Activities
Beaulieu National Motor Museum
SO42 7ZN
Voted best large visitor attraction 2013 by VisitBritain, this is much more than just a Motor Museum, as well as telling the fascinating story of motoring through the ages, it also boasts the historic Beaulieu Abbey, and charming Palace House with its glorious gardens.
Historic Houses & Gardens
SO42 7XB
The exciting Maritime Museum and Buckler’s Hard Story gives an insight into the history of this 18th century shipbuilding village famous for the vessels it built for Nelson's Navy. Walk beside the riverbank for an opportunity to see some of the abundant wildlife that inhabits its banks. Buckler's Hard has been voted by Visit England as one of the '101 Things To Do Before You Go Abroad'.
Bournemouth Oceanarium
BH2 5AA
The perfect rainy day activity, based on Bournemouth’s sea front. Featuring fish from several different areas including the Amazon, Great Barrier Reef and Key West. Also a virtual interactive dive cage. 15% discount if you book online.
Eling Tide Mill
SO40 9HF
Visit one of the only tide mills in the world. Eling Tide Mill is a water mill that harnesses the power of the tide to grind wheat into wholemeal flour. Situated on the edge of Southampton Water beside the renowned New Forest, there has been a mill on the site for over 900 years. Closed in the 1940s, it had the good fortune to survive until it was restored between 1975 and 1980, at which time it re-opened as both a working mill, and a museum.
Liberty’s Owl, Raptor & Reptile Centre
BH24 3EA
Get up close to owls, reptiles and all sorts of creepy crawlies at Liberty’s. Highlights include a wide range of birds of prey on display, daily flying displays in the all-weather indoor flying area or outdoor field, a reptile house with snakes, lizards, and much more! Plus a large free car park, and a café and gift shop.
Longdown Activity Farm
SO40 7EH
A fantastic family day for everyone. Bottle-feed kid goats and calves, meet the pigs, donkeys and ponies, cuddle baby rabbits, chicks or maybe even a piglet! PLUS lots more friendly animals to see. Lots of farmyard buildings to explore and fabulous indoor and outdoor play areas including the trampoline barn, a soft play area and The Farmer's Straw Den. Also Longdown Farm Shop has a large range of delicious local produce.
New Forest Wildlife Park
SO40 4UH
Enjoy a wildlife adventure in 25 acres of unspoilt woodland on the lovely New Forest. There are many amazing animals to see from several species of owls and otters to wolves, bison, wild boar, red deer, Muntjac deer, Scottish wildcats, lynx, wallabies, water voles, adders, foxes, polecats, pine martins and ferrets. Children will love the harvest mice scurrying around their mini home. New “Go Wild” Adventure playground is now open.
New Forest Centre
SO43 7NY
There is so much that makes the New Forest a special place to visit. The New Forest Centre runs an exciting programme of New Forest themed exhibitions and events throughout the year which explain the New Forest in a nutshell. There’s something for all ages, which will help you make the most of your time in the Forest
St Barbe Museum
SO41 9BH
St Barbe Museum explores the unique history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast. The hands-on displays provide a fascinating journey of discovery for all ages, charting Lymington’s development as a market town and port and looking at the smugglers and boat builders who have used the Solent shore. The art galleries host an exclusive programme of exhibitions that regularly works on loan from national and regional collections.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea is a tradition dating back to the 19th Century, when the custom was to serve tea with sandwiches along with scones and usually cakes and pastries. Today you can still enjoy the traditional British afternoon tea experience in hotels and tea rooms across the New Forest. If it’s a rainy day, what better excuse to indulge!