The 50 best parks and gardens in New Forest National Park Hampshire

Had a really great day out in the gardens. Lots of lovely walking trails with fantastic views across the river. The gardens look very good even though it is the end of the summer. Had drinks and a snack in the old tennis courts. The restaurant looks nice as well. Ride on the steam train was very enjoyable. Dogs are welcome in all areas. You can also use the Gardener's World 241 card, what a great place.

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.

This is truly a place you should visit at least once when in the UK. We had a short 3-day cycling trip here. Everything was wonderful — from the scenery to the people. Just a note: you should prepare an offline map before coming, as in some areas the signal is very weak and you can hardly use online maps.

The rebirth of Foxlease Park, nice to see it back up and running, volunteered here back in February? And it was just nice to see it with life and music... Nice little room in the coach house, could do with an extra pillow, but nice time.

Absolutely beautiful forest, we saw so many horses and lots of cows! We didn’t manage to see any deers. The views are breathtaking and there are many different routes you can take. There is some free parking near Rockford sandpit. You aren’t allowed to feed or pet the animals

The New Forest is a brilliant place for families, especially with kids. The free-roaming ponies, donkeys, and other animals make it feel magical, and places like the Wildlife Park add more chances to see deer, otters, and birds. There are plenty of easy walking trails too, such as at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, and lots of open spaces that are perfect for picnics. Camping is well set up with designated sites, ranging from rustic fields to family-friendly spots with toilets and showers. Wild camping isn’t allowed, but the official sites give you space for kids to play and a good base to explore. Shops are small village stores or farm shops rather than big supermarkets, and toilets are generally available at visitor centres, though sometimes basic. The park doesn’t really have a big lake for swimming or boating, and indoor play options are limited, so it’s very much an outdoor destination. If you’re prepared for nature, fresh air, and a slightly rustic feel, the New Forest is a wonderful family escape where children can explore freely and see animals up close.

Beautiful place to go loads of open spaces for people to walk and cycle. Large areas for children play. Beautiful river at brockenhurst where you can often see horses and foals, cattle and sometimes donkeys and pigs.

Miles of tall trees creating dense forest. The forest offers great walking and cycling paths which link together towns and areas of interest.

Gorgeous place, well worth a visit if you appreciate nature. The ponies are such a treat to see. It’s also great for beginner cyclists as it has the Old Railway route created by Cycling UK. I felt like I was in a renaissance oil painting at times because the sights were so beautiful. Make sure to get out early to admire the sights as it gets very busy in August.

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.

Great place to explore, by foot over shingle spit or by little boat. Lots of rooms to explore and learn history of the building, surrounding area and lighthouses in general. We had great time.

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.

Lovely walk in a peaceful area but sadly we only saw one deer 😔 the route isn't sign posted so we did get a bit lost at one stage. The ice cream truck in the car park had some delicious flavours and even one for the dog! Can get quite busy and difficult to park but just depends on timing.

This is one of my favourite stops for a walk in the New Forest. There are toilets and a coffee truck with yummy treats. There is also a viewing point to watch the deer in the sanctuary. Very busy at the weekend but well worth a weekday visit or get there early!!

Part of the New Forest and absolutely gorgeous 😍 several walk ways you can take around the park over varying times. There is a deer viewing area designated to spotting deer, but you can see them in and around the park whilst walking. There are wild horses about, too. Plenty of benches to sit around the park and the car park is completely free. Little coffee and ice cream shop in the car park is lovely

A lovely deer sanctuary. We headed here for a short walk and to hopefully see some deer. There was no deer by the deer platform, but we did spot some in the fields near the paths. There's plenty of paths, including some decent, stony ones. There's plenty of space in the carpark and toilets. There's also lots of grass for children to run around on and build dens.

This place is free to enter. It has a lovely drive up with lots of great views. Wild horses just roaming around on the drive up. There are many different parks of the forest you can park in. We followed one of the trails but unfortunately all the deers were hiding. Nice to kills some time just roaming around with nature 🍄‍🟫

Lovely walk through lovely forest areas. The deer viewing platform is a 2 minute walk, easily accessible and we saw a few bucks. No cycling in the forest either so no worries about being flattened by speedy/jumping cyclists either.

Beautiful forest walk . The carpark was busy as we came on a Saturday, saw a young deer at the beginning as we arrived..sadly nothing after that! It's very dry in the forest & understandably the tap in the toilets for washing hands was not working!! But there is a small mobile coffee place , ice cream a bit expensive. We appreciated the natural beauty of the area & took the chance to donate voluntarily via text or QR code .

Amazing place! Came for my birthday and had an amazing time. Loved the vintage bus (Ellis was fantastic and credit to you) and very convenient for the mother in law who can’t walk very far. Very interesting on all aspects of the site from the cars (what I came for) and the Abbey and Palace House.

