Places to Stay in the New Forest
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Information about the New Forest
The New Forest is one of the most distinctive and best loved landscapes in southern England, a place of ancient woodland, open heathland and free roaming ponies that feels a world away from the busy towns and cities that surround it.
Created as a royal hunting forest by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century, the New Forest became a national park in 2005. Much of its character comes from the centuries old rights of commoning, which allow local people to graze their animals on the open forest. As a result, ponies, cattle and donkeys wander freely across the heaths and through the villages, and in the autumn pigs are released to feed on fallen acorns.
The forest is ideal for walking, cycling and horse riding, with a network of gravel tracks and quiet paths winding through oak and beech woodland and across purple heather. Lyndhurst, often described as the capital of the New Forest, and nearby Brockenhurst make popular bases, while Burley, with its thatched cottages and links to local folklore, is one of the most charming villages in the area.
Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum and the historic Palace House, and just downstream lies Buckler’s Hard, the picturesque village where ships for Nelson’s fleet were once built. To the south, the Georgian market town of Lymington has a lively harbour and a popular Saturday market, and the coastline beyond offers fine views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
Whether you are looking for a peaceful countryside retreat, an active break on two wheels or a family holiday among the ponies, the New Forest is a wonderful place to stay at any time of year.