During the current nationwide lockdown, any travelling should only be done locally – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall, this includes for your daily outdoor exercise.
Please note, wild camping and overnight parking IS NOT PERMITTED in the New Forest. Please always plan ahead and book before you travel. There are lots of campsites that are open in the New Forest.
There are plenty of ways to travel to The New Forest safely, quickly and hassle free.
Air
The nearest international airports to the New Forest are Bournemouth Airport and Southampton Airport.
Heathrow Airport is approximately 70 miles from the New Forest.
Rail
The New Forest is located just 89 minutes away from London Waterloo Station by train. Travel with South Western Railway to the New Forest straight from London Waterloo, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.
With eight train stations in the New Forest you will be sure to be just a short distance away from your final destination. You can find a train station in the following New Forest locations:
- Ashurst
- Beaulieu Road
- Brockenhurst
- Hinton Admiral
- Lymington
- New Milton
- Sway
- Totton
To find out more information about Rail travel to the New Forest and to book please click here.
If you have any queries regarding Rail travel, please contact National Rail on 0345 748 4950.
Please note wild camping is not permitted in the New Forest.
Coach
Travel from a-far on a delightful coach, at a great rate. The National Express coaches stop at Lyndhurst, Lymington and Ringwood, and occasionally other stops within the New Forest. The coaches regularly travel from central London (from London Victoria Coach Station) and Heathrow Airport.
To find out more information about Coach travel to the New Forest and to book please click here.
Car
Travel to the easily accessible New Forest in the comfort of your car.
Travelling from Southampton, London or the East: exit M27 at Junction 1, signed Cadnam and head southwards into The New Forest.
Travelling from the West: use A31 from Dorset. Travelling from the North: take either A338 from Salisbury to Ringwood in the west of the Forest, or A36 to Totton in the east.
Car hire is available at Southampton, Bournemouth and Salisbury.
Ferry
Travel to and from Hythe on the Hythe Ferry, with regular routes to and from Southampton. For more information on this contact 02380 840 722.
Have a scenic journey with Wightlink to get to and from Lymington and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. For more information on this contact 0333 999 7333. Or, travel with Red Funnel between Cowes (on the Isle of Wight) and Southampton. For more information on this contact 0844 844 9988.
The closest port to the New Forest for cross-channel ferries is Portsmouth.
Bus
The New Forest is served by a public bus network, which provides the opportunity to both travel to and around the area by bus.
If you have any queries regarding Bus travel, please contact Bluestar on 01202 338 421, Morebus on 01202 338 420, or Yellow Bus on 01202 636 110.
Bluestar route bus connections:
Bluestar 6 Southampton | Totton | Ashurst
Bluestar 8 Southampton
Bluestar 9 Southampton | Lepe*
112 Hythe | Dibden Purlieu
*Connections to Lepe Beach & Country Park on B*9 between 22 July and 1 September
For timetables visit bluestarbus.co.uk more route bus connections
More route bus connections:
X1 & X2 Bournemouth | Christchurch | New Milton
X3 Bournemouth | Salisbury
X6 Bournemouth | Verwood | Ferndown | Poole
For timetables visit morebus.co.uk
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
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