If you’re planning to spend some time in the New Forest National Park, then you need to know about the New Forest towns and villages you can stay in and visit. The towns and villages in the New Forest vary in size, and each has something unique to offer.
I live on the edge of the New Forest, and spend a lot of time there. This guide has been written to give you an insider’s overview of where you can sleep, dine and shop in the New Forest villages and towns. As well as what sights to see in each place.
Whether you’re wondering which are the best villages in the New Forest for photos that will make your friends Insta-envious, where you can spend a day at the seaside near the New Forest or which are the best towns in the New Forest for a shopping trip, this article will help you decide where to spend your time – and money.
From the prettiest village in the New Forest to which are the best towns in the New Forest, England for accommodation, dining or a spa day, this is the ultimate guide. Here are 10 of the best towns and villages in the New Forest to visit!
New Forest Towns and Villages Contents
- Towns in the New Forest England comparison chart
- Villages in the New Forest – Top 10 list
- 10 best New Forest villages and towns
- New Forest places – FAQs
New Forest Towns and Villages Comparison Chart
| Name | Type | Train station | Local amenities | Local attractions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashurst | Village | Yes | Pubs, shops, cycling & walking trails | New Forest Wildlife Park, Southampton |
| Beaulieu | Village | No | Pubs, hotel, restaurants & shops, walk to Buckler’s Hard | National Motor Museum & Palace House |
| Buckler’s Hard | Village | No | River, hotel, wildlife & boat trips | Maritime Museum |
| Brockenhurst | Village | Yes | Pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, cycling & walking trails | Rhinefield Ornamental Drive |
| Burley | Village | No | Pubs, hotels, shops, cafes, cycling & walking trails | New Forest Cider |
| Fordingbridge | Town | No | Pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, river | Sandy Balls holiday park, medieval bridge |
| Lymington | Town | Yes | Pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, harbour | Seawater baths |
| Lyndhurst | Town | No | Pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, cycling & walking trails | New Forest Heritage Centre, New Forest Reptile Centre |
| New Milton | Town | Yes | Pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, Barton-on-Sea beach | On Hampshire-Dorset border, beach |
| Milford-on-Sea | Village | No | Pubs, restaurants, hotel, cafes, shops, beach, coastal walks | Hurst Castle |
Top 10 Towns and Villages in the New Forest
- Ashurst
- Beaulieu
- Buckler’s Hard
- Brockenhurst
- Burley
- Fordingbridge
- Lymington
- Lyndhurst
- New Milton
- Milford-on-Sea
- Bonus pick – Christchurch
10 Best New Forest Villages and Towns
Ashurst
Local highlights:
- Access to Southampton
- Train station in village
- Pubs, shops & trails
Local attractions:
- New Forest Wildlife Park
Ashurst is close to Southampton, so if you want to combine exploring the New Forest with city life this could be a good choice. There’s a train station in Ashurst too, which means it’s seen as something of a New Forest gateway.
It’s not the one of those New Forest villages to visit is search of picture postcard scenery, but there are walking trails to more photogenic spots from here. The New Forest Wildlife Park is in the Ashurst area too.
What’s great about Ashurst is amenities and access. Though it’s not as Insta-worthy as other locations, it offers transport links from the train station, parking, pubs, shops and direct access to cycling and walking trails for all abilities.
There’s a couple of nice pubs in Ashurst, plus a scattering of local facilities. With Southampton under seven miles away, it’s simple to combine shopping with a pub lunch and walk in the forest if you want to. And who can resist a pub called The Happy Cheese?
Beaulieu
Local highlights:
- Very compact
- Chocolate box looks
- Great hotel & bar in centre
Local attractions:
- National Motor Museum
- Palace House
This pretty village is a place where every cottage, shop and pub looks like it came straight from a postcard. It’s small, but very beautiful. The idyllic English countryside personified.
The National Motor Museum is Beaulieu’s big draw, and at the same site there’s also historic Palace House. One of my favourite local hotels, the Montagu Arms, is slap-bang in the village centre, and you can walk between this and the car museum via the pathway right over the road.
For car fans or those seeking pretty villages in the New Forest, look no further. The downside is that there isn’t a huge amount to do in the village itself, beyond dining and a few shops. And taking photographs, of course. It’s such a photogenic part of the world.
You can also take the Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard walk from here. And don’t miss the Beaulieu Chocolate Studio if you like the sweet stuff!
Stay over at the Montagu Arms
Buckler’s Hard
Local highlights:
- Boat trips
- Local wildlife
- Riverside setting
Local attractions:
- Beaulieu River
- Maritime Museum
Further along the banks of the Beaulieu River is Buckler’s Hard. This place has a fascinating maritime heritage, and there’s a Maritime Museum you can visit.