Always enjoy coming here, attended for the Formula 1 75 exhibition, but also had a look at all the cars on display. Enjoyed the monorail ride a look round the house and gardens, sad there was no classic cars out and about... Food was good and tasty 😋 Staff were chatty and knowledgeable and helpful. Overall a lovely day despite the weather

I thought it was a bit pricey to get in but we did spend most of the day there. We took the dog as we were visiting on our way home from holiday accommodation. The dog wasn't allowed on the bus, Monorail, main museum or house. Which meant I did a lot of waiting around with her. The cafe is expensive. £5 for a sandwich so would advise bringing your own. Tea for 3 , four sandwich outers and an apple juice, £38. The children loved the play area but we didn't take them to the house as we kind of ran out of time and wasn't sure how interested they'd be. They also enjoyed seeing Harry Potter's car and the, 'I had one of those' exhibition where you can get in the cars! The staff we came across were friendly and helpful. Whole area is clean and well tended.

I took my 6 year old daughter for her first visit (but far from mine) and she absolutely loved it! The weather held good despite the late October timing. She loved seeing Mr Bean's car and the Disney display but her highlight (and mine, to be fair) was riding on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The driver was a blast and it was so cool to learn about the cars that were used in the film, and wave at everyone as we explored the grounds. Beaulieu is one of my favourite places to visit when I'm in the UK and I think I can now say it is the same for my daughter. Very highly recommended for anyone of any age.

Visiting this week in half term , my son wanted to see a Porsche 917 so I emailed before booking to confirm the car would Be on display , very pleasant personal reply with confirmation. Don’t be put off with the price for the tickets . You will spend the whole day here so does represent great value for money . My children really enjoyed the “ we had one of those “ section as they could sit in the cars and experience the cars we grew up with . Only points to mention , we had coffee and cake in the afternoon , rather pricey & the cakes were dry and not great . Also a lot of tables left uncleared and in places food on the floor under tables .

This is always a great visit and if you allow 'Gift Aid' your ticket becomes an annual pass (with some restrictions). There's so much to see and do, it's well worth revisiting. There's a good café and on our last visit there were special additional exhibitions Formula 1 and Disney's 'Cars'. We and especially our grandson loved it.

Worth a visit and any number of re-visits - Visited on Saturday, 28/06/25. 3rd visit here and the first for about 11 years. Lovely weather, which always helps, and there was a Morgan owners meeting taking place, so there was more to see than normal. Parking is near the entrance, but uncovered. Bought the tickets online in advance, so you get a discount, and it's straightforward to get in. Once inside, the initial options are a Monorail and restaurant/toilet facilities. Very pricey for anything in the restaurant (£5 for 2 cans of soda), so suggest you bring your own. The monorail is an excellent way to get an overview of the site before exploring on foot, and the ride is included in the entry price and can be ridden more than once. The old Top Gear exhibition has been replaced in part by a new section of example cars from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's that you can get in and reminisce about (though these cars are in a bit of a state tbh). Beyond that, we visited the main museum, which hadn't changed much in the past 10 years, but had exhibits moved around. The F1 section was very good with more recent examples of cars, and whilst we visited, an excellent F1 Simulator which you can go in (you have to pre-book) for £15 for 15 mins. It's worth it, so suggest you book a slot as soon as you arrive. On this visit, we didn't have the time to explore the house and grounds, but there are some lovely walks to be had. The staff are all excellent and approachable, and friendly, and though I have been 3 times now, I would have no qualms about making future visits as there is generally a change each year.

We had a great bird watching walk here in January. Highly recommended year round. Snipes, Curlews and Turnstones made to the list with a variety of other waders and ducks.

I had just a few days in the area and spent a half day walking the marshes. Time well spent. Absolutely breathtaking. Good for a meditative walk by yourself, a jog, or a walk with a friend.

Amazing. For anyone interested in bird photography, you won't have time to put the camera down. How I wish I lived within walking distance... So many firsts for me, in just the 4 hours I spent there.

Really good walk. Great for bird watching. Good path. Circular walk. Parking at harbour. Toilets at harbour. Pub at harbour!!

easy walk and superb for birds, over 30 species seen including avocet, brent geese and pintail. lots of waders and ducks

Beautiful location with a lots to do including kite surfing, walking, bird watching and much more.

Beautiful views around sunset at the marshes. Some friendly cows about too.

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. 🤍

Stunning grounds, went in the summer and it was beautiful just been now(end October)and the work they have put into the grounds for Halloween are fantastic, great to see all the kids excited even before they got to the rides... So clean, the ground staff do an amazing job.. Definitely buy tickets in advance. And I would advise to take food and drink with u as it is a bit pricey. It's a cashless site but you can get a card on entry and put cash on it

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.

What a lovely experience for my little man, even we the parent joined in and had good fun. The organisation was excellent, friendly people good atmosphere. The fact that you get to ride on all the rides and fun fair they have to offer.Definitely recommending and we will be going again that is if mummy pig decide to have fourth piglet

The rides are good, waiting times not too bad. A spacious site with plenty of places to get food and drink. Ive reduced by 2 stars as, when my son lost his phone on a ride, they couldn't be less interested if they tried. They said there was nothing theu could do and didn't take our details in case they did find it. I do understand that this probably happens all the time but also bit of compassion isn't hard. Won't be going back.

