Beaulieu village is a great base for exploring the New Forest – but always start your stay with a tour of this chocolate box setting itself. At the heart of the New Forest, you’re ideally placed for not only the forest’s myriad of walks and cycle trails, but museums, houses, churches, attractions and activities. When it comes to things to do near Beaulieu, you’re spoilt for choice.
The New Forest Collection has you covered when it comes to somewhere to stay – whether it’s the quirky, dog-friendly Beaulieu Inn, the townhouse hotel chic of boutique Forest Lodge in Lyndhurst (just a 20-minute drive away) or our Grade II listed country house, Bartley Lodge (only 23 minutes away from Beaulieu).
While you decide where to stay, here are some of our favourite things to do in and around Beaulieu:
Situated in Beaulieu, the National Motor Museum is an enjoyable day out in the New Forest – especially for car lovers. It is home to a stunning collection of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia. The collection of vehicles includes former F1 cars such as a McLaren Mercedes, early vehicle creations such as the 1898 Benz Velo, former commercial vehicle and land speed record vehicles such as the 1000hp Sunbeam. The museum is full of stunning motoring history and is the perfect way to learn all about the story of motoring.
A short walk along the river, Buckler’s Hard is steeped in history – it was where some of Nelson’s fleet were built, so it makes perfect sense that it’s home to a fabulous Maritime Museum, Shipwright’s Cottage and the starting point for a relaxing river cruise.
The former gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey, this has been the Montagu family home since 1538.
Overlooking the Beaulieu River millpond, it has the perfect setting, and having been remodelled during the 1800s, is now a great example of a Victorian country house. Inside, it bristles with character and is home to all manner of family treasures, portraits, and memorabilia.
Dating back to the 13th century, this beautiful church still holds services, and is full of interesting features, including the beautiful carved stone pulpit and the Standard of 84 Squadron RAF to commemorate the founding of the squadron as part of the Royal Flying Corps on Beaulieu Airfield during the First World War in 1917.
Tour the New Forest in real style from a mouthwatering selection of vintage cars from these restoration experts. The classics include a Jaguar E-Type and an Austin Healey 3000 Mk III Convertible – sure to turn heads as you breeze through the countryside.
As well as standalone car hire, they also offer escape packages with accommodation included.
Over 100 years old, Exbury is a stunning collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal and wildflower gardens, in a beautiful riverside location.
What’s more, there’s the added bonus of the narrow-gauge steam railway which departs from a replica Victorian station and travels on an extended 1.5 mile track through the Summer Lane Garden, past the Rock Garden, through the tunnel and then stopping off at Exbury North. The return journey includes a circle of Dragonfly Pond before heading back to Exbury Central.
The largest area of freshwater in the New Forest, located just outside Beaulieu. There are some lovely easy trails, long and short, with plenty of bench stops along the way… and there’s often an ice cream van in the car park during the summer to reward yourself afterwards.
Where to start? Archery, canoeing, glamping, Battlezone… there are activities for all ages and all tastes, whether it’s kids’ parties or team building at work.
Learn bushcraft, go kayaking or take to the ropes course – you could spend days here without venturing out any further… all the more reason for countless return visits!
With a passion for conservation, the wildlife park is home to all manner of birds, mammals and amphibians – from otters, badgers and Red Deer to polecats, foxes and wallabies.
When it comes to owls, there are countless varieties to spot, while the amphibian collection is a great chance to see common toads and tree frogs up close and personal.
If your child is wild about wildlife, they even host birthday parties!
Head out to Southampton Water for a chance to see – and walk/ride along – the seventh longest pier in the British Isles. Stretching 640m out into the deep water channel, it has both a pedestrian walkway and cycleway – as well as the Hythe Pier Railway on its southern side. There’s also the Hythe Ferry if you want to explore further afield.
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