Simply wandering around taking in the scenery is pleasurable enough, and you can also look out for local wildlife.
Buckler’s Hard is also home to the Master Builder’s hotel and its great riverside restaurant. In summer, you can also book boat trips on the river to see the area from the water.
Stay over at the Master Builder’s
Brockenhurst
Local highlights:
- Walking & cycling trails
- Regular trains to London
- Lots of shops, pubs & hotels
Local attractions:
- Rhinefield Ornamental Drive
Known locally as ‘Brock’, this is among the best villages in the New Forest for access, as it has a train station. There are frequent services to and from London Waterloo.
Various walking trails and scenic Rhinefield Ornamental Drive can easily be accessed from Brockenhurst. There’s also good local amenities including pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops here. This is the best of the New Forest towns and villages for a choice of accommodation too.
Book a hotel room or holiday house in Brockenhurst if you’re not bringing a car to the New Forest. Plenty of places here are dog friendly. If you do want to drive, a good-sized car park is also available at most properties in the area.
Stay over at the Balmer Lawn, Carey’s Manor, Rhinefield House, The Pig in the Forest, New Park Manor or The Huntsman
Burley
Local highlights:
- New Forest ponies
- Many lovely walking routes
- Interesting shops & good pubs
Local attractions:
- New Forest Cider
Another of the prettiest villages in the New Forest is Burley. It’s pretty small, but has everything you need. Including a good bike hire shop and stables for horseriding. And some unusual gift shops – witchcraft is something of a theme here.
In my experience, you have your best chance of seeing New Forest ponies in Burley. They wander around like they own the place. And who can blame them?
Good pubs, ice cream shops, tea rooms and New Forest Cider can all be found in Burley. There are great walking and cycling trails in all directions too. Burley Manor is also lovely for a meal, staying over or spa day.
Stay over at Burley Manor or the White Buck
Fordingbridge
Local highlights:
- By the river
- Medieval bridge
- Town centre amenities
Local attractions:
- New Forest Water Park
- Sandy Balls Holiday Park
Fordingbridge is worth a mention mainly because of Sandy Balls Holiday Park. It’s renowned – and not only because of the snigger-inducing name. The park has a great range of accommodation and good amenities, and is set among 120 acres of woodland.
Stay here and you also have access to the facilities of Fordingbridge, a pleasant and practical town on the River Avon with a medieval bridge and a good museum.
Near Fordingbridge you can also find Breamore House – an Elizabethan country pile, and the small but perfectly preserved Rockbourne Roman Villa.
Stay over at Sandy Balls Holiday Park
Lymington
Local highlights:
- Coastal setting
- Great shopping
- Packed with character
Local attractions:
- Olympic gold post box
- Seawater swimming baths
This beautiful place is the pick of the New Forest coastal towns to stay, shop and dine in. The town centre has elegant Georgian buildings and cobbled lanes leading to the harbour.
If you want to see the New Forest coast, then Lymington does have a nautical feel. It’s also a smart, upmarket destination, with a very good selection of shops to match its coastal lifestyle vibe. Look out for Ben Ainslie’s gold post box on the high street while you’re wandering.
There are plenty of supermarkets, takeaways, cafes, pubs and restaurants to keep you well fed and watered in Lymington. The seawater baths are also popular here in summer.
Stay over at The Mayflower, the Monkey Brewhouse or The Old Mill
Discover the top 10 Lymington pubs in this guide
Lyndhurst
Local highlights:
- New Forest capital
- Good motorway access
- Great eateries and shops
Local attractions:
- New Forest Heritage Centre
- Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary
- New Forest Reptile Centre
Lyndhurst is the administrative centre for New Forest council, and also has a very good tourist information service. It’s compact, and has a friendly, bustling feel.
The main street here is lined with good places to shop and eat. If you want instant access to New Forest town centre facilities while staying in the area, then book a room at the Crown Manor House.
In the Lyndhurst area, you can also visit the New Forest Heritage Centre and the New Forest Reptile Centre. The town is also conveniently placed for motorway access, and routes to other parts of the national park.
Stay over at the Crown Manor House hotel, the Bell Inn, Spot in the Woods or Lime Wood.
Find the top Lyndhurst pubs to dine, drink or stay at here.
New Milton (& Barton-on-Sea)
Local highlights:
- Mainline train station
- Barton-on-Sea beach
- Good supermarkets and shops
Local attractions:
- Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
- Chewton Glen hotel (one of UK’s best)
Though New Milton is more practical than pretty, Barton-on-Sea is part of the town. That’s just down the road, and is home to one of the finest hotels in the UK, the magnificent Chewton Glen.
