Touring the New Forest by open top bus is a lovely thing to do, even for locals like us who live on the edge of the National Park. This guide to the New Forest tour bus will tell you all you need to know about taking the three routes around the area.
An open top bus tour of the New Forest allows you to see the sights more closely while enjoying the sunshine. This is one of the warmest and driest parts of the UK, so you might even be pleasantly surprised by the weather. (Though we always pack a mac. Just in case.)
Highlights of the New Forest National Park are all included on the trio of routes offered by local operator morebus (who also run the Purbeck Breezer routes that head west from Bournemouth).
The New Forest lies to the east of Bournemouth and Dorset, and is located in Hampshire. To find out how to explore this National Park by local bus, read on to find out the New Forest bus timetable for each of the three routes. Plus everything else you need to know before you travel!
Let’s hop on board.
Why travel on the New Forest Tour bus?
The open top bus around the New Forest can take you to towns and villages like Ashurst, Barton-on-Sea, Burley, Milford-on-Sea, Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge, Beaulieu and Ringwood.
Routes depart from Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Totton, and you can board the bus at any of the stops en-route. Tourist attractions like the New Forest Wildlife Park and accommodation such as Sandy Balls, Hoburne and Shorefields Holiday Parks can also be accessed via these buses. The Green route also calls at the Balmer Lawn hotel.
The buses even call at popular places to east and drink along the way, including the tearoom at Holmsley, the Needles Eye cafe, the Rising Sun pub and the Hobler Inn. You can even get to New Milton train station via the Blue Route, which offers direct services to London Waterloo. The Red Route also takes in Ashurst station.
Why take to the wheel when someone else can do the driving and navigating? If you’re visiting the area between late June and mid September, then why not take an enjoyable, scenic New Forest sightseeing bus to get around the area?
New Forest Tour routes
There are three New Forest bus routes to pick from. These are the Red, Blue and Green Routes from Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Totton. All three are circular routes, starting and ending at the same point.
New Forest Tour Red Route
- Lyndhurst – Main car park
- Holmsley – Tea rooms
- Burley – Queen’s Head
- Ringwood – Meeting House Lane
- Fordingbridge – Salisbury Street
- Sandy Balls Holiday Park
- Brook – Green Dragon
- Cadnam – Southampton Road roundabout
- Ashurst – Post Office
- New Forest Wildlife Park
- Ashurst – Train station
- Lyndhurst – Main car park
New Forest Tour Blue Route
- Brockenhurst – Train station
- Holmsley – Tea rooms
- Burley – Queen’s Head
- Thorney Hill crossroads
- Rising Sun Inn
- Hoburne Holiday Park
- New Milton – Train station
- Barton-on-Sea cafe
- Shorefield Holiday Park
- Needles Eye cafe
- Everton – Bus shelter
- Lymington – High Street
- Setler – Hobley Inn
- Brockenhurst – Train station
New Forest Tour Green Route
- Totton – RC church
- Ashurst – Train station
- Lyndhurst – Main car park
- Balmer Lawn hotel
- Brockenhurst – Train station
- Lymington – High Street
- New Forest Adventure Golf
- National Motor Museum
- Beaulieu Garage
- Exbury Gardens
- Dibden Purlieu – St Andrew’s church
- Hythe ferry terminal
- Applemore – Tesco
- Beaulieu Road train station
- Lyndhurst – Main car park
- Ashurst – Train station
- Totton – Shopping precinct
New Forest tour bus timetable
Each of the three colour-coded routes has its own timetable. The New Forest open top bus timetable for each route only operates between late June and mid September. Bikes and dogs are welcome on board. There is space for 4 bikes per bus.
During the period between around 9am and 5pm, there is generally one bus per hour for each route. View your chosen option via the morebus links below:
View the current Red Route timetable here
View the current Blue Route timetable here
View the current Green Route timetable here
New Forest tour tickets
The price you’ll pay to travel on the New Forest Tour bus depends on your age, how large your party is and how often you want to travel. Concessionary fares are also available for those who qualify.
The minimum ticket validity is one day, and the maximum a season ticket that applies throughout the operating dates. Season and 7 day fares only apply to New Forest residents. Visitors can buy tickets valid for 1, 2 or 5 days.
1 day tickets
A ticket valid for one day costs between £7.50 for a resident child and £18 for a non-concessionary, non-resident adult. A group ticket for up to 5 is also available, and will work out cheaper if there are enough of you travelling together.
2, 5, 7 day and season tickets
2, 5 and 7 days tickets can save you money – if you travel on the bus enough to recoup the cost. Don’t forget that 7 day and season passes are exclusively available to New Forest residents.
At £24, a 2-day standard adult ticket is just £6 more than a one day ticket. So it may well be worthwhile. The longer the ticket duration the bigger the discount, but it’s only worth it when you’ll actually use it!
To give you an idea, a 5 day standard adult ticket costs £36 for non-residents. While resident fares are cheaper, verification is required. You’ll thus need to demonstrate you really do live in the New Forest by showing some proof of your address.
Check all the current New Forest Tour fares here
morebus ways to pay
You can pay for morebus tickets in various ways. You can usea contactless credit or debit card, cash, or Android or Apple Pay on the bus. It’s also possible to purchase in advance via the website. To do this, you can create an account, then receive a digital ticket to show on your smartphone.
Will you take a trip on the New Forest Tour bus?
If you wanted to know about New Forest bus routes, I hope this guide has clarified your options. In summary, there’s a trio of colour-coded routes to choose from, and together they can hlep you discover the entire area.
Taking this New Forest open top bus tour operated by a local transport network is a very affordable and efficient way to explore this part of Hampshire. By using this service, you can access places to stay, train stations, tourist attractions and the Forest’s prettiest towns and villages. What’s not to love?
Find out how to get to Brockenhurst from London here.
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