The New Forest: A Family-Friendly Guide

The New Forest is quite possibly one of the most magical places in England. Having visited many times before, it was somewhere we were really excited to return to and experience with our children. From scenic countryside walks and charming villages to, of course, the beautiful wild ponies, the New Forest is a destination that has a little something for everyone. And while this is a family-friendly guide, most of the activities we enjoyed the most aren’t specifically aimed at children, making it a lovely destination for the whole family to enjoy.

We recently spent several days exploring the New Forest and the surrounding area as a family, visiting some of its prettiest villages, discovering woodland trails and enjoying a little time on the nearby coast. We also found a beautiful countryside cottage that made the perfect base for our stay.

In this guide, I’m sharing some of the best things to do in the New Forest with kids, alongside our recommendations on where to stay, how to get around, how long to visit and practical tips to help you plan your own trip. Whether you’re planning a weekend break or a longer family holiday, here’s everything you need to know before visiting.

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Where is The New Forest?

The New Forest is located in the south of England, with most of it falling within the county of Hampshire. Part of it also falls into the surrounding counties of Wiltshire and Dorset.

The area covers a beautiful mix of natural woodland and picturesque villages. The Dorset Coast is also nearby, making it easy to combine a countryside escape with a trip to the beach.

What Makes the New Forest So Special?

The thing that makes the New Forest stand out to me compared to other British countryside locations is its incredible wildlife. There’s something quite magical about driving through the countryside and suddenly finding yourself sharing the road with wild ponies. Or spotting cattle and donkeys grazing freely across the open heathland. In autumn, you can even spot pigs in the wild as they are let out from local farms to eat acorns and chestnuts that are poisonous to the horses.

It’s also a destination where you don’t necessarily need to plan every moment. Some of the loveliest experiences come from slowing down, taking a scenic drive, spotting wildlife along the way or discovering somewhere unexpected.

For families in particular, I think this is part of its appeal. The children can enjoy spotting the ponies and other animals, while adults can appreciate the beautiful surroundings, lovely villages and slower pace of life. It’s a destination that feels like a proper escape from everyday life.

How Many Days Do You Need in the New Forest

I’d recommend spending at least two or three days exploring the New Forest, although you could easily spend a full week here without running out of things to do.

We spent three nights (four days) in the area on our most recent trip. This gave us enough time to visit the main villages, enjoy some of the woodland walks and explore several of the area’s highlights without feeling too rushed.

If you enjoy longer hikes or want to explore more of the walking trails at a slower pace, I’d happily recommend staying for a week. During the summer months, you could also add a beach day or two and explore more of the nearby coastline.

For a first visit, I’d say three or four days is a lovely amount of time to get a feel for the area.

What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit the New Forest?

I honestly think the New Forest is a magical destination at any time of year. Each season offers something a little different.

We visited in autumn, when the woodland was particularly beautiful. The changing colours of the trees made the walks extra pretty. It was a lovely time to explore the villages and countryside, although we did have one rather rainy day! If you’re visiting outside the summer months, I’d recommend packing wellies or walking boots, along with waterproof coats, so you’re prepared for changeable weather.

Spring brings fresh greenery and wildlife, while summer is ideal for longer days exploring the countryside and combining your visit with trips to the nearby beaches. Even winter has its appeal, with peaceful woodland walks and cosy country pubs to retreat to afterwards.

Ultimately, there’s no bad time to visit. I’d choose your season depending on whether you prefer outdoor adventures, beach days or cosy pub lunches and coffee shops.

Do You Need a Car to Visit The New Forest?

While it is possible to visit the New Forest without a car, I’d say having one makes exploring the area considerably easier.

You can take a direct train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst. This is a convenient starting point for a trip to the New Forest. From there, you can use local buses, trains and taxis to reach some of the surrounding villages and attractions. However, public transport connections can be limited, particularly when visiting some of the more remote walking trails and countryside spots.

We hired a car for our trip and found it made a huge difference, particularly when travelling with children. It gave us the flexibility to explore different villages, visit woodland walks and stop off wherever we fancied along the way. Our accommodation, which I will share more about below, was also not accessible by public transport, so having a car was particularly important for us.

If you’re planning to explore beyond one village or want to visit several different parts of the New Forest, I’d definitely recommend hiring a car if possible.

Parking in the New Forest

There are plenty of car parks throughout the New Forest. So, it’s relatively easy to park up and explore the different walking trails, villages and beauty spots.

