As this magnificent English forest is very close to where we live, we go there regularly, so I wanted to share 10 activity ideas for discovering the New Forest as a family.
If you come to the south of England and, more specifically, to Hampshire where we live, the New Forest is a must-see. On a road trip along the English coast, I recommend spending at least one day there, or even better: two days and one night if you have the time. That way, you’ll enjoy the landscapes and the famous New Forest horses. A perfect family stop!
As soon as we moved here, we set off to explore this forest (the largest in England), and we immediately fell in love with a place that feels so alive and so “inhabited”! It’s a chance for wonderful encounters with animals!
A little history to begin with: the New Forest is a royal forest, created by William the Conqueror, hence the adjective “new”… Before that, there were only heathlands in this area stretching all the way to the sea. Basically, William the Conqueror wanted his own forest, particularly for hunting. The capital was once in Winchester (also in Hampshire), so not far from here. Later, wood from the New Forest was used for Navy ships. Today, the New Forest is protected and is home to many animals that you’re bound to come across: fallow deer, red deer, cows, wild pigs, donkeys, sheep but above all thousands of wild horses (also called “New Forest ponies”). Seeing all these horses on our walks is truly magical! The children love it!
Here are 10 family programme ideas for visiting the New Forest:
1 – See the deer and picnic at Bolderwood
Bolderwood is a very popular spot in the New Forest. It used to be one of the only places where BBQs were allowed, but that’s no longer possible. You’ll still come across lots of families who come here to picnic. A lovely atmosphere! Before or after eating, you can follow one of the three marked trails, all of which pass by the deer sanctuary. You’ll see deer about 80% of the time, but sometimes they hide. To finish, the children may fall for an ice cream from the ice cream van (typically English!).
2 – Admire very old trees at Blackwater Arboretum
There you’ll find a route called the Tall Trees Trail (about 2 km), which allows you to admire the tallest trees in the forest (sequoias, Douglas firs, etc.), as well as wooden sculptures inspired by the surrounding nature. Note that there is also a picnic and BBQ area here.
3 – Ober Corner: for paddling in the river or cycling
In summer, families like to settle by the river for a picnic (without a BBQ). Children paddle in the water. It’s also possible to do a loop on foot or by bike, and Ober Corner is particularly suitable for cycling because the path is wide and flat. Nearby, we often come across Scottish cows (lost??).
4 – A long, peaceful walk? Head to Cadmans Pools!
This spot in the forest is not very visited, so if you come at the weekend and want to avoid the people heading to the more famous spots mentioned above, you should find a haven of peace at Cadmans Pools. From the car park, walk towards Dockens Water, then follow the little river. Next, we climb the hill on our right (see photo) and come back down to loop round to the car park.
In spring, the young foals…
Running through the ferns…
There are, of course, hundreds of other peaceful walks! All you need to do is stop wherever inspiration strikes, at one of the many little car parks you’ll come across.
To give you another example, we liked Dibden Inclosure, for a pleasant little hilly walk. But really, let the landscapes guide you and stop as soon as a place makes you want to explore further… The horses are everywhere!
5 – The Beaulieu River & the Beaulieu Museum for lovers of vintage cars
Here, the path is very well laid out and allows you to follow the river between the village of Beaulieu and the little marina of Bucklers Hard. I find this path not wild enough for me, but it can be handy with young children or even with a good pushchair. If you don’t do the walk, in any case you can at least settle at Bucklers Hard for a picnic, or enjoy the lovely terrace of the pub The Yachtsman’s Bar, with a view of the river (note that in this area, car parks are paid, unlike all the other spots).
There and back, the walk along the river is 4 miles (6 km), but you can turn back whenever you like.
Bucklers Hard:
Nearby, you can visit the Beaulieu Museum: the gardens, abbey and great house are very pleasant and typically English. Children will probably prefer the section displaying the car collection (the National Motor Museum). Entry tickets are expensive, but there’s a lot to see.
6- Hurst Castle: a walk to the lighthouse and a return by boat:
When the forest meets the sea…!
I love this place! It has an end-of-the-world feel! In Milford-on-Sea, start by the water, then walk along the long shingle spit to the lighthouse (it takes 1 hour). You’ll probably see quite a few kitesurfers in this area, but above all there is a lovely viewpoint over the famous Needles of the Isle of Wight (the Needles). Indeed, the Isle of Wight is very close to this point! Once you reach the lighthouse, to avoid the return walk and add a bit of excitement for the children, you can take the little ferry back to Milford-on-Sea.
7 – Camp in the New Forest!
Sleeping in the New Forest is truly a lovely experience that I highly recommend! Camping is the best option for enjoying nature. I should point out that wild camping is strictly forbidden and that forest rangers keep watch! We have tried Ocknell Camping and Ashurst Camping, but there are others and they are probably all similar. To book a pitch, head to the official New Forest campsites website. If you don’t have a van, you can pitch your tent. Lots of families do it. I should just say that I would find it quite intimidating because of the free-roaming animals ;-).
Of course, you can also find B&Bs and hotels (rather upmarket) in the forest villages (see below).
