Spent an absolutely cracking day visiting Exbury. It's an enormous site, 80-ish hectares. You can easily spend the entire day here exploring. Obviously, different things are going to be in bloom at different times so there's always going to be something interesting to see throughout the year. Paths are a mixture of surfaces: e.g., tarmac/pebble so book/hire an all terrain scooter if you or someone with you needs it. Dogs on a lead are welcome. Doggos are even allowed on the choo-choo (£7/per person extra). Loads of space for kids to exhaust themselves plus they have a dedicated play area and log trail. The usual amenities: loads of parking, restaurant, gift shop, plants for sale. Toilets are modern and everything works. Top tip: Gardener's World 2:1 is accepted and provides great VFM. Loads of activities throughout the year so check what's on via their website. All in all, a brilliant place to visit. Would deffo visit again...it must look stunning in the spring.

First time visitors to the gardens and definitely not the last! We booked the Halloween train and it exceeded expectations- the actors were amazing and turned up the scare-factor by jumping out and as my kids are age 10 and 13, so they loved it! They didn’t jump out for the younger children though so mindful of ages. The gardens are beautiful in their autumnal glory and looking forward to re-visiting next year.

We had such a wonderful time at Exbury Gardens. The combination of the beautiful gardens and the steam railway was perfect for me and my son. He absolutely loved the train ride, and we enjoyed the scenic walks. It's a great place for children to run around and explore. A truly memorable day!

Lovely visit at the end of summer. We were trained in horticulture, many years ago!! So we know our stuff and thought that Exbury was one of the best gardens we had visited. We particularly enjoyed the wide selection of trees. We know less about fungi and enjoyed seeing so many different varieties and were so lucky to have picked this time of year when we could see so many. We also enjoyed the specialist Nerine plant exhibition and bought a few to take home. We would like to add how lovely and dog friendly the gardens are too. A great day out.

Had an amazing day at the gardens today. Lovely walks exploring the gardens with my girls. There was a Halloween 👻 trail and the ghost train quite frankly was amazing. A reall treat there must have been a lot of planning and effort gone into this. Got chatting with Dave who has a real passion for his railway and engines. We’ll be back!

Have been when the gardens were in full flower so nice to see the changes the autumn brings. Train had been adapted to ghost train and the actors kept us entertained throughout. Gardens beautiful as ever and the Nerines exhibition was a nice addition to our day.

Nestled in the heart of the New Forest, Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a gem that combines natural beauty with charming attractions. Spanning over 200 acres, this historic estate boasts a breathtaking landscape, with vibrant rhododendrons, azaleas, and rare trees creating a kaleidoscope of colours. The meticulously maintained gardens offer picturesque vistas at every turn, making it a haven for nature lovers and photographers alike. Whether strolling through the tranquil Sundial Garden or marvelling at the cascading Rock Garden, the unique layout ensures a sense of discovery. The steam railway is a highlight, especially for families. The 1.25-mile track winds through the gardens, offering a delightful way to soak in the scenery. The locomotives, lovingly restored, add a nostalgic charm, and the journey through wooded glades is both relaxing and enchanting. Accessibility is well-considered, with smooth paths and ample parking, including spaces for disabled visitors. Facilities are top-notch. The toilets are clean and modern, while the café serves a range of tasty options, from hearty lunches to indulgent cakes, with outdoor seating to enjoy the views. The visitor centre is well-stocked with plants and gifts, perfect for souvenirs. Cleanliness across the site is impeccable, reflecting the care invested in the experience. While entry fees are on the higher side, the quality justifies the cost, especially for garden enthusiasts. Visiting in spring or early summer maximizes the floral spectacle. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a splendid destination, blending natural splendour with thoughtful amenities for a memorable day out.

Really enjoyed it here, a mix of the old and the more modern, great history. We caught the little ferry boat over which was lovely, we were going to go back the same way but decided to walk back along the spit, was about 2 miles out in the open and shingle all the way, was very windy on the way back but a nice walk none the less. It's a bit of a gem and not over priced, definitely worth reading all the signs to learn about the history and the changes the castle went through.

I enjoyed my visit immensely. A great place to bring children to run around, although I suggest you use the ferry with the little ones as its a 2 mile walk from the carpark. Completely dog friendly I brought mine. He enjoyed sniffing around the rooms but was impatient to move on. So I photographed the information panels for later. There's a very small cafe and the toilets are open to the elements.