Forestry England has recently introduced parking charges at its managed car parks, although it remains free for Forestry England members. Current charges range from £1.50 for one hour to £8 for stays of over four hours.

One particularly useful thing to know is that Forestry England parking tickets are transferable between its car parks. This means you can pay £8 for a full day’s parking and move between different Forestry England car parks throughout the day without having to pay again. It’s a great option if you’re planning to visit several different areas.

Payments can be made using the RingGo app at all Forestry England car parks. Some locations also have cash payment machines. I’d recommend downloading the app before your visit, just in case you don’t have a reliable signal when you arrive.

Where to Stay in The New Forest as a Family

For our recent New Forest trip, we were lucky enough to stay at Foxglove Cottage on the Hamptworth Estate, [PR Invite]. Just a 20-minute drive from many of the popular New Forest towns, such as Lyndhurst, it made a wonderful base for exploring the surrounding countryside and nearby villages.

The estate was originally a dairy farm before becoming a timber yard. It has recently been beautifully transformed into five luxury holiday cottages. We stayed in Foxglove Cottage, one of the two-bedroom properties, which was a lovely combination of comfortable, stylish accommodation and a peaceful countryside setting.

What really made this stay stand out, though, were the thoughtful extra touches. James, the estate manager, went out of his way to make our visit special. He arranged for our children to visit the working farm across the road for their own little farmer experience. They loved getting involved, brushing the horses and collecting fresh eggs from the chickens.

Another highlight was having the fire pit lit for us one evening. It’s these little details that can make a family stay feel extra special, and it was something the boys absolutely loved.

There are also opportunities to make even more of your stay, with golf and use of the paddle court available to arrange. James is happy to put together a bespoke experience depending on your family’s interests, whether that’s a visit to the farm or something a little more active.

With free parking and a lovely, peaceful setting, Foxglove Cottage was a wonderful place to return to and relax after days spent exploring the New Forest. If you’re looking for somewhere a little different from a traditional hotel, I’d definitely recommend considering a stay here.

See all the details and current availability on the Hamptworth Stays website here.

The Best Things to Do in the New Forest as a Family

There are plenty of great things to do in the New Forest with kids. During our visit to the New Forest, we chose to prioritise wholesome family time, getting outdoors and exploring nature together. From woodland walks and wildlife spotting to stopping for hot chocolates and pub lunches in the pretty villages. Most of the activities in this guide can be enjoyed by all ages, rather than being specifically aimed at children.

That said, I’ve also included a few more child-focused attractions towards the end for families looking to add a little extra adventure to their visit.

1. Spot the Wild New Forest Ponies

The New Forest is famous for its majestic wild horses and ponies. Seeing these beautiful animals in the wild feels really special compared to seeing them on a farm. This really is one of the simplest, but best things to do in the New Forest.

You may be wondering, as I was, where is the best place to see ponies in the New Forest? Honestly, they’re everywhere. Even though we’ve been before, I was surprised at just how many horses we saw both on walks and while we were driving. For me, the most magical sighting was on the Blackwater Woods Tall Trees Trail, which I will share more about below. There were also lots around the heathland of Bolton’s Bench walk in Lyndhurst, which I will also give more details on below.

It is quite common for horses (or other wild animals) to be crossing or standing on the edge of the road, so do drive cautiously.

It is also important to remember that these are wild animals. Please admire them but don’t go too close to them or try to feed them, as they may try to kick or bite. We also made sure our children knew to give them space!

2. See How Many Other Animals You Can Spot

In addition to the horses and ponies, it is common to see other wild animals wandering the New Forest. During our visit, we came across donkeys and cattle up close. We also saw deer in the distance, as well as many birds.

If, like us, you visit the New Forest in autumn. You may even be able to spot pigs. Each year the area takes part in the ancient pannage tradition. From around mid-September to late November, up to 600 pigs are released into the forest to eat up the fallen acorns and chestnuts that are poisonous to horses.

We played a little game with our children to see how many different animals we were able to find!

3. Enjoy a Beautiful Woodland Walk

There are so many different walks in the New Forest. Below, I’m going to share some lovely walks to do in the New Forest with children. These are some of the shorter options, but they are also popular choices with couples as well!

If you would like to try some longer hikes, we found the AllTrails App to be really useful for route planning. It has a variety of options to suit everyone’s ability!