Visited today with my otter-obsessed teenage daughters (13 & 15) for a keeper experience with the Giant Otters and the Asian Short Clawed Otters. We had the best day! Ali (our keeper) was so friendly and knowledge. Since it was a quiet day (lots of rain previously), she arrived with fish for the otters, but also food for the ferrets, polecats and deer (this ended up being a favourite as we got to hand feed and stroke the most beautiful fallow deer!) The park is fantastic. The enclosures really feel like part of the surroundings, and none of the animals seemed stressed (unlike in some zoos!). They do a lot of rehabilitation work, and support rescue organisations with rehoming etc. Honestly, I wish we’d come sooner! If you have kids that love animals, definitely visit. They have fantastic play areas as well as it being pretty accessible, and unlike some places is family-owned, so every visit matters. We will definitely return - probably for another keeper experience as we’ve been spoiled now. Thank you to the team there (including the really lovely lady at the entrance!) - you’re a credit to the park 🫶

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.

⭐ Peaceful setting and good base for exploring, but food and some facilities missed the mark. Stayed at Oakdene Caravan Park for a family break—great location with lovely forest surroundings and easy access to the New Forest, Bournemouth, and some brilliant countryside walks. 🏡 The caravan itself was clean and well-equipped, and the site felt very safe—we often saw kids roaming around on bikes and scooters, which gave the place a relaxed, family-friendly feel. 🔑 Check-in wasn’t so smooth. Reception was closed when we arrived, and although we’d received a key code by email, there was no mention of our caravan number. We had to track down a staff member to find out where we were meant to be staying—not ideal after a long drive. 🛝 The play areas were quite small and didn’t really match the number of children on site. They got crowded quickly. 🏊‍♂️ The swimming pool was a hit though—kids loved it. Entry was managed in hourly slots using coloured wristbands, which made perfect sense when it got busy. Simple system, and it kept things under control without feeling restrictive. 🍽️ Food was unfortunately a letdown. We tried the on-site restaurant once, but it was underwhelming—basic and overpriced. We ended up eating off-site for the rest of the trip. 🎯 Pro tip: Bring your own food or explore the local area for much better dining options. ✅ Overall: Oakdene is a good base for families looking to explore the area, but the on-site experience could be improved—especially check-in, dining, and child-friendly facilities.

A great value stay in a fantastic location and good facilities. The forest next to the park is a real plus, with beautiful, peaceful walks I would imagine perfect for dog walkers. However, the park itself has good facilities with a lovely indoor and outdoor pool and play areas my kids loved. Our caravan was clean and modern, if a little uncomfortable thanks to a not so great bed. Would happily recommend this to anyone looking for a lovely holiday park in the area.

Been here quite a few times now and finally decided to move down permanently so staying at the park for 3 weeks whilst waiting for house to go through. Caravans are good, well thought out and equipped pretty well. Nice pool and entertainment. Staff always have a smile and a great forest attached to the park if you have a dog to walk. Kids love the arcades, football park and the freedom we give them here as we feel it is a safe space for them. Can't really fault the place and have always enjoyed staying here!

Nice location with Hurn forest on the doorstep and a lovely walk. Club nice and enjoyable entertainment. Lodge is lovely but mattress uncomfortable.no peeler or grill. Minor issues but a lovely resort would come again

We had Bluebell 4 caravan. It was clean, a very comfortable size. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We reported a problem with a drain and within 30 minutes it was fixed. They genuinely want you to have a good holiday. Indoor and outdoor pools available, evening entertainment every night. Easy to find just off the A31. Within easy reach of the new forest, Boscombe/Bournemouth and other tourist destinations.

I can't begin to express how amazing this park is! We have been to many parks! And this has to be the best ever!!! Amazing friendly staff, great entertainment and activities for kids,heated outdoor pool and indoor, dog friendly (includes doggy menu at restaurant) I can honestly go on!! Thank you so much for the amazing time!! We will be back!

Excellent time had, caravan was clean and very well equipped, great walk in to the forest to explore, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and slide! Awesome! All the staff went over friendly, smiling and Excellent entertainment. Will book again.

Perfect place to grab a buoy, paddle board and enjoy the sunset.

Beautiful place to visit with family

Lovely river hidden away in the New Forest! Less crowded than some of the other rivers of the Solent.

Lovely views ... relaxing

Loved it

(Translated by Google) A great place for a walk and relaxation (Original) Świetne miejsce na spacer i wypoczynek

Such a fabulous place for young children! Yes the parking charge is high but there is no entrance fee so it seemed good value to us, the one mile play trail of ten wooden structures to climb and explore dotted around the forest was the perfect length. Lovely park area near the main playground to bring a picnic etc. We didn't go on the train (costs extra) as there was more than enough to do without that.