Hurst Castle is an absolute gem. The walk from the car park to the castle is about 2 miles with lovely views of the Needles. You can get the ferry from Keyhaven to save on the walk. Once inside the castle, there’s so much to explore and the exhibitions are well presented and bring the stories of the castle to life. The views from the castle walls are breathtaking and you can see across to the Isle of Wight and watch the boats sail by. I’d highly recommend bringing a picnic and spending a few hours wandering, learning, and soaking up the atmosphere. A brilliant day out for families, history lovers, and anyone who enjoys a walk.

We took the ferry across and then spent about 3 hours wandering round. Lots of different bits to see but the highlight are the views over to the Isle of White and the lighthouse. There is a little cafe out front and some rustic toilets inside. If you intend on being there over lunch I’d suggest bringing lunch with you.

Great morning out looking around this castle. Got the ferry there snd back which was great fun. Lovely views from the top of the castle overlooking isle of wight and beyond. Lot's of information given as you walk around.

This Castle has a lot to offer. Its history and role during various wars is well explained at various points inside the castle. There are many sections accessible only through narrow stairs. On an upper level there are lovely views across to Hust Beach and Keyhaven. In the other direction there is a clear view of the Isle of Wight.

We took the ferry from Keyhaven, the two mile walk along the single bank wasn't an option today. The castle was very interesting, the way it had evolved to meet new threats over the past five hundred years. Difficult for those with mobility issues as there are spiral stairs, uneven steps and low doorways. Fascinating exhibition about lighthouses. Be prepared for the fresh breeze off the sea. Facilities are limited, toilets little changed in one hundred years, a small cafe with outside picnic benches. We parked in Keyhaven and the advice there was four to five hours for the visit and that proved about right. During our visit the ferry was operating all day even during low tide but that is not always the case.

You need more than a day to explore everything here!! That was our only complain. It is a great place to spend time with kids. No water related rides/pools for adults which we found disappointing as we came prepared for one (without checking in detail online). That's why the 4 star. There's a splash area for kids and that's it for anything water related as far as I can tell. Would give it 5 star purely for everything kids related. There's lots to explore here. I read on one the reviews to get a packed lunch and I'm glad I read it and we did bring something to eat during the day which did save us some ££!!. We went on a weekday during the school holidays and it wasn't that crowded. Parking is hassle free and they guide you to an empty spot. We went to Peppa Pig World first and managed to get on few of the rides without queuing for long. We found this to be better than Legoland based on our overall experience. Would be going back to explore the unexplored sections/rides hopefully soon!!

Paultons Park is a beautiful, well kept and very themed in the seperate of areas in the park. There is so so many family rides what everyone can enjoy. The ride access pass was so easy to use. The food in the Route 83 diner was really nice. Amazing price value in the shop & food outlets. The toilets was very clean. If the rides are getting to much you have got the gorgeous well kept gardens and animals to walk round. Paultons deserved the best theme park of the year as I had no faults with anything. 🤍

Great theme park, not only for younger kids but also for big boys along with adults. Went in Halloween and it was all Pumpkins everywhere. Nicely decorated, enough rides. Visited for 2 days with short break, but if either young or old kids only or if managed properly, all rides and parks can be covered in a day.

Ample free parking, easy check in, well done with the halloween theme, waits on some rides are reasonable. Their phone app is super useful showing locations and waiting times. Staff is friendly, rides are all safe, place and toilets are clean. On stage shows were entertaining. Great place for a family day.

Our family had an exceptional experience. There are numerous activities available, ensuring that every individual will discover something to their liking. We are certainly planning a return visit, as the weather was not ideal during our last stay..

Great range of rides, clean facilities, queues were manageable with max time of 20 mins. Peppa pig world seemed to be the busiest area, as expected. Booked through the stay option and went for the Marriott Portsmouth which was also great. Well managed across the two companies.

Although you may think the tickets are expensive I felt it was good value for my money. The park is well kept, not overcrowded and well-staffed. The food was good quality restaurant sized portions. We had a fabulous day & my grand daughter of 4yrs made lots of friends. Our favourite spots were the playgrounds, soft play & the seal ride.