8 – Lyndhurst: visit the capital of the New Forest and try a Sunday roast
A small village with a very English style. It’s also where you’ll find the New Forest visitor centre. In high season, there are too many people and traffic on the main street, so in that case I wouldn’t recommend stopping there. But not far from Lyndhurst, there is a pub where we like to book for a Sunday roast (roast dinner, an English tradition). You need to book a few weeks in advance: The Oak Inn. Otherwise, there is a pretty pub for a drink after a long walk: The New Forest Inn.
9 – Lymington: the prettiest village in the New Forest?
Possibly, because Lymington is a very cute village, which, unlike Lyndhurst, has the advantage of being by the sea. You can enjoy fish and chips there, for example! As is often the case, the truly typical street is fairly short, but if you’re passing through anyway, a little stop is a must.
10 – Afternoon tea in the New Forest, or tea with scones for a typical English teatime treat!
Do you know the English tradition of afternoon tea? It consists of enjoying small savoury and sweet bites in the afternoon (it’s best not to have had lunch—or only a little—and to book an afternoon tea around 2pm).
As there are many château-style hotels in the New Forest, there are some lovely addresses for afternoon tea. We tried the one at the Lime Wood Hotel, and it was very good.
It’s often a bit of a budget (Lime Wood is £47 per person in 2026 – note that it’s cheaper than in London!), and you need to book well in advance. We went as a couple. With children, it may be possible to negotiate taking just 2 afternoon teas for 4 people (because quantity-wise, that would be enough!). For the two of us, we didn’t manage to finish everything and asked to take the rest away for Ticoeur and Titpuce ;-).
For a more family-friendly and cheaper sweet break, you can simply stop in any tea room in one of the forest villages to enjoy a few scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, another great English tradition!
We also recommend the following cafés and bakeries:
- Merritts Coffee Lounge a stone’s throw from Ashurst campsite for a late breakfast or a snack.
- The Bakehouse in Brockenhurst: their Cornish pasties are very good. Perfect for a quick lunch.
- Mine’s a Pasty: a Cornish pasty specialist in Lymington.
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Practical information for visiting the New Forest:
How to get to the New Forest? If you arrive by boat at the port of Portsmouth, it takes 40 minutes by car. Same from the port of Poole. From Southampton, it’s 20 minutes. If you cross via the Channel Tunnel or by ferry to Calais, then allow 2 hrs 40 from Dover. From London, the New Forest is 2 hours by car. Also, the forest is vast, so once there, you’ll also do long distances by car, especially if you’re aiming for the southern part near the sea.
Parking information in the New Forest: since 20 April 2026, the 130 forest car parks have become paid. Fortunately, you can change spot and car park on the same day while keeping the same ticket. See the prices on the official Forestry England website.
What is the best time to visit? We love this forest in every season, but especially in spring (when you can come across young animals) and in autumn (for the colours). Summer is pleasant temperature-wise, particularly for dipping your feet in the streams! In 7 years here, we’ve only had snow once.
Respect the forest and the animals: You must not touch the animals. Do not stroke the horses, even if you love horses. The forest animals are wild animals and must remain so. Do not feed them. Keep your distance. In the forest, leave only your footprints ;-).
Where to sleep in the New Forest? I have already mentioned the campsites, and that’s the ideal option with children. For those looking for more comfort:
- Moorhill House Hotel: a charming hotel with rooms for families, in Burley, in the west of the forest.
- You can also opt for accommodation with a kitchen to save on meals, such as this flat in Lyndhurst, in the heart of the New Forest. It has the advantage of having two single beds for the children and a lovely little terrace.
For more information on the New Forest, visit the official website: the New Forest official website.
I’ll finish with my wish list for future discoveries in the New Forest (this is more of a reminder for me!):
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- Visit the New Forest Lavender Farm: to see small lavender fields (in June) and enjoy tea with lavender scones.
- Discover the top 5 cycling routes in the New Forest. So far, we have tried and enjoyed the Rhinefield Ornamental Woodland cycle route (10 miles / 16 km). See my article Family cycling in the New Forest.
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I hope this article has made you want to stop in the New Forest. Above all, don’t limit yourself to these 10 ideas because the New Forest is, first and foremost, a vast open space where you can enjoy beautiful landscapes and horses everywhere!
So? Fancy coming to discover the New Forest as a family?
Also in England:
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Bonjour, j au découvert ton blog par hazard en cherchant des informations sur la baie de somme ou nous partons pour quelques jours de vacances la semaine prochaine avec notre petit bout de 2 ans. Quel bonheur de lire toutes vos escapades et de voir vos photos magnifiques! C est tellement rafraîchissant en ces moments compliqués! Nous sommes expatriés à Londres depuis dix ans et parfois entre boulot et routine, on ne trouve pas le temps/l énergie d’entreprendre un voyage (surtout à 3 maintenant) et pourtant en lisant ton blog j’ai eu l impression que c était beaucoup plus facile que ce que je pensais, et surtout tellement important pour toute la famille! Merci encore de partager ces moments et super « tips »!
Merci pour ton message ! Et pour voir tous les articles de nos escapades avec enfants (plus de 100 destinations !) je te conseille d’aller sur la partie en français du blog car sur la partie en anglais je n’ai pas encore traduit grand chose :-). Bonnes vacances à vous !
De rien ! Merci de nous suivre !