Things to Do in the New Forest and Hampshire

Whatever the season there are plenty of things to do here in The New Forest. If you love to get active on holiday then there are lots of activities on hand, from a simple stroll through the forest to a long-distance hike encompassing our towns and village or following our beautiful coastline.

Explore the area on horseback, cycle along over 100 miles off-road trails or have a fantastic family day out at some of our family-friendly attractions. Take a look below as we show you more of what’s on offer…

Attractions and days out for all the family
 

We are home to some famous attractions in the New Forest including the super family-friendly Peppa Pig World at Paulton’s Park and the internationally-renowned National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. At Paulton’s Park you can expect over 70 rides and attractions including rollercoaster rides, a 4D cinema, water rides and a small zoo. Within Beaulieu, enjoy discovering more about the history of motoring and motor sports, learn about the Victorian way of life at Palace House and the life of the monks who resided in Beaulieu Abbey.  

Exbury Gardens draw in the crowds, particularly in spring and early summer with the stunning display of world famous azaleas, rhododendrons and woodland flowers. Visitors both young and old will also enjoy a ride aboard the miniature steam railway as it whisks you on a 1.5 mile journey around the gardens. The gardens are also dog-friendly so your pooch can come along for a day out too!

The 18th century shipbuilding village at Buckler’s Hard provides not only breath-taking views along the Beaulieu River but the opportunity to visit the Maritime Museum and soak up the village’s rich history. Boat trips also run along the river in peak season (admission charge applies). If you enjoy walking then we’d also recommend you do the 2 mile walk between Buckler’s Hard and Beaulieu, a great walk to do with all the family.

Discover more about what makes the New Forest such a special area on a visit to the New Forest Heritage Centre in the ‘capital’ of the New Forest at Lyndhurst. Here you will find a free to enter museum, exhibition area and a wealth of information on the history of the New Forest. Look out for lots of interesting family events and activities in the school holidays as well.

Soak up both views and the history from Hurst Castle. The castle sits at the end of Hurst Spit, a two miles long bank of shingle which extends eastwards from Milford on Sea into the Solent. From here you can see across to the Isle of Wight, it’s also a popular spot for fishing. The castle itself has a rich history and was built by King Henry VIII in order to defend the south coast from invasion. The castle plays host to family activities at weekends and throughout the summer holidays.

History buffs will enjoy visits to Breamore House and Countryside Museum, near Fordingbridge, set in a historic little village untouched by time. The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, near New Milton, is home to one of the world’s biggest collections of motorbikes. Nearly all the bikes are restored to full working order and there are regular bike meets.

Children will love the theme parks at Adventure Wonderland and Paulton’s Park or searching for reptiles at the New Forest Reptile Centre. Longdown Activity Farm is a working farm near Ashurst which is a great family day where children can handle and feed the younger, smaller animals. New Forest Wildlife Park at Ashurst is a great places to spot wildlife such as bison, wolves, otters, owl and foxes. There are keeper talks and feeding sessions so all the family can get involved.

See how many of our native species of reptile you can find on a trip to the New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst. Here you can look out for adders, grass snakes and sand lizards. Or why not make a stop at Bolderwood and head to the deer viewing platform to watch the resident fallow deer being fed by the New Forest National Park Authority rangers.

If you're looking for some evening entertainment, head to one of our lovely local cinemas, including The Regal Cinema, or we also have some theatres and live music venues showcasing some fantastic shows.

Activities for all types of adventurer
 

Here in The New Forest, we love to get outdoors whatever the weather. With so much gorgeous countryside on our doorstep it’s hard not to - and with so many amazing activities in the New Forest it's so easy to do!

If walking in the new forest is your thing then there is an extensive footpath network in our area. Whether you fancy a short stroll along the coast path, a long-distance trail or simply a wander through the open forest, there is a lot of choice available. Download one of our suggested walking routes or pick up a local map and make your own journey. If you don’t fancy organising your walk yourself then there are a variety of guided walk companies, such as Fuzzacker Guided Walks or Ringwood Guided Walks, that are on hand to take you around the area and help you discover the charm of our National Park. Perhaps a Guided Bus Tour sounds more down your street? New Forest Platinum Tours are perfect for this!

Cyclists will love the opportunity to go off-road, with over 100 miles of gravel tracks taking you away from the traffic so you can soak up the atmosphere and the wonderful views. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own bike, there are plenty of places to hire bikes them within the New Forest and with excellent rail links to get here you won’t find it difficult to get out and about car-free.

Keen equestrians can enjoy the opportunity to explore the bridleways that criss-cross the National Park or hone your riding skills at one of our riding schools and equestrian centres. There are even places to stay where you can bring your own horse along!

Learn bushcraft skills, embark in some virtual warfare, take to the tree tops on the hire wires course or plan out some group events with Insight Activities based in Fordingbridge; ideal for team building, family groups or stag and hen parties.

Why don’t you try out a Family Adventure day with New Forest Activities, including Canoeing, Kayaking, Low Ropes and loads more! All of the fantastic Watersports take place on the beautiful Beaulieu River Nature Reserve. Make sure you take a look at all of their great events too.

For the adrenalin seekers the New Forest Water Park is a must, think wakeboarding and banana rides and you’ll get the picture. Or, if you prefer more sedate watersports then there are several places where you can take part in kayaking or yachting including the New Forest Water Park, New Forest Activities and Escape Yachting in Lymington.

Take to our waters for a spot of sea fishing or a cruise from Lymington harbour. You can also soak up the views of the luxury cruise liners from the Hythe Ferry as it crosses Southampton Water or on Wightlink ferry as it journeys from Lymington to Yarmouth, on the Isle of Wight. Or how about taking a stand-up paddleboard from Milford on sea to Hurst Castle with the New Forest Paddle Sport Company? A great way to not only enjoy the New Forest coastline but get fit in the process!

Golfers will be able to practice their game at various golfing hotels or golf clubs here. You can even try your hand at fishing at some of our freshwater lakes, from a fishing boat trip or by casting off from some of our beaches.

Indulge your senses
 

Relax and unwind at one of our day spas in the New Forest, or stay at one of our spa hotels and enjoy treatments in some truly stunning surroundings.

Save money off your days out in the New Forest
 

Take a look at some great special offers from our businesses just for visitors to this website!

We also recommend that you buy a Go New Forest Card. Which gives you lots and lots of money-saving offers off attractions, activities, places to stay, shops and eating out. Nearly 400 offers are available for card holders, and all this for just £10.

Take a wander through our website and let us inspire you with all the things you can do here in the New Forest…