If you’re visiting the National Park in Hampshire, then New Forest bike hire is something to give serious thought to. Particularly if you’re arriving by train, as you may even be able to collect a cycle from a New Forest cycle hire outlet at the station.
The best way to get around the forest, for me, is on two wheels. I don’t have to hire a bike, as I live in the Christchurch area and can head into the park area on my regular or electric bike. If you’re driving down to the forest then you may bring your own cycles with you, but if you don’t have bikes or racks to transport them on, then bike hire in the New Forest might be your best bet.
This guide to bike rental in the New Forest has been researched and written so you know exactly what options there are. I’ve been to these bike hire places myself, and seen the cycles they hire out. Whether you want an e-bike, a hybrid or a mountain bike with a child trailer, these cycle shops you can get you set up.
Here are the best places for New Forest electric bike hire, road cycles, mountain bikes and hybrids. Where will you rent bikes in the New Forest?
7 of the Best New Forest Bike Hire Shops
1. New Forest Cycling, Burley
Where & when
- Village Centre, Burley, Hampshire BH24 4AB
- 01425 403584
- forestleisurecycling.co.uk
- Open daily from 9am to 5pm (winter) or 5.30pm (summer)
What
- Brands: Cube, Giant, Frog
- Types: Mountain/hybrid, gravel, tandem, electric, child
- Accessories: Child seats, tag-alongs & trailers
Whether you want electric bike hire in the New Forest, a regular hybrid or mountain bike or even tandem hire for the New Forest, this Burley hire shop can help. I popped in recently to see them and was impressed by several things.
The staff were fitting rental bikes to customers, making sure they fit and felt good, for starters. As an owner of a Giant hybrid and a Cube e-bike myself, I was also pleased to see that the makes Forest Leisure Cycling stock are exactly those!
They even hire out Burley trailers (what else, given the location), and I still have a Burley Minnow in the garage. Even though my daughter’s outgrown it, I keep it for shopping trips and beach days. They also stock kids’ bike seats and tag-alongs.
For choice, and service, you really don’t need to go anywhere else. New Forest bike hire in Burley is ideal whether you’re staying in the area or not – though that hill by the Queen’s Head is very steep!
Local’s tip
You can park just above the village for free if hiring bikes for the day. There’s a car park at the top of the hill leading from the village by the Queen’s Head pub. It’s more more-or-less opposite the cricket pitch.
2. Cyclexperience, Brockenhurst
Where & when
- Brockenhurst Train Station Car Park, Brockenhurst SO42 7TW
- 01590 624808
- cyclex.co.uk
- hire@cyclex.co.uk
- Open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm
What
- Brands: Forme, Ghost, Giant, Kona, Trek
- Types: Classic, Mountain/hybrid, gravel, tandem, electric, child
- Accessories: Child seats, tag-alongs & trailers. Dog trailers
Cyclexperience bike hire is one that anyone who’s passed through Brockenhurst station may be familiar with. They also offer all sorts of bicycle hire in the New Forest, from hybrids to gravel bikes, tandems and e-bikes. Dog trailers are available here too, as well as child trailers, seats and tag-alongs.
Some good group hire packages are available here, including for two regular or electric bikes, or for a family of four. A discount of around 25% is also given for hires lasting three days or more. New Forest bike hire in Brockenhurst is ideal for those arriving by train.
Local’s tip
If you’re coming from London, there’s nowhere better to pick up a bike when arriving between 9.30am and 5.30pm. Routes leading from Brockenhurst are pretty flat too – like most of the forest, in fact.
3. The Woods Cyclery, Lyndhurst
Where & when
- 56 High Street, Lyndhurst, SO43 7BG
- 02380 282028
- thewoodscyclery.co.uk
- info@thewoodscyclery.co.uk
- Open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm
What
- Brands: Cube, Giant, Frog
- Types: Mountain/hybrid, gravel, electric, child
- Accessories: Child seats, tag-alongs & trailers. Garmin GPS
The Woods Cyclery offers New Forest bike hire in Lyndhurst. Like the Burley shop, they have Cube and Giant bikes and e-bikes. You can also rent a Garmin here, so if you fancy trying out this tech this could be the one to go for!
The Cyclery is in the centre of town, on the high street. As well as regular cycles, you can hire gravel bikes here, plus child trailers and tag-alongs.
Local’s tip
Park for free at the car park at Boltons Bench car park. This is about 300 metres from the shop on the Southampton Road, by the bend just after you head east from Lyndhurst.
4. AA Bike Hire, Lyndhurst
Where & when
- Fernglen, Gosport Lane, Lyndhurst, SO43 7BL
- 023 8028 3349
- aabikehirenewforest.co.uk
- Open daily from 9am to 5.30pm
What
- Brands: Haro, Specialized
- Types: Mountain/hybrid, child
- Accessories: Child seats & tag-alongs
Also offering New Forest cycle hire in Lyndhurst is AA Bike Hire. This is a small, family-run company, and bikes are hired out on a first-come first served basis. You can hire bikes with front suspension for adults and kids, plus child seats and tag-alongs.
