New Forest, England – your UK road trip guide

20th Nov 2024

In our latest UK road trip guide, we look at the journey to the New Forest in England.

The southern part of the country has many picturesque and historic locations for the whole family to visit, and the New Forest is no different.

Here, we highlight some of the best places to go, how to get there, and a wildlife experience you’ll never forget.

Where is New Forest?

The New Forest is a national park located in the South of England, primarily in the county of Hampshire, with parts extending into Wiltshire.

It covers an area of approximately 219 square miles (566 sq. kms) and is renowned for its natural beauty, including woodlands, heathlands, wetlands and grasslands.

The New Forest is famous for its wild ponies, rutting deer, ancient trees and picturesque villages.

It was originally created in 1079 by William the Conqueror as a royal hunting ground, and today it remains a popular destination for outdoor activities and wildlife watching.

Places to visit in the New Forest

The New Forest offers a mix of nature, history, and outdoor fun for all the family.

Many visitors go the historic Beaulieu Abbey, which was founded in 1204, and the Beaulieu Palace House, home to the Montagu family. The house is set within beautiful grounds, offering scenic views of the surrounding area.

Located near Beaulieu, Exbury Gardens are renowned for their stunning collection of plants. The gardens also offer a miniature railway ride, which is a fun way to explore the landscape.

A must-visit for car enthusiasts, is the Beaulieu Motor Museum, which displays a vast collection of automobiles, including many classic cars and those with royal or historical significance.

Located in New Milton, the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum showcases one of the largest collections of motorcycles in the UK, especially focused on historic and racing motorcycles.

Known as the capital of the New Forest, Lyndhurst is a quaint village with a range of independent shops, pubs, and tea rooms. Buckler’s Hard is another historic village on the banks of the River Beaulieu. Ashurst and Burley are also popular destinations.

Nearby is the New Forest Centre, a place to learn about the history of the New Forest through exhibitions and interactive displays.

Another must-see location is the 16th-century coastal artillery fortress, located at the end of a long spit of land. You can reach it by a ferry or by walking along Hurst Spit, which offers incredible views of the surrounding coastline.

A renowned National Trust property near the western edge of the New Forest, Mottisfont is an impressive country house with lovely gardens, especially renowned for its rose garden during summer.

For hikers, there is a long-distance footpath that follows the coastline of the New Forest along the Solent, offering spectacular views, particularly over to the Isle of Wight.

How to get to New Forest

If you and the family are looking for an adventure and a road trip to one of the UK’s most beautiful settings, them head to the New Forest.

Driving from London

Here is the route to take to get from London to the New Forest.

Driving from Birmingham

Here is the route to take to get from Birmingham to the New Forest.

Driving from Manchester

Here is the route to take to get from Manchester to the New Forest.

Alternatively, use RAC Route Planner.

New Forest, England: watch rutting deer

One of England’s wildlife highlights of the year is the rutting deer of the New Forest.

Why go there?

Once the playground of kings, these days it’s wildlife watchers, not hunting parties, that stalk the New Forest in search of its deer. And it’s in October that visitors have the best chance of seeing the spectacular red deer rut.

As the hinds gather to feed up for the winter in the woodland and pastures of the forest, stags stake their claim to the females, bellowing their challenges to rival males.

When two stags meet, they first swagger and prance, trying to overawe the other into submission. But if this doesn’t work, things get physical.

Rounding on each other, they drive their antlers together and wrestle and push in an attempt to drive the other into the ground. It’s thrilling and brutal.

Finally, the stronger – or more stubborn – prevails and the loser skulks off into the woods.

How to get there

For the New Forest Centre, leave the M27 at Junction 1, signed Cadnam, and drive south into the New Forest.

The centre is located in the main car park in the centre of Lyndhurst, and is also signposted with brown heritage signs on all the major routes into the town.

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