Parking crazy expensive. I fully understand this is put towards maintaining the lovely area but I would prefer to pay a one off fee then relax knowing we aren't being charged by the minute/the longer we stay the more it costs. We stayed for less than two hours, for a short walk around to break up a long journey and see if the go ape looked like something we could do with our kids on another visit or use our bikes in the area. It cost us over £12 for the parking fee! We won't be returning here unless we park outside if the area and walk/ride in.

Best day . It's so much to do. Kids were super excited all day. Staff super friendly, helpful. All facilities and area well looked after. Definitely worth it

Close drove to Southampton. Very big park with many free playgrounds and trails and few ££ activities. Big parking, toilets, cafes at the start. Bike rental available. No bins on whole trail only at the start so better buy cofee/ice creams and slushies on your way back. Toilets only at the start and close at 5.30.

This place is amazing ! I barely review much but what a place I was roaming around for hours,amazing views if you hike about abit there’s bike hire there go ape adventure trials with mini landrovers for kids 2 mini steam trains, cafes dotted about water stations and to top it off strangers wishing you good morning and good afternoon as you pass them by! Loved it here Excuse my breathing I have copd

The park itself has a lovely range of activities walks with the wooden play activities, the playground, the train, Go ape has several different activities also. I have younger children who prefer the nets and while this can be busy as we went recently where there was a party of 30 usually it’s not quite that busy. The staff at the nets are very friendly. There are toilets, cafe although we’ve never eaten there we bring food and there is a great ice-cream kiosk too. I’d say too much too do in a day. The car park is however quite pricy. A few hours was £14 which when you’ve paid £50 for the nets feels a lot! But if you’re coming gotta walk that’s all your going to pay.

In my opinion the parking charges are a bit high. Overall a good place where you can spend the whole day walking around and let kids play in different playgrounds(free of charge). Of course there are some paid attractions like tree top nets , zip lines , mini golf , mini range rover trail and a mini steam train.

This was our second visit. The venue is beautiful, the bar is splendid it. Food: The starter - the sauce was over powering and salty for my taste. Main meal, the pigeon was beautifully cooked, still pink inside 😋, however again the sauce was over powering and slightly too salty, still managed to enjoy it. The tiramisu was pure alcohol, well over soaked and a massive splodged portion. The staff were pleasant. Would I come again? ...Possibly, Would I recommend it? Yes, it is a wonderful place with a sense of occasion.

We came here for the food, but in reality it was more of an all-inclusive experience. We spent the afternoon here, enjoying the good food and vibes. The focaccia starter was oily, but overall tasted great with the mushroom gratin. We tried the vegetarian à la carte menu because the set menu was mixed veg and non-veg items. Overall, we enjoyed the food, especially the veg hot pot, aubergines and vegetable pasta. Highly recommended, bit expensive but lovely to go for a special occasion.

On our way home from a stay in Bournemouth,we decided to make a pitt stop. It took just over 40mins to get here, navigating through the village of Lyndhurst and numerous wild ponies. The hotel and surroundings are magnificent with views of the New Forest as far as the eye can see. But as impressive it all is,we are not here for that. We are here for the food of Hartnett Holder & Co. Angela Hartnett & Luke Holder are in charge of the kitchen here,serving Italian influenced dishes. As we were early we managed to get seated on the terrace in the glorious sunshine with our doggies. While admiring the surroundings a member of staff brought out a bowl of olives and nuts. We ordered a couple of zero alcohol Erdinger beers £11.(driving). Menu wise,there was a choice between the bar, a set lunch and an A la Carte. We chose from the bar menu. Risotto Milanese £16 Saffron infused, aged parmesan & butter. Spaghetti Bolognese £15 Somerset Saxon Chicken Milanese £20 Lemon,parmesan & rocket. Cornish Fish £30 Tenderstem broccoli, lemon & green leaves. Chips Skinnies £7 Although we were full,we could not leave until we tried the Tiramisu £15. Everything we had was just as expected. Simple dishes, beautifully executed and full of flavour. With lots of parmesan to add. We didn't get to see much of the inside of the house as doggies are not allowed in. Hence that's the reason we dined outside. But we did get first class service and enjoyed every minute of our visit. Thank goodness the weather was on our side.

This is one of my favourites. A lovely restaurant in a stunning location hidden in the New Forest. Went here for Mother’s Day and the had the Gnocchi for starter, Ox Cheek for main and Baked Alaska for dessert. It was gorgeous. Will definitely be back!

What an amazing lunch! My friend and I are huge Great British Menu fans, and we were very excited to visit. We started our visit in the bar where we had a gorgeous signature fizz, Rock Story. It was fresh and dry but still had a gentle fruit note. For entree, we shared a gorgeous heritage tomato salad that was fresh and sweet. For mains, I had an amazing veal dish, and my friend had the hake. Every mouthful was flavoursome and tantalising. We end our meal with a cheese board and espressos. One piece of advice is to give yourself a whole afternoon. Our reservation was 12:30pm and we finished up around 3:00pm. Perfection cannot be rushed. Staff were attentive and knowledgeable. The sommelier steered me right with the wine pairing for my veal! Our server was very attentive and helped with dietary requirements.