Visited New Forest Wildlife Park and had a great time exploring the grounds. Loved seeing beautiful animals like lynx and wolves up close in natural-looking enclosures. The park is peaceful, well maintained, and set in a lovely forest environment. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Perfect spot for families or anyone who enjoys wildlife and nature walks. Highly recommend for a relaxing and interesting day out!

We booked a Keepers Experience for 2 of us for 2 hours. Ben was out keeper and it was his first time. He did extremely well. Very knowledgeable and friendly. We got to feed so many varieties of animals. It was very interesting. Highly recommend.

We had a lovely day. My chukcren especially enjoyed listening to the keeper talks and watching the animals being fed. Would have been 5 stars but there were a few animals which are not there currently which I was unaware of. May have missed this info on their website. Also was quite a cold day so would have been good to have been able to order hot drinks half way round.

An amazing wildlife park with beautiful well cared for animals and excellent knowledgeable friendly keepers. We visit most weeks as annual member holders and throughly enjoy it just as much every time- and always see something different! The keeper talks are always informative and interesting and learn something new. Their conversation work is amazing and it’s brilliant to see all the animals thriving. If I had to choose a favourite animal it would be the elusive Eurasian otter Chestnut but closely followed by the noisy Giant otter family- but love all of the animals. I will continue to visit as frequently and renew when the year is up- I’m very excited to see what they have planned next. Keep up the great work.

A lovely few hours spent here today. My granddaughter loved seeing so many well cared for animals up close. The young man doing the deer talk was really good and he interacted with the children. We could like to come back and do a keeper experience as this looked really good. My granddaughter drew sketches and wrote notes on the animals and she is only 6! A great day out.

A brilliant morning out. We bought our tickets in advance on the website so it was quick to get in. It was brilliant to see all of the otters and to see them being fed at 11 was a highlight as a keen otter lover. Place was quite easy to walk around and explore with no real steep inclines. Got to get close to the deer and were even able to pet one! It was disappointing to not see the wallabies not sure where they were hiding. There’s lots of things and places to keep kids entertained and overall a really good value experience.

Well maintained Wildlife Park with lots to see and do on site. Currently they have a Japanese Sika deer, some Fallow deer, a large number of otters, Scottish wild cats, Lynx, Wolverine, European Bison, Wild Boar, Wallabies Soon they will have wolves. Red deer currently in quarantine so on show shortly. Worth every penny of the admission fee. Very educational too.

So happy we stumbled upon this lovely pub in the new forest. One of the better Sunday roasts we've had in a while! We had the new "sharing roast" between 3 of us and we were absolutely stuffed. You get a bit of every meat and all the regular trimmings plus some cauliflower cheese! Not to mention the service was amazing and the servers were just the kindest people 🤩

We had a wonderful Sunday lunch at The Oak. The food was amazing and the service exceptional. Anita, who gave us a warm welcome, looked after us and made sure everything was in order. The food here is really good; great presentation and generous portions. The Fullers beer is served from the barrel so is fresh and in tip top condition. If you haven't visited The Oak put it on your to-do list because it's a gem.

We visited the Oak Inn on Sunday 6th July 2025 for lunch. We were greeted by friendly bar staff and were placed in a lovely bay window table. All the staff were so friendly and couldn’t do enough for you. The roast chicken was very tasty and portions are not stingy here, we all got so full up. The atmosphere of the pub was great, and we can’t wait to come back in the colder months as it would be very cosy. Will definitely recommend. Thank you.

Best steak I have had in years! Great decor n service. Lovely to follow lane on for a wander in forest. Heard a woodpecker. Ponies passing us to take a drink at a brook. The free library in telephone box outside looks a tad sad so bring some unwanted but quality books to top it up ;-).

I came here for the 1st time in a long time, we had 3 roast been dinners, I was so disappointed. And the serving staff I think might not be allowed to speak to customers as I never got anything from the young lady serving us. Food and service was awful, luckily they had good customers, as it helped with the atmosphere. I won’t be coming again. I will say location and building is amazing, just a shame about everything else. Food attached of the beef, I couldn’t cut because it was so tough.

