New Forest National Park
South East England, Hampshire
Declared a royal forest by William the Conqueror and established as a National Park in 2005, New Forest National Park is home to family-friendly biking, hiking, and horseback riding trails, as well as nearby museums and villages. Look out for the thousands of native New Forest ponies—as well as deer, donkeys, and cattle—that call the sprawling moorland and rugged woodland of the New Forest National Park home.
The Basics
Visitors to the New Forest National Park can independently tackle the numerous sights and sounds—such as hiking trails and the Deer Sanctuary—although convenient guided excursions are also available. Given the size and scale of the park, most visitors may find a guided tour—or access to a private vehicle—the easiest way to make the most of all the park has to offer.
Notable attractions both in and around the New Forest National Park include the Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway; Paulton’s Park, the home of the UK’s only Peppa Pig World; the 18th-century shipbuilding village of Buckler’s Hard; and Lyndhurst.
Things to Know Before You Go
Nature lovers and families won’t want to miss the expansive New Forest National Park.
It’s free to enter the New Forest National Park.
Some attractions in the New Forest National Park are wheelchair accessible and there are several accessible footpaths through the New Forest.
How to Get There
New Forest National Park is situated in the county of Hampshire on England’s south coast and can be accessed by bus, train, ferry, coach, and private vehicle. Most visitors find it easiest to arrive by car. There are several car parking options in and around the New Forest National Park.
When to Get There
New Forest National Park is open morning through evening year-round although the opening hours of the museums and attractions within may differ. Check online in advance. For a quieter experience, visit midweek and skip the school holidays and weekends.
What to Do Nearby
The wide range of activities and attractions on offer in and around the New Forest National Park can be overwhelming, although there’s likely something to suit most visitors. Relax in a spa, try your hand at fly-fishing, or spend an afternoon pony-spotting; meanwhile, nature lovers can enjoy the 700+ species of wildflowers as well as the nearby New Forest Lavender Farm.
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