New Forest Christmas Events 2017

Beaulieu

Christmas is a magical time of year, and there’s something extra special about spending it in a mystical forest. We urge you to explore the forest on walks and bikes rides – stopping off for a scrumptious meal at a thatched country pub with a roaring log fire. But don’t forget to take a peek around the historic towns and villages and their whimsical shops all dressed up, sparkly and festive.

Balmer-Lawn
Photography by Robb Webb

If you are looking for a short break away before Christmas, take a look at our festive guide below. These are places to visit and festivities to attend which always bring a smile to our faces, we hope you’ll enjoy then too.

Take a look at our cottages with December availability.

2nd December
Christmas Concert, St. Thomas’ Church, Lymington
7pm

We love this wonderful performance from The Lymington Choral Society and singers from local schools. They put on a gorgeously festive Christmas Concert with plenty of carol singing. Click here for more details.

2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd December
Go on a Santa Paddle! Beaulieu Village
10am or 2pm

Quirky and loads of fun for the family. Wrap up warm and explore the River Beaulieu with an experienced guide, looking for Santa on a sturdy 2-3 seat open top Canadian canoe. All the children will receive a gift from Santa and to warm your insides, mulled wine, hot drinks and mince pies will be served. So much fun! Click here to see available dates.

9th – 10th December
Lyndhurst Christmas Fun Weekend, Lyndhurst High Street
10am – 5pm

The town turns out for this lovely Christmas festival and there’s free parking on Saturday. Children can visit Santa, there are competitions and prizes, Santa’s Sleigh Parade and Christmas Carols with a traditional Brass Band. Sunday’s Fun Day includes a children’s disco (2pm – 7pm), street stalls, biscuit decorating and your turn to create some Christmas crafts. Click here for more information.

Lyndhurst

12th December
Children’s Christmas Party Followed by Carols with Beaulieu Band at The Turfcutters Arms.
4pm – 8pm

This gorgeous pub is in the pretty village of East Boldre. Its friendly staff host lots of events throughout the year, and none more so than at Christmas – the children’s party and carols being one of our favourites. Click here to find out more.

16th December – 1st January
Christmas at Beaulieu
11am – 5pm (6pm on 9, 10, 16 & 17 December).

So pretty and very, very Christmassy – take a trip to visit a Victorian Christmas at Beaulieu. There’s a life-size Gingerbread House for some fab photos and a fairy lit pathway to Palace House, which is richly decorated for a Victorian Christmas. Think log fires, thousands of lights, mulled wine, huge Christmas trees, carol singing, interactive crafts, cooking and Christmas pantomime rehearsals from Beaulieu staff in Victorian costume. Click here for more details.

Beaulieu
Photo Credit: Beaulieu

17th December
Santa Arrives at the Quay, Lymington
1pm – 5pm

Lots of festive food, drink, entertainment, arts and crafts and music on the town’s Quay. Watch Santa swap his sleigh for a boat, as he arrives in the town accompanied by a flotilla of boats and the RNLI at 4pm. For more info, click here.

19th December
Santa Dash in Lymington Town
11:30am

Leave your sleigh at home and either take part in or just come to watch a sea of ‘Santas’ in a 3k fun run! Lots of smiles and humour as these Santas whiz (or walk, hop, skip and jump!) around the course. It’s all great fun and done to raise money for Oakhaven Hospice. There’s still time to enter, and every entry gets a free Santa suit! More info here.

Now until 23rd December
Christmas at Paultons Park – Home of Peppa Pig World, Ower
10am – 4.30pm

Younger children absolutely love this family theme park! Meet Santa in his magical grotto and marvel at the thousands and thousands of fairy lights, musical Christmas tree, snow street, illuminations, rides and festive fun. Allow plenty of time to see everything. Click here for more information.

Paultons-Park
Photo Credit: Paultons Park

Now until 22nd December
Salisbury Christmas Market
Opens at 10am daily

OK, it’s not strictly in the New Forest, but Salisbury is only six miles from our cottages in the north of the forest. It’s such a wonderful location – we felt we had to include it. Salisbury Christmas Market is quite different from the majority up and down the country as many of the stalls are artisan creators and producers. Expect to see plenty of home-made crafts and unusual gifts. Make sure you plan time to visit the immensely impressive cathedral, which houses the Magna Carta. Click here for more details about opening times.