Have often driven past and wondered what is was like. We cycled there as a group on a tour of the local pubs. Had a lovely Thai green curry and it was served with a pint of Clarksons Hawkstone lager! What a great combo The interior of the pub is spotless and had a welcome feel to it . The bar staff are very friendly and the service on the food was very good

We had a lovely meal with visiting Polish friends, we wanted a typical English experience. Chloe was superb from the moment we arrived, she was engaging and friendly. A real personal touch which made our visit very memorable. Thank you Chloe for your warm welcome. Thank you too for the delicious fish and chips and beer!

Lovely place with great staff, food was good and very reasonably priced, decor was great fun!!

Fancied an onion soup in the UK for a while now, this one did not disappoint! We've had a soup and king prawns for starters, monkfish tail and lamb chops for mains and shared a Pavlova for dessert. The soup was exceptional, lamp chops were tender, monkfish came with a delicious sauce! It was a great dinner, lovely night and I do recommend this place, especially the soup and the monkfish with its fantastic sauce!

Wow food was as good as it gets ! Tentative service food to die for - lovely place to visit

Lovely atmosphere and luckily the weather was so nice - came here after a long hiking trip and the duck was fabulous. Local cider from Normandy is highly recommended 👌 loved the icecream. I think it could be cheaper maybe.

We paid in full in cash. Try charge us again through the room ! Asked for small 125ml wine. Accidentally gave a large. Just be careful make you sure you have recipes ready for reception ( not small square one they try con you with) apart from that food was ten out of 10 excellent and beautiful inside.

We had a lovely dinner for two despite having to make a last minute booking. The staff were wonderful and welcoming. I had a goats cheese starter which was really superb and my husband had swordfish steak which he's never eaten before and it was out of this world.

Service was very attentive and nothing wrong with the food, but it was nothing exceptional, apart from the French bread & butter😀 (that they charge extra for!). Great wine list though and some nice half bottles.

We visited here in January after my partner treated me to a spa afternoon at Senspa I’m the same location. The food was amazing and the chap that oversees the restaurant was very efficient and attentive. My only reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5 was despite my partner booking well before Christmas we had to wait to one side for10 minutes or so for our table which was a bit odd. But overall very nice.

Had a lovely dinner here as part of the spa package at Senspa. The staff were wonderfully friendly and attentive, the food was absolutely delicious and although they apologised for the wait for food, I hadn't thought it had been overly long. Would definitely recommend.

Excellent food and attentive service in a delightful setting. Stumbled across this place, but not disappointed - high quality dishes. Would definitely return again if in the area.

Wonderful place. Excellent service. Good cooking. We were treated to fizzy wine and delicious sweets when we mentioned our wedding anniversary.

Amazing food and wonderful service. Some of the best food I have eaten.

Lovely Thai Meal. The menu is a great selection (including loads of veg/vegan options), the food was very delicious food and portions were fantastic

Lovely food, had the sea bass for the starter which was done well and then had the lamb shank for the main which was great. The broccoli side was very under cooked and once the kitchen had closed the waiting staff seemed to disappear. They didn't charge me for the broccoli side which I appreciate but considering the price of the meal its basics. My starter arrived 5 mins after ordering and I had to ask for the main to come a bit later. I was told I could have 15 mins before my main which is fine but it came out after about 6 mins. The restaurant its self is delightful but I'm really disappointed in the service.

Lovely choice from the continental buffet and the cereals was great. The coffee on the first morning was great but very strong and bitter the second day. The eggs benedict and eggs hemming way were amazing but the buffet hot breakfast was a bit tasteless unfortunately.

Wonderful attentive staff, 3 of the four courses were divine, was let down by the king prawn and crab cocktail, slicing a king prawn in half, and couldn't see or taste the crab meat. Beautiful setting but not a lot of atmosphere sadly. And be careful with the request for non alcoholic drink requests. That could have been tricky. Thanks for a wonderful evening 😊

Priced like a fancy restaurant. We had the tasting menu, all ok dishes but nothing with wow factor, tastes all melded into one with dishes tasting pretty much the same. The wine selection wasn't too bad though.

I was expecting better for a 2 rosette restaurant, having visited a number of others. Perhaps I set my expectations too high. The starter and main were a little above average, not amazing, expected more. On a positive note though the servers were brilliant and attentive. The espresso martini pannacotta dessert was a 10/10 also.