We went for a date night and had such a delicious meal. The risotto and gnocchi were superb, followed by a very tender lamb. Dinner was only made better by an excellent wine pairing recommended by the lovely Ava. We kept saying afterward that she really made the night for us 🙂

We visited for the second time for supper on 30 July for my birthday. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like VIPs. My wife is in a wheelchair and manager Stephanie immediately came out to help advise on car parking and to assist in helping us out of the car. We had drinks in the attractive bar and then headed through to the spacious and light restaurant for a superb meal. Each dish was beautifully crafted and presented, and tasted as good as it looked. Service was charming and efficient. The meal was truly stunning and perfect for a special occasion. We also had a problem with our adapted car which became apparent when we arrived, necessitating a call out from the RAC. Without any prompting, Stephanie realised that we may need alternative transport home and researched wheelchair taxis, which are not readily available in the evenings, so she spent some time locating and speaking to companies to ensure we had a means of getting home should the car have been out of action. She kept us informed in a very caring way with minimal interruption to our evening and we felt very reassured. Fortunately the RAC were able to resolve the problem but the way Stephanie took ownership of the situation and was so proactive to alleviate any stress for us was really heartwarming. It really was a special evening and without a doubt, above and beyond even the greatest of expectations. Thank you for such a wonderful evening and we will definitely be back!

Highcliffe was brilliant, what a fantastic place to go! Every bit of it took my breath away, I couldn’t stop saying wow look at that. The zig zag to the beach was easy for anyone to use, the beach was amazing. When I went it was hot and sunny. No benches to sit on only big rocks or the beach. Can’t wait to go again and walk to the light house!!!

Got in at 1.15pm, and inside of castle tour was at 1.30pm. For only £3 extra was able to go into rooms not available to the public normally and get a really good storytelling volunteer guide named Sue. Very interesting and engaging. Exploring after that the grounds and eating cake were a plus. Love how its dog friendly for the cafe and their selection of food. Quite a historic place, very happy to have randomly found it on the map and making a detour.

Highcliffe Castle was built between 1831 and 1836 by Lord Stuart de Rothesay. Vast quantities of medieval French masonry was shipped across the channel and used in its construction, making it appear older than it actually is. Kings, Queens and the rich and famous have all stayed here over the years. The castle interior was destroyed by fire in the 60s but grants from Heritage and Lottery funding have been used in its restoration. It's a truly beautiful building with so much history! There's a lovely walk down to Highcliffe Beach as well.

Highcliffe Castle is a beautifully restored building located just back from the seafront on the Dorset Coast. Well worth a visit. Plenty of open space for children and dogs to run about. There are tours inside the house if you wish to pay for a ticket and explore the rooms. There is a lovely café/restaurant on site with outdoor and indoor seating. Very clean well maintained toilets too. I should imagine it can get very busy at peak times, although there is a good amount of parking space. A short walk to the nearby beach is available. Usually very quiet, and dog friendly as it is away from nearby Mudeford and Christchurch.

Looks magnificent on the outside but a bit disappointing on the inside in my opinion. Has been restored post 2 fires in the 60's but not quite back to its former glory, I don't mind the brick wall etc.but the modern style staircase just doesn't suit the style.

Amazing! Before you start your journey you can watch a very short informational video. Only issue I had was there was no reset for the video. Very friendly and helpful staff!

Really impressive castle right next to the beach. I didn’t have the opportunity to go inside but it is free to walk all around the castle. You can have a lovely walk around the garden and access the cafe + castle shop at the rear of the castle. The castle is in walking distance of the beach where you can either take the stairs or an accessible route - the “zig-zag path” which is really convenient if you don’t want to tire yourself out by taking the stairs! There is parking on site.

This is a really special place, especially if you are into your plants. There's so really interesting and different species. All the plants are labelled making it easy to identify them. There's a good mix of herbaceous gardens along with the woody plants and of course the amazing tree collection. The garden is well maintained and has lots of sign posts. Would be handy to have some numbers on some of the signs so you can pin point where you are. There's a lovely cafe that serves hot and cold food and a good price. There's loads of seating inside and out.

Love coming here at different times of the year. Right now the autumnal colours are amazing. Love seeing how the garden changes throughout the season. Good selection of walks for all ages and some accessible for all. Children can run care free too and has a number of activities for them. Gardens are so peaceful, you can immerse yourself and forget your daily troubles and see how beautiful nature is

I love coming to hilliers, especially with small children. There are plenty of child friendly things to do as you walk around the estate. There are a couple of musical instrument areas, a play park, a tree house with a slide, a wobbly bridge across some water and some raised planks to walk along. The kids also find entertainment in finding dens and hidden paths all around too. There are 2 cafes, one about half way round is a little more "upmarket" and I don't feel is quite a child friendly as the one at the beginning. There are toilets at the beginning and about half way round. Also a buggy service bus is available for those who find walking too far tricky.