So the bad news is that the fleet at AA Bike Hire in the New Forest is relatively limited. But what you do get is personal service and really competitive rates. While you can’t book in advance, you can call the number above on the day to check availability.
This is a family run business that’s been going for 30 plus years. So if you value local input, there’s nowhere better to hire from.
Local’s tip
Rates here offer the best value around, but do bear in mind that you’ll probably have to pay and display at Lyndhurst car park on Gosport Lane. Make sure you park in the long stay area if applicable.
5. New Forest Bikes, Lymington
Where & when
- 4A Quay Street, Lymington SO41 3AS
- 01590 679793
- newforestbikes.co.uk
- info@newforestbikes.co.uk
- Open daily from 10am to 4pm
What
- Brands: Cannondale, Claud Butler, Falcon, GT, Hikobike, Knaap
- Types: Mountain/hybrid, electric, child
- Accessories: Helmet, backpack, pump, lock & toolkit included
For New Forest bike hire in Lymington, head to New Forest Bikes. Their shop on Quay Street is close to the town centre, down by the harbour. They hire kids’ and adults e-bikes and hybrid or mountain bikes.
Hires include the accessories you’ll need – namely a helmet and lock, plus a pump, toolkit and backpack. Prices are average for New Forest hire bikes – around the middle of the range.
Local’s tip
If you’re staying in Lymington, then this is probably your best bet. However I wouldn’t drive here for hire if another option is closer. The roads in and around Lymington are busy. Not perhaps the best place to get used to a new bike!
6. New Forest Activities, Beaulieu
Where & when
- Hazel Copse Farm, Beaulieu, Hampshire SO42 7WA
- 01590 612377
- newforestactivities.co.uk/cycle-hire
- info@newforestactivities.co.uk
- Open daily from 9am to 5pm
What
- Types: Mountain/hybrid
- Accessories: Map, backpack, pump, lock & toolkit included
West of Beaulieu, before Hatchet Pond or heading southwest towards Lymington, is New Forest Activities. One of said activities is cycling – or to be more specific, a New Forest rent-a-bike service.
New Forest National Park bike hire is just one of the options offered by this company. Others include archery, canoeing, bushcraft, kayaking and more.
Bikes are available here only for adults, including groups. You can cycle for half or a full day.
Local’s tip
You can park at the centre all day for free. There’s also a farm shop there for stocking up before a picnic or even a BBQ. Take a disposable or portable one with you if you want to feast in the forest!
7. Jaunt e-bikes, Milford-on-Sea
Where & when
- Keyhaven Road, Keyhaven SO41 0TH
- 07846 395684
- jaunt-ebikes.co.uk
- hello@jaunt-ebikes.co.uk
- Open daily from 10am to 4pm
What
- Brands: Synch (Super Monkey)
- Types: Electric retro bikes with fat tyres
- Accessories: Dog trailers
Experiences (self-guided)
- Wine safari
- Wheels and Wine tour
- Beer and Brewery safari
- Pedal and Picnic experience
- Wheels and Water experience
Jaunt is a New Forest cycle centre with a difference. Firstly, they only hire Synch Super Monkey e-bikes, which are retro in style. Think Chopper, but with fat tyres and a padded seat.
Secondly, Jaunt offers experiences as well as hire. So not only can you rent a bike in the New Forest, you can also book an experience. These include five self-guided tours involving wineries, picnics, breweries and even kayaking.
Jaunt offers something different from the usual mountain bike hire in the New Forest, that’s for sure. The experiences also come with all you need thrown in, from the map to the panniers and picnic – and a lock and helmet.
Local’s tip
The location is also ideal for those who want to explore the coastline. This is a much better option than Lymington for this, as the roads around Keyhaven and Milford-on-Sea are so much quieter.
Bike Hire in the New Forest FAQs
Can you hire a bike in the New Forest?
There are good bike hire shops in Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Burley and Lymington. You can also hire cycles from New Forest Activities in the Beaulieu area, or rent a retro e-bike with fat tyres from Jaunt in Milford-on-Sea.
Can you cycle off-road in the New Forest?
You can cycle off-road in specified parts of the New Forest. Cycle maps are available from Forestry England. At Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood, you can also find proper mountain bike circuits.
Where Will You Hire a Bike in the New Forest?
If you want to go to the New Forest and rent bikes, I hope you’ve found this guide helpful. Booking bike hire in the New Forest National Park is ideal for exploring this area, which is packed with trails. Much of the area is also pretty flat.
From Lymington bike hire by the coast to New Forest cycle hire in Burley, the bike shops of the New Forest can ensure you have far more fun on two wheels than on four – or even on two feet.
You might also find articles on the New Forest tour bus and getting from London to the New Forest by train helpful. Or why not find out what to do in Bournemouth if you’re planning a longer ride?
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