus, new for 2019, children visiting Adventure Wonderland can get in for FREE at the Aviation Museum opposite!
  *Terms and Conditions apply. £5 discount applied to full price single admission only & cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or discounts.
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- 'Take off' with Adventure Wonderland
  Children visiting Adventure Wonderland this season can get FREE same day entry to the Aviation Museum opposite.
  Visitors can sit in the cockpits of the aircraft and helicopters, fly a plane around Dorset on a simulator and also climb on board the big yellow bus and sit in the driver's seat or go on the top deck and enjoy the panoramic view of Bournemouth Airport.
  Aircraft at the Aviation Museum include a Vulcan bomber, a sleek black Hunter jet fighter and a supersonic Lightning fighter.
  Visitors to Adventure Wonderland just need to show their ticket receipt at the Aviation Museum and children will be admitted free of charge on the same day.
  More offers like this - Things to Do Special Offers
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Eling Tide Mill Experience

Location:

Totton

Eling Tide Mill has stood at the centre of life in Eling for centuries. For 900 years millers have been harnessing the power of the tides in Eling Creek to grind wheat into flour.

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Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

Location:

Nr Ringwood

Whether you want to enjoy a peaceful walk or cycle ride through the Forest, experience a ride on an authentic narrow-gauge steam train or even Go Ape on a high wire forest adventure swinging through the tree tops, there is something for everyone at…

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New Forest Wildlife Park

Location:

Longdown, Ashurst

From the massive Eurasian Bison to the tiny Harvest Mouse there is something at New Forest Wildlife Park to inspire the whole family. Enjoy the Nature Trail winds it way through the wooded grounds to discover otters, wolves, lynx, wallabies, owls,…

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Hanger Farm Arts Centre

Location:

Totton

Hanger Farm Arts Centre is an inclusive, community hub that brings the arts to everyone in Totton, the Waterside and beyond while supporting people with learning difficulties.

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Knightwood Oak

Knightwood Oak which is also known as the ‘Queen of the forest’ and is over 500 years old.

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St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery

Location:

Lymington

St Barbe is the focal point for arts and heritage in this area. It has a modern museum telling the story of Lymington and the surrounding area, and the highest standard galleries that exhibit unique exhibitions.

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