A beautiful and tranquil retreat. You could while away many hours wandering round the grounds. There is a lovely cafe with welcoming staff.

Lovely gardens lots to see and do for all ages. Very clean café, restaurant and toilets. Lots of free parking available and well worth a visit.

Extensive grounds with a variety of different garden styles, a Winter Garden, bountiful flower border, pond and bog area, play area, woodland edges and fantastic specimen trees. There are two cafe/ resturants, one is self service with a good range if salads, sandwiches, some meals, drinks and cakes, the other is table service . Easily accessible from Winchester or Romsey by bus every half hour. Also a lovely garden centre on site and a craft and small art exhibition.

Beautiful gardens with lots of view points. Nice food in the cafe. Lovely shop and good facilities.

Visit 23rd May 2025 What a delightful experience. If you love flowers, don't miss Furzey Gardens. Rhododendrons and Azaleas were simply beautiful. Lovely walks amongst the flowering trees. Fabulous!

The gardens are located down a fairly narrow lane. There is a reasonable car parking, but which could easily become overwhelmed at busy times so plan your visit accordingly. Entrance is by a “suggested donation” of £10 per adult. The gardens are OK with a number of wooded walks to enjoy. Currently, there is a “dinosaur” theme going on, probably in anticipation of the forthcoming school summer holiday. There is a nice cafe for refreshments. These are not the prettiest of gardens, but have some pleasant walks and great for children to explore and run around.

A lovely garden to spend a few hours walking around. We visited on a sunny day and our 3 year old daughter had fun looking for the fairy houses. A bonus was the Jurassic event, which had dinosaur related artwork around the grounds to also find. You can easily spend a few hours here, and there is also a nice cafe / gift shop that serves hot drinks, cakes and cream tea. Plenty of onsite parking too.

With a 16th century cottage and wonderful food and drink at the coffee shop what more can you ask, but you are also transported to a gorgeously laid garden with hidden fairy secrets throughout. There is also a walk through the wild meadow garden over a small stream. We visited in October and the Autumn colours were visible throughout. During the summer months this will be a must see.

What a magical place this is... Ideal if you've got children who love fairy tales or just want to visit a magical place. A nice walkable path adorns the surrounding flowers and pond with plenty of picture opportunities for adults. A play area for children and a nicely filled café for a rest at the end. Highly recommend a visit.

A lovely area that is easy to walk around in a morning or afternoon. We enjoy going there on our own and with our grandchildren. It has a good children's play area that is spread out and very natural. They also put on displays during the year that add interest. The annual pass is well worth getting.

I wish I didn't have to leave this place! Luckily, there's a house inside the grounds that you can rent out of you're like me and want to stay there for a while. Maybe one day, I'll take up that amazing offer! The staff are amazing, you can tell they're all very happy where they work and are proud to say they work there! Even the people who volunteer are happy! I just love that they employ people with disabilities there too, I have worked with people who have disabilities and find them to be the most wonderful people, but where I worked with them, it was in a centre, not like a proper job place, so I love this place even more because they really do give people who have disabilities a proper purpose and let them into the working world instead of them being in an activity centre where they can do stuff that kids do, here they get to make jams and chutneys, gardening and all sorts of real life work, instead of being in the same mundane four walls. Well done to furze gardens 👏 you have nailed it! They also get to interact with the public, all ages, which is another brilliant experience for them. Definitely done right! The grounds are extremely well looked after, very clean all round and no weeds - that I know of but then I don't know my gardening haha if there were weeds, they were pretty ones lol! It's literally like being in wonderland! Lovely themes too, to keep the children entertained! And they also get to learn lots too! I cannot recommend his place enough! If heaven is a place on earth, it's here!

Went wakeboarding and then on the aqua park afterwards. It was such good fun. We went on a Friday (free parking) at the end of September so it was pretty quiet. Ben was our one to one tutor on the wakeboarding which I'd never done before but managed to get up first time. Ben was an excellent instructor, very encouraging, friendly and full of positivity and tips on how to improve, I had a smile on my face the whole time. We then had an hour on the aqua park which was a great laugh, smiles all the way. Didn't have any food/drink so can't comment on that , but had a great time and would definitely go back again especially during quieter periods.

I love it here! Staff are all friendly and smiley. Also super useful with tips on the wake park. The wake is generally pretty empty so I can get a good session in. Pricing is very good. Food is decent. The inflatable park is amazing fun and the lifeguards do a good job.

A fantastic day out for the family! Our nephews have been to the water park for the last two summers when they’ve been to visit us in Brighton and absolutely love the day out. The first thing they said when they got off of the water park was “how much is it for an hour?” To see if they could use their pocket money to go again. Brilliant facilities and friendly staff. Would highly recommend a visit.

