9 Best Things to do in the New Forest
Walk across vast heathland, say hi to the friendly ponies, dine in cosy countryside pubs, stroll through quaint colourful streets and admire the giant sequoias. These are just a few of the best things to do in the New Forest, continue reading for more!
The New Forest lies in Hampshire and comprises an area of around 566 square kilometres of vast open heathland, ancient forest, vibrant wildlife, picturesque towns and villages, rivers, coast and endless miles of walking and cycling trails.
The New Forest was once a royal hunting ground for King William I in the 12th century AD and became a national park in 2005 making it one of Britain’s newest (and smallest) National Parks.
There are many wonderful activities in the New Forest, whether you’re here for a day, a weekend or a week and one of the best things about this national park is how compact it is so you can see a lot in a few days and not spend much time in the car.
Continue reading for our full guide on the best things to do in the New Forest and everything you need to know.
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Best Things to do in the New Forest
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Go on a Countryside Walk
We’ll start our guide to the best things to do in the New Forest with our main reason for visiting; walking!
We’re quite outdoorsy, love a walk and find it’s the best way to explore somewhere new while getting back to nature and escaping the often chaotic pace of daily life.
The New Forest has more than 220 kilometres of trails and walking is the best way to experience the stillness of the ancient woodland, the beauty of the lonely trees, the tranquillity of the streams and rivers and the friendliness of the ponies.
One of the best walks in the New Forest is the 13-kilometre Ober Water – Tall Trees Trail Loop.
Meandering its way around some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in the UK, across vast open heathland, over quaint wooden bridges and alongside serene streams, this walk takes in some of the forest’s best and most varied scenery.
There are walks for everyone ranging from popular family-friendly strolls to deserted long-distance hikes. The routes are easy to follow and usually have car parks at the trailheads.
See the New Forest Ponies
Another of the top things to do in the New Forest is to see the friendly ponies.
The New Forest is home to approximately 5000 ponies and has been for around 2000 years. They’re all owned by New Forest Commoners, however, they’re able to roam freely.
The ponies grazing is what helps to keep the New Forest’s landscape so neat and tidy and supports rare plant species which in turn helps the wider ecosystem and encourages other species to thrive.
At multiple times throughout the year, the ponies are rounded up so the commoners can check the health of their animals and wean and handle the foals.
You’ll find the ponies scattered all over the forest and you won’t take long to accidentally stumble upon one grazing away in the trees.
Our Top Tip: if you’re walking with your dog, be wary. The ponies can be quite hard to notice and you may not see one until it’s a few metres from you.
Admire the Tall Trees
One of the absolute must things to do in the New Forest is to visit the impressive firs and redwoods that were planted in the late 1850s.
The Tall Trees Trail is a short two-and-a-half kilometre loop that meanders its way around these towering beauties with several benches to sit on and appreciate their magnificence.
The highlight of the Tall Trees Trail is the two giant sequoias, undoubtedly the tallest trees in the New Forest. Despite their height, they have no signs of lightning or wind damage, so the forest appears to have protected them from the elements.
Our Top Tip: this is one of the most popular New Forest attractions so arrive early! There’s a car park on Rhinefield Road and by the time we’d finished the Oberwater and Tall Trees Loop at about 2pm, the car park was completely full.
Visit Beaulieu
Beaulieu, meaning ‘beautiful place’ in French, is an idyllic village in the New Forest sitting at the head of the Beaulieu River.
It dates back to the 13th century and was built around the Abbey founded in 1204 by Cisterian monks sent from the abbey of Citeaux in France.
Following Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, Beaulieu was passed into the ownership of the present Montagu family ancestors who have lived in the Palace House since 1538.
For those interested in Victorian history, one of the best activities in the New Forest is to explore the palace rooms in their original settings and hear tales from costumed guides into the workings of a Victorian household.
Beaulieu village has remained largely unspoiled and you can easily spend a few hours visiting the charming independent boutiques and galleries that line the little cobbled high street.
Dine in a Quaint New Forest Pub
After a long day walking and exploring the beauty of the New Forest, there’s no better way to end the day than some hearty food in a cosy countryside pub.
In Lyndhurst, make sure you check out the massive portions of locally sourced fresh food at The Mailman’s Arms or find a snug corner by the open fire in The Waterloo Arms; a true traditional country pub with real ales and home-cooked food.
You may also stumble upon some pubs out in the countryside as you’re adventuring, so why not stop for a drink or a bite to eat for lunch to fuel up?
Explore Picturesque Lymington
One of the more relaxing things to do in the New Forest is to explore Lymington. This colourful Georgian town overlooking the south coast of Hampshire is well worth a visit.
Stroll along the pretty High Street and browse the independent shops and designer boutiques, or find a cute cafe in a quaint courtyard and enjoy the slow pace of life.