Booked the Cambium for our first night whilst staying at Careys Manor Hotel and we’re not disappointed. Food was very good but service was spot on and all the staff wore masks which at many restaurants they don’t. Just a really safe and lovely experience.

Outstanding food. There was a dedicated vegan menu and we were blown away by all three courses. Service was perfect; friendly and attentive but not intrusive.

Fantastic restaurant in a lovely hotel. Very covid safe. Staff friendly and helpful. Food delicious. Highly recommended.

I’m always impressed by the quality and creativity of the food here. The chef’s talent shines through in every dish, with flavours and presentation that are consistently imaginative and beautifully balanced. I’m a big fan of tasting menus, and this one easily holds its own against several Michelin star experiences I’ve had. Not knowing what’s coming next, and having each course introduced as it arrives, really adds to the sense of occasion. It’s also great to see a place investing in future talent—the energy and enthusiasm from the team is infectious. Our waiter was genuinely thrilled when we complimented the bread—he couldn't hold back that he’d made it himself that morning. Just a heads-up: tips are cash only, so it's worth bringing some along to avoid getting caught out. I can't wait to be back, if only I could fit in more than once a year.

My wife and I ate at the Elderflower in Lymington and had the 3 course lunch menu. It was a delightful meal at a reasonable price. The freshly baked bread was such a lovely way to start, along with the bouquet garni butter which was very moreish. We had an oyster each, which we didn't regret! We've never had a better Oyster, and the flavour pairing of jalepeno and honey worked so well. We had the starters of duck salad and cuttlefish, which was pleasant. The main course was the highlight, the mixed grill of seafood was awesome, and the smoky charred flavour was addictive! The desserts were brilliant, especially since it was my first soufflé ever! So delicious. Thanks to Keane and the rest of the team at the Elderflower for a lovely lunch.

I ordered a takeaway Mixed Fish Grill with potatoes for £25 from The Elderflower Restaurant In Lymington, expecting a decent portion and quality for the price. Although the restaurant staff were nice the food experience was a letdown. First of all, the portion size was shockingly small for a £25 meal — it felt more like a starter than a main course. To make matters worse, instead of the potatoes I ordered, I received plain noodles, which made no sense. For a dish that’s marketed as a premium option, this felt lazy and overpriced. I definitely won’t be ordering from here again. There are plenty of places that offer better quality and value for money. Very disappointing.

A "10 minute wait" for takeaway fish & chips turned into a 35 minute wait, orders came out in waves and for the last 2 portions we were informed that they'd run out of chips and they were now coming fries (looked like the type ovened from a frozen bag). If I had known in advance I wouldve chosen a different venue for our lunch. The standard dining-in experience may have been given the AA 3 Rosettes, but the takeaway option sadly doesn't live up to that grading at all. Communication of expected delays in advance and knowing stock levels could be improved significantly. From what we saw whilst ordering, the quality of food being carried to tables inside looked great. A last tip if ordering the takeaway is to check your order by opening the box before leaving to confirm that you have salt and vinegar on, as they didn't add any to mine despite confirming it at the counter. Not worth £16.50, grab a sandwich from the store opposite, save yourself £10 to use on a flapjack, coffee and 30 minutes of your holiday.

A wonderful full on experience. I chose the KF Fish wings as my starter. This chef must be mad to come up with the idea of fish wings KFC style. It’s so hard to eat without getting frustrated by a bone here or there; but it is soooo worth it. A totally tasty, barking mad, delicious starter. Being a Friday I followed by posh fish n chips. It’s just what to expect from an excellent restaurant. Spot on. To finish Rasberry soufflé. An amazing and incredible desert. It’s a must visit restaurant.

This is fine dining restaurant, but we felt a little disappointed. The duck salad was tasty but didn't seem to have any meat and was what seemed to be duck skin scratchings. The seafood mixed grill was more stew like and the fish was a bit over cooked. The raspberry soufflé was the star dish and quite brilliant.

We chose the four course tasting menu with accompanying wine flight. What a revelation! The whole evening was perfect in every way. Yes, it was expensive, but quality and inventiveness costs - and this evening had the best of both. Great venue for that special treat. I won’t post pictures as that would spoil the surprise of the tasting menu, but each course looked and tasted incredible.