The facilities and activities are excellent. The lower rating reflects their policy of not allowing you to bring a picnic because they sell food. This is true and I have no issues with the vendors or their offer. What is unacceptable is trying to grab more money after paying for the activity and parking. Many families cannot afford £50 for lunch and drinks so bringing your own food makes sense. Other rival attractions do not have this policy. People were understandably ignoring this. Do they want families who cannot afford to eat out to go hungry?

Great place to go, plenty of seating for those not participating. Places to eat and even a bar. Sell swim shorts (my son forgot his 🙈) and T-shirts and bits. Lots of fun, but not for unfit as my husband found out! 😂

This is such a great day out. You have to get there and hour before your allotted time which seems a little excessive however, there is plenty of seating and also a cafe. You get an hour on the apparatus which is plenty of time. They also do other water sports there. Great for a birthday party or just a day out with children/friends

Great hour of climbing over inflatables. Efficient processing before the activity. Brilliant viewing platform. Great cup of tea and beer with excellent service. Highly recommend as an activity for kids and adults and spectators.

Great place to park up and have a beach walk or picnic. Fantastic children's play area and cafe. Interesting d day info further along the beach

This place makes for a great day out, with a vast beach, views stretching over to the IOW and a modern cafe available to suit most tastes it’s a great spot to relax. An easy car park makes access a breeze.

Lovely circular walk through the countryside and along the coast. Really easy 2hr walk. Only downside with dogs is there's a lot of barbed wire fences, my Springer Spaniel got a cut on her back, luckily nothing serious.

This is a lovely park along the Solent. There is the beach (shingle), a sensory garden, paths through the woods, and a café (very clean, small shop). There is a car park (administered by Hampshire County Council = expensive)

Really nice place to spend the day! You have a few little beaches, multiple parks, a cafe and somewhere to get ice creams and a good amount of fields to set up! Highly recommend for the family

We would have given more than 5 stars if we could. The first thing we noticed was how clean it was, no litter anywhere. We visited the cafe and found the food to be of good quality and very reasonably priced, it is also dog friendly.

Did, the Lepe loop walk which was lovely. Coastal, fields and woods. Had a lunch on the beech and then decided to go other direction to do "Dunkirk" walk. Amazed to find out what went from there to France as part of D day landing. Highly recommend both walks.

Romsey Abbey is a stunning Norman church in Romsey, Hampshire, England, with a rich history dating back to 907 AD. It's known for its impressive architecture, beautiful gardens, and vibrant community. Here are some key facts about Romsey Abbey. History: The abbey was founded by King Edward the Elder, son of Alfred the Great, and has undergone several transformations over the centuries, including a significant rebuild in the 12th century. The abbey features a mix of Norman and Early English styles, with a striking nave and round arches. It's the largest parish church in Hampshire and one of the most impressive churches in Southern England.

Romsey and its abbey is truly a hidden gem. I enjoyed the atmosphere a lot. But it was kind of strange to have no high tower on top of the church. But that's no reason to not go there. The inside is really impressive!!!

Forgot what a gem of a place this is. Appears compact but like a tardis when you step through the main entrance. Love the modern pews, and the stained glass windows rival many a cathedral.

We went to this Abbey on Wednesday when they have a free guided tour which is well worth hearing as it tells you a lot more about the history of the Abbey and it's artifacts than you'd get otherwise Look out for the 1000ish year old crucifixes with a smiling Jesus, the Saxon head of hair and some interesting grave stones

This is an absolutely beautiful building. As soon as we entered The Abbey, we were warmly greeted by the volunteers. They were eager to interact with people and excelled in making people feel welcome. One of the volunteers kindly took the time to explain that she attended university in Canada, namely Montreal and I am touched that she spoke to us. I am a shy person and I really liked the fact that she took an interest. It is the kind of place where one could spend hours reading a book because of the peacefulness of The Abbey and the sound of the organ. There were also drawings of sheep placed throughout the Abbey and I do not know their significance, but it was quite alluring. There was also information on the walls in close proximity to the entrance of The Abbey. It is very well-maintained. Although there is not an entrance fee, there are signs which encourage people to donate. For example, it costs over £1K/ day to maintain The Romsey Abbey. I recommend this place100%.

Beautiful Abbey in this rather delightful unspoilt town. Welcome host at the door, it was a lovely experience to visit here. Lit a candle for my brother... Bit of reflection time. Great place to visit, no admission fee... Wander around, enjoy the grounds, just don't miss it!

My family went to the Abbey for a Christening. It is a beautiful building and a lovely service. All the clergy were friendly and welcoming. If you are ever in Romsey which it’s self is lovely the Abbey is well worth a visit

A wonderful garden but they need more signs and directions to the actual lavender fields as I totally didn't see them, we saw a small lavander patch and thought that was it. But other than that you could see it was very well taken care for. I wonder if they use the beans/parsley/chard and other vegetables I saw in the kitchen? We didn't have time to stay for food but I guess we'll be back as we haven't actually seen the lavander field.