New Milton itself also has a good selection of shops, supermarkets and cafes, though there aren’t that many pubs considering the size of the town. We like The Housemartin though, which is near the Chewton Glen and Barton-on-Sea.
In New Milton there’s also a train station. This is on the same line as Brockenhurst, so it’s easy to reach London and other locations from here. Hoburne Bashley holiday park is also up the road from New Milton, and if the kids need to let off steam there’s a skate and play park behind the main street (just ask any local to point you in the right direction).
The New Milton area is also good if you want to explore Dorset as well as Hampshire, as it’s right by the border between the two counties. Plus you have beaches nearby – and Barton-on-Sea and its beach huts are right here.
Stay over at the Chewton Glen or Hoburne Bashley
Milford-on-Sea
Local highlights:
- Nice eateries
- Good coastal playground
- Great beach with beach huts
Local attractions:
- Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle can be found near Milford-on-Sea, which is east of Barton-on-Sea. This is one of the best New Forest villages for beach lovers, as it has a lovely stretch of coastline. A good kids’ play park can be found here.
Milford-on-Sea also offers all the amenities you should need. Such as a decent fish and chip shops, some good restaurants, a decent bakery and a few interesting or useful shops.
Stay over at the Beach House
Bonus pick – Christchurch
Apologies, I’m biased, but I couldn’t leave Christchurch out! It’s where I live, and I love it so much that I moved here over two decades ago. It just has everything you could want.
Though the town itself is just outside the New Forest, parts of Christchurch do lie within the National Park. It’s a lovely town to stay in or explore, with good shops, pubs, cafes, hotels, restaurants and more. Plus a train station.
Visit Christchurch and you can see the old ducking stool and stocks – they’re great for taking fun snaps! Other things to do in Christchurch include taking a riverside walk, visiting the impressive Priory, or going to the Quay for a bandstand, boats, swans and even a summer splash park. There’s a couple of good kids’ playgrounds in town and at the quay to complete the picture, plus a Waitrose and M&S food for picking up supplies.
Highcliffe-on-Sea is part of Christchurch, and the village has a lovely beach, a historic castle, and some good shops and places to eat and drink. And I live there 😉
Stay over at the Bear of Burton, Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Spa, the Captain’s Club or the King’s Harbour Hotel
5 More New Forest Villages and Towns to Visit
- Ringwood – Ringwood Brewery, shopping and Moors Valley Country Park
- Fritham – Fritham Walk, Eyeworth Pond and the Royal Oak pub
- Lepe – Lepe Country Park, Lepe beach and The Lookout restaurant
- Minstead – Furzey Gardens, Rufus Stone and Arthur Conan Doyle’s grave
- Sway – Cycling, horse riding and the Sway to Setthorns walking route
New Forest Towns and Villages FAQs
Which is the nicest village in the New Forest?
Which New Forest village in nicest depends on what you want. Beaulieu and nearby Buckler’s Hard have chocolate box looks, and Burley also has a beautiful setting. For a coastal location, you can pick Milford-on-Sea for its beach or Lymington for the harbour.
Which is better – Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst?
Lyndhurst is conveniently placed for drivers due to motorway and local road access. It’s also close to the city of Southampton. Brockenhurst is best for those taking the train, as the station’s in the centre. Both are attractive places with good local amenities.
Which towns are part of the New Forest?
Towns in the New Forest area include Lyndhurst, Fordingbridge, coastal Lymington and New Milton. Barton-on-Sea is part of the latter. New Forest villages include Beaulieu and neighbouring Buckler’s Hard, Milford-on-Sea, Brockenhurst, Ashurst and Burley.
Which is the most beautiful town in the New Forest?
If you want town centre facilities, a coastal location, good transport links and access to the New Forest, then Lymington has to be the pick of the bunch. It’s a very appealing place with handsome Georgian buildings, great shopping and dining, good pubs, several local supermarkets, cobbled lanes and a harbour. You can also swim in seawater baths here during summer – and even find an Olympic gold post box.
Where is the heart of the New Forest?
Brockenhurst is in the midst of the New Forest National Park. It also has a mainline train station in the centre. It’s easy to reach other New Forest locations from here too. The village offers a good range of accommodation and amenities, and is surrounded by walking and cycling trails.
Which Towns and Villages in the New Forest will you Visit?
Which are the best villages in the New Forest for you to stay and spend time in is a personal choice. They’re all very pleasant places to be. If you’re using public transport, though, I do recommend basing yourself in Brockenhurst, as the train station is in the centre of the village.
This New Forest towns list was compiled after two decades of living on the edge of the forest. I hope it helps you decide which are the best villages in Hampshire for your next visit!
Discover more about places to stay in New Forest towns and villages in this guide, and the top 15 New Forest beaches here.
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