The Best New Forest Walks For Families

• Blackwater Woods, Tall Trees Trail: This one was our personal favourite. This circular, beautiful woodland walk takes you through some of the New Forest’s most impressive trees. The light filtering through the woodland was magical when we visited. The boys loved climbing on logs, hiding in the dens, spotting fairytale-like toadstools and seeing the horses up close.
• Bolderwood Deer Trail: This is another lovely spot for a woodland walk, with the added possibility of spotting deer. We only managed to see them in the distance, but we did see more of the New Forest horses and cattle up close. It’s a lovely place to enjoy the countryside and get out into nature.
• Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard: This scenic route combines a beautiful countryside walk with a visit to the historic village of Buckler’s Hard. It takes around an hour to walk, although we found it a little long for the children, especially as it was raining. I think this one would be a perfect bike trail if you’re looking for a cycling route. Buckler’s Hard itself is well worth visiting, so we were glad we made the effort!
• Bolton’s Bench Walk, Lyndhurst: If you’re looking for something more flexible, the walk around Bolton’s Bench is a great option. You can make it as long or short as you like, and it’s a lovely place to spot the wild ponies. You can also combine it with a visit to Lyndhurst for a hot chocolate or something to eat.

4. Explore the Pretty Villages of the New Forest

There are lots of pretty little villages throughout the New Forest. They’re all fairly small, so can easily be combined, seeing more than one in a day. We found it a great combination to pair a walk with a village

• Brockenhurst: is one of the best-known villages in the New Forest. It’s a lovely place for a little wander and to stop for some food. We enjoyed a pub lunch at The Snake Catcher, which is a delicious, family-friendly pub.
• Lyndhurst: is one of the larger villages in the New Forest, with plenty of cafés, restaurants and independent shops. Our boys particularly enjoyed looking at the Ferraris outside the showroom there! There’s also a small heritage museum if you’d like to learn a little more about the area’s history.
• Burley: This is a lovely village to explore, with traditional cottages, independent shops and a relaxed countryside feel. We stopped at Shappen Café for brunch, which made a lovely start to our visit.
• Beauleu: Another of the prettiest little towns in the New Forest (even in the rain). If you plan to do the Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard walk I mentioned above, you can easily combine these two villages. Stop for a coffee or lunch here before getting started on the walk!
• Buckler’s Hard: Buckler’s Hard is one of the most interesting historic places in the area. This beautiful riverside village was once an important shipbuilding centre. You can explore the historic cottages, chapel and museum, as well as learn about its maritime history.

5. Enjoy More of the New Forest’s Family Attractions

There are so many more things to do in the New Forest with children. While we didn’t do everything on this trip, I wanted to include a list of some other popular options. I am a big believer in not trying to cram in everything and choosing the activities your family will enjoy the most!

• Beaulieu National Motor Museum: This is a popular New Forest attraction. I’m quite sad we didn’t have time to fit this one into our itinerary. The entrance ticket includes the museum, entrance to a historic house and its gardens, Little Beaulieu, which looks like a really great playground, and riding the monorail skytrain! So it really has something for everyone in the family. Find out more information and book tickets on their website linked here.
• Paultons Park: A theme park particularly popular with families. While it is best known for being the home to Peppa Pig World, there is actually so much more there to enjoy. When I looked for a family of four, tickets were over £200, so this is certainly a treat activity! As the weather forecast was heavy rain, we decided to give it a miss on this trip. My kids really enjoyed Legoland Windsor (review linked), so I know they would have enjoyed Paultons Park as well. Book Paultons Park tickets here.
• Exbury Gardens: 200 acres of beautiful gardens, woodland walks and a miniature steam railway. They also have a playground, a log trail and offer free activity sheets. Making this the perfect thing to do in the New Forest as a family. If you’re visiting the New Forest at Christmas, they also have a lot of festive activities. Find out more on their website.
• Moors Valley Country Park and Forest: I had actually planned to visit here one afternoon of our trip, but my eldest wasn’t feeling too well, so we had to skip it. Moors Valley is a lovely outdoor destination with walking and cycling trails, play areas and a narrow-gauge railway. The park is free to enter, but some of the attractions there are paid. See what’s currently on and prices here.

6. Go Crabbing at Mudeford Quay

Just outside the New Forest, you’ll find Mudeford Quay. I was particularly keen to take my children crab fishing here as I have strong memories of doing it myself here as a child. I’m so glad we did it, as both my children said it was a highlight of their trip.

At the Quay, there is a cafe called Haven House Inn & Café. Just next to this is a gift shop; they can sell you everything you need for crabbing. As we have younger children, we purchased a net with a bait pocket attached. We should have taken a bucket with us, but as we hadn’t, we had to buy one of those as well. We bought the bait from the shop; however, I noticed other people had taken supermarket packs of bacon to use.