As you reach the bottom of the high street, you’ll come to a cobbled road leading you to the Old Town Quay. From here, walk along the water’s edge and see the two large marinas filled with fishing boats and yachts.
Walk back inland through the town’s narrow colourful streets with pretty period cottages and houses.
Our Top Tip: for some delicious fish and chips, head to Deep Blue. You have the option to dine-in or takeaway.
Stroll Through Lyndhurst
The capital of the region, Lyndhurst is the largest village in the New Forest and a great base from which to explore. There are numerous walking and cycling trails nearby that pass through other areas including Brockenhurst, Emery Down and Burley.
Along the high street is an array of independent shops selling locally-made souvenirs and crafts, pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and convenience stores if you’re staying nearby.
Some of the best places to eat and drink in Lyndhurst include the cosy Waterloo Arms which serves amazing pub classics and local drinks and Renoufs, an award-winning cheese and wine bar.
Our Top Tip: book a table at Renoufs in advance as it’s very popular and quite a small restaurant.
Visit the Knightwood Oak
At over 500 years old, the Knightwood Oak is the ‘Queen of the Forest’ and one of the most popular New Forest attractions. This tree is believed to be the largest oak tree in the New Forest and has a girth of just over seven metres!
The Knightwood Oak differs from other oaks in the New Forest as it’s a pollarded oak. This method of tree management cuts the tree a couple of metres above ground level which promotes outward growth of fresh branches rather than the single main trunk continuing upwards. This forced growth of new branches greatly increases the yield of timber from the tree.
There are a couple of short walks from the Knightwood Oak Car Park and on a dry day, it’s a lovely spot for a picnic.
Stay in a Country Hotel
To wrap up our list of the best things to do in the New Forest staying in a country hotel.
Surrounded by magnificent countryside are a wide selection of hotels to suit all kinds of taste, budget and location. You can find secluded hotels completely immersed in nature or in one of the charming towns or villages if you’d like to walk out in the evenings.
Most hotels have at least a swimming pool and some have saunas and other spa facilities; perfect to wind down after a day out walking and before you have dinner.
Generally, hotels are dog-friendly just make sure to let the hotel know when you book as there may be specific dog-friendly rooms.
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the New Forest
Where is the New Forest?
Getting to the New Forest
Getting to the New Forest is relatively easy. By car, leave the M27 onto the A31 where several roads will lead you into the forest including Stoney Cross and Picket Post.
Getting around the New Forest
The easiest way to get around the New Forest is by car as this gives you the most freedom and flexibility. Car parks are located at the majority of the New Forest attractions and most of the trailheads.
If driving isn’t an option, during the summer you can use the New Forest Tour Bus. This open-top hop-on-hop-off bus has 3 routes to choose from and you can come and go as you please. There’s also a commentary on stories about the people and places of the New Forest.
Another popular way to get around the New Forest is on a bike. Either bring your own or rent from one of the numerous hire shops and explore the forest’s beauty on one of the cycling trails.
Where to stay in the New Forest
Deciding where to stay in the New Forest depends on what experience you’re looking for and if you want to get out and about without having to drive.
In terms of overall location, as the forest isn’t huge like other national parks such as the Peak District or Lake District, anywhere is a good base without a long drive to where you want to go.
If you want to walk out in the evenings, we’d recommend Lyndhurst, the capital of the New Forest with a fairly central location in the park.
The Forest Lodge Hotel is a charming, historical and cosy base for a few days to see the top things to do in the New Forest. It’s a 5-minute walk to the centre of Lyndhurst, overlooks a field of ponies and is surrounded by countryside and walks in every direction.
The included breakfast is delicious and really sets you up for the day and the indoor pool is perfect after a day of exploring.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to stay on the coast and be within easy reach of shops, bars and restaurants, Lymington is the perfect option.
If you’re open to location and want to find a more secluded hotel immersed in the beauty and tranquillity of the New Forest, take a look at the map below.
Best time of year to visit the New Forest
The New Forest can be visited all year round and each season will offer a completely different experience.
Visit during spring and watch the forest come back to life with bluebells, snowdrops, daffodils and newlyborn pony foals (just be mindful of the protective mothers so keep your distance!)
The warmest time to visit the New Forest is during the summer and you may be able to guarantee the weather a bit more (although this is the UK…). You will, however, have the crowds to compete with for the popular spots such as the Tall Trees.
Autumn will bring with it a wealth of golden leaves, purple heather and intriguing fungi, all adding to the already incredibly varied landscapes.
In Winter, you’ll have the trails largely to yourself with a smattering of other visitors and you won’t struggle to find good photo opportunities at the most popular New Forest attractions.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to the best things to do in the New Forest. If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a message or leave a comment.