New Forest What's On - Events guide
Quick links
What to do in the New Forest? There are, of course, lots of things to do in the New Forest for all the family throughout the year and whatever the weather - attractions, activities, events and more.
Here is a selection that will provide a flavour of what is available.
(1) Walking and cycling
Guided walks are on offer, provided by Forestry England and during the annual two week New Forest Walking Festival.
Usually taking place in October each year, the New Forest Walking Festival features a host of guided walks spread throughout the National Park and offers the opportunity to visit out-of-the-way areas in the company of local experts. Be aware, though, that places are much in demand so early booking is essential.
Cyclists can enjoy many miles of off-road cycle tracks.
Furthermore, in recent years, Bike Events have organised an autumnal New Forest bike ride starting at Brockenhurst Sixth Form College and offering a choice of four routes - 15, 30, 45 or 60 miles - for all ages and abilities; whilst UK Cycling Events organise longer distance rides through the Forest.
(2) Wildlife and country shows
New Forest wildlife is rich and varied. Indeed, some of the wildlife occurs in few other places in the UK.
There is certainly much to explore, then, for the self-sufficient naturalist, whilst those with a more general interest in wildlife might wish to visit the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, the New Forest Reptile Centre on the outskirts of Lyndhurst; Liberty's Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre on Crow Lane, Ringwood; and the New Forest Wildlife Park, near Ashurst.
Check out the relevant websites for details of special events at these venues.
Country shows, carnivals and festivals also offer much for visitors to enjoy and often feature bird of prey displays, farm animals, local crafts and traditional produce, sporting events, fun games, live music and excellent food and drink that is often locally sourced.
Look out, in particular, for the three day New Forest and Hampshire County Show which takes place at New Park, Brockenhurst, usually in late July each year.
Then for doggie enthusiasts, there's Dogstival, an annual event that is proving to be increasingly popular. Billed as 'a festival for dogs and dog lovers', Dogstival attracted over 10,000 people in 2019 and, of course, countless dogs.
(3) Art, history, culture and gardens
Art exhibitions and other related events are regularly held at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst, the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington and at Exbury Gardens.
Talks and themed garden walks are also on offer at Exbury Gardens along with 200 acres of woodland gardens that line the Beaulieu River and boast extensive woodland and riverside walks, whilst the New Forest Heritage Centre is the place to visit to find out more about the history and traditions of the New Forest.
Furzey Gardens at Minstead, meanwhile, is on a somewhat smaller scale when compared to Exbury, but is equally enjoyable, and every visit helps the Minstead Trust continue its work to provide support and work experience for people with learning disabilities.
Garden enthusiasts will not be disappointed, either, with visits to the many New Forest gardens that are open to the public, with all proceeds normally donated to charity.
(4) Street markets and food festivals
New Forest street markets are not to be missed, for they feature a wide range of goods including local produce and craft items.
Check out the markets at Lymington (Saturdays, usually from 8.00am to 3.30pm), Ringwood (Wednesdays, usually from 8.00am to 3.00pm), Hythe (Tuesdays, usually between 9.00am and 4.00pm), and New Milton (Wednesdays, usually from 9.00am to 4.00pm). And look out, too, for local farmers' markets and a variety of other, especially themed markets.
The Hampshire Food Festival usually takes place throughout July and includes events at many locations within the New Forest, whilst the annual New Forest Food and Drink Fortnight is an autumn treat that features a whole host of different food and drink-related events.
And then there's the Lymington Seafood Festival, an annual event that celebrates Lymington and the New Forest's rich cultural heritage, fabulous regional producers and links to the sea. Usually scheduled to take place in August at Bath Road Park, Lymington, the Festival features 'some of the most exciting and innovative artisan food and drink producers who'll be cooking up fishy delicacies from around the world across the weekend'. There's live music, too, craft beers from Ringwood Brewery, talented chefs in the demonstration kitchen and lots, lots more.
(5) Village Halls and Community Centres
The New Forest's village halls and community centres - such as Lyndhurst Community Centre, Brockenhurst Village Hall and Burley Village Hall - offer a wide range of events and activities provided for local people and visitors alike.
Why not visit one of the regularly held Craft Fairs where can be found a range of high quality hand-made items that are definitely not available on the high street, or check out a Book Fair, Paraphernalia Fair or Antique Fair? Film Nights are also always popular and so are a range of talks on a wide variety of subjects.
All the details can be found in, for example, the Lyndhurst Community Centre Events guide and the Brockenhurst Village Hall Events guide.
(6) Fun and interest for all the family
Many New Forest attractions run special family events during school half-terms and other holidays.
Look out, for example, for special 'Discovery Days' at the New Forest Heritage Centre, guided nature and other walks arranged by Forestry England, magical nature-oriented events at the New Forest Reptile Centre, and exciting children's trails at Bolderwood organised by Forestry England rangers.
Special family events also take place at Peppa Pig World at nearby Paulton's Park, and at Beaulieu, Buckler's Hard, Hurst Castle, Exbury Gardens, Blashford Lakes, Moors Valley Country Park, Lepe Country Park and other venues.
(7) Days out in the surrounding area
Whilst the New Forest is an absolutely wonderful place to visit, it also makes a superb centre for exploring more widely.
For example, walks along the Solent Way on the nearby coast are a joy, and so is relaxing on Bournemouth's sandy beaches or travelling to Dorset's other seaside resorts and attractions.
Delightful, out-of-the-way country villages and historic towns and cities - such as Downton, Romsey, Salisbury and Winchester - are also within easy travelling distance, and so is the still imposing ruined castle at Corfe.
Take a look at the New Forest Days Out section for more information and, where relevant, links to venues that host occasional and more frequent events.
Quick links
More links
Search this site