The supplies came to around £11 in total. It was so worth it for the amount of fun my children had! They were very pleased with themselves for catching 15 crabs. Once we were finished, we gently poured the crabs back into the sea. There is parking on the Quay, which costs £5 for 2 hours.

7. Look for Fossils at Barton on Sea

Another fun place to visit is Barton on Sea. Located a short drive from Mudeford Quay, we combined these into a day trip.

What made us really want to visit Barton on Sea is that it is known for being a place where you can find fossils. Being a dinosaur fan, my eldest was really excited by that idea!

I hadn’t researched this activity properly. It is advised that you should visit at low tide for the best chance of finding fossils. As it wasn’t low tide, we didn’t find the shark teeth we were hoping for. However, we did get a cool collection of rocks and shells that my kids were pleased with.

Even if you’re not an aspiring palaeontologist, this is still a really nice place to visit, especially on a warm weather day. The colourful beach huts are really cute!

There were some free parking spaces available on Marine Drive. If you aren’t lucky enough to find a free spot, there is also a paid car park called Marine Drive West car park.

8. Dont Forget to Plan Some Downtime!

As a travel blogger, I tend to try and cram a lot into our trips. However, it is really important to slow down and enjoy some time to relax. Especially when travelling with young children.

Our time at Foxglove Cottage allowed us to do this perfectly. From a morning cup of tea in bed, to a cosy evening by the fire pit, we enjoyed some very calm family moments. We also enjoyed a short walk across the fields to the local pub, The Cookoo Inn. This tiny pub looked like it was once a house and had been converted. The pub garden had some great climbing trees so we could enjoy a drink in peace while the children played.

Map of Things to Do in the New Forest with Kids

Below is our map of all the things to do in the New Forest as a family. It includes everything that I’ve talked about in this guide. I’ve pinned the main villages to visit in blue, and all the things to do in red. It is an interactive map; simply click on the top right-hand corner to open it in Google Maps.

Tips for Visiting the New Forest with Children

Below are a few tips to help make the most of your time in the New Forest with kids.

Pack Plenty of Spare Clothes

If there’s one thing I’d recommend, it’s packing more spare clothes than you think you’ll need! Between muddy woodland walks, exploring the countryside and unpredictable weather, children can get through outfits surprisingly quickly. On our wettest day, the boys managed to get through two outfits each! Don’t forget to also pack them spare socks and shoes.

Bring Raincoats and Wellies

Even if the forecast looks promising, I’d always pack waterproof coats and wellies. Particularly if you’re visiting outside the summer months. The UK’s weather can be unpredictable, and some of the woodland trails can get muddy after rainfall. Having the right footwear makes exploring much more enjoyable for everyone.

Remind Children to Respect the Wildlife

One of the highlights of visiting the New Forest is seeing the animals roaming freely, but it’s important to teach children to admire them from a safe distance. The ponies, donkeys and cattle are wild or free-roaming animals, not pets, so children should never approach, touch or attempt to feed them. Even if an animal looks particularly friendly, it’s important to give it plenty of space and let it go about its day.

Don’t Try to Fit Too Much into Each Day

The New Forest is somewhere to slow down and enjoy the surroundings. Allow plenty of time for walks, village stops and spontaneous wildlife spotting rather than trying to squeeze too many activities into one itinerary. Some of the nicest moments can be the unplanned ones!

FAQs About Visiting the New Forest as a Family

Final Thoughts on Visiting The New Forest, Hampshire

We absolutely loved our time exploring the New Forest and the surrounding area. It’s somewhere I’d happily return to again and again. From the beautiful woodland walks and charming villages to spotting the famous wild ponies roaming freely, there’s something quite special about this part of England.

I think what makes the New Forest such a wonderful family destination is that you don’t need to plan lots of activities or spend a fortune to enjoy it. Some of our favourite moments were simply spent outdoors, exploring nature, discovering somewhere new and enjoying a slower pace of life together.

Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend or planning a full week away, there’s plenty to see and do, with beautiful countryside, lovely places to stay and even the nearby coast to explore.

If you’re looking for a family getaway that combines outdoor adventures, charming villages and a little time away from the everyday, I’d definitely recommend adding the New Forest to your list.

Thank you so much for reading our family guide to visiting the New Forest. We hope you have a wonderful time exploring the English Countryside.

Happy Travelling,