This is a beautiful garden created in what were the lavender fields. There are lots of paths through the garden creating different views and smaller spaces. The garden has a comfortable cottage garden feel and is really peaceful. There are seats around so that you can sit, enjoy the view and listen to the birds. The tea rooms serve delicious food - the cakes are homemade, and the staff are really friendly. The plant shop sells many home-grown plants as seen in the garden and the staff there are also very friendly and knowledgeable.

This is a little gem of tranquility and beauty! The staff are friendly and welcoming. Visiting the lavender farm was a wonderful experience, truly a slice of paradise tucked away. and setting the tone for a peaceful and inspiring visit. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous carefully tended and thoughtfully laid out, with vibrant fields of dahlias, scented roses and sunflowers. The rich purples, pinks yellows and reds with lush greenery provide the perfect backdrop for photos or just quiet time and relaxation. Whether you’re exploring the fields or relaxing under the umbrellas you should try their lavender biscuits and savoury scones which are delicious! If you’re looking for a peaceful day out or a special place to bring family or friends, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s a place that soothes the soul and I’ll definitely be returning soon!

My new go to place. The cottage garden, formerly New Forest Lavender gardens, is a tranquil, laid back place. If you need to escape and feel at peace, this is for you. Disabled and dog friendly. Most of the gardens are level and plenty of seating areas if walking is a struggle. I used my gardeners world entry card so it was £9 for the 3 of us. Had a delicious lunch outside in the seating area. Nice little garden centre with some quality plants. Took about an hour and a half to walk round, but we were talking about the plants, so were very much lost in the moment. Well worth the visit.

What a little hidden Gem 💎 this place is. They do some beautiful cakes some using lavender to give a little extra magic! ✨ They also do a few gluten free options which is a bonus. We also walked around the garden which costs £6.00 for adults and £3.00 for a child. The money goes on the upkeep of the garden. 🪴 I would definitely recommend visiting if you are looking for a lovely cup of tea 🫖surrounded by beautiful flowers and nature.

Magical place! We love the gardens and immediately relax the moment we visit.

The gardens are well worth paying £6 entry to visit. I have never seen such a magnificent display of flowers in nature. Absolutely breathtaking. So try their lavender scones with clotted cream and lavender tea!

Great place to visit. Especially if want to be close to nature, have great contrasting colours, see birds etc

We walked around Keyhaven Marshes. Even with not so great weather it was beautiful. We saw loads of different birds, most we couldn't put names to!! However we did pick out avocets and great egrets!

Absolutely stunning walkway! Easy to keep on walking and walking and before you know it you have covered 10 miles plus! The marshlands are littered with wild horses, birds and stunning scenery which stretches to the Isle of Wight needles! We walked along here in January and the wind was bitterly cold so wrap up warm and wear sensible foot wear as it gets incredibly muddy! One of the most enjoyable sea walks I have done!

Lovely little place, we viaited on a warm sunny day. Walked the dogs to the harbour where you can get a Ferry to Hurst Castle. There is alsoa light house. Good car park too

We love coming her. The car park is close and the toilets get cleaned regularly but be aware you can't park by the bridge for free any more. The Solent way gives you a good walk; bike ride; or even a run. Plenty to see and if your like us there is plenty of bird spotting to be done.

Beautiful scenery, lovely walks and great views of the Isle of Wight and The Needles and the marshlands are a wonderful haven for many different birds. Great for dog walkers and families but not wheelchair friendly.

Great day out, nice walk around and identified 35 different species of birds. Level walking in a variety of habitats, views of the Isle of Wight, Hurst Castle and boats.

Loved our visit here. Such a delight especially having knowledgable volunteers on hand! A converted horse box/drinks provision would be the icing on the cake! 😉

knowledgeable and friendly volunteers! just be aware that there are very few animals left after a rat invasion… we managed to see a couple of frogs with the help of other visitors! spent about 10/15 minutes here

Really nice place, would recommend going on a sunny day as more creatures to see as didn't see much as was very cloudy when we went an rained. Some food pic ic tables and forest walks to do as well. Dog friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Unfortunately, the reptiles were a bit shy on the day we visited, so we didn't see any. Free entry and parking, so nothing lost, worth a visit if you're in the area.

Brilliant place to go to with a toddler. Saw a fair few things basking in the sunshine. Then got a map with details of what to look out for from the rspb hut and followed the reptile red trail on 1.5 miles. We spotted ponies and newts on the trail too. And it's all free!!

What a great place to see the reptiles from the UK! Lovely staff who are very knowledgeable and are very happy to fill you up with information. Loved seeing the adders and baby adders basking in the sunshine and the other snakes too. Very interesting learning the difference between a toad and a frog.

Local species for all to see (as long as you have good eyesight 🤓) Super helpful volunteers, pointing out the different reptiles and giving us the lowdown on the centre. Mapped out walk through parts of the forest, highlighted with areas of interest. And dog friendly 🐶 which was a must for us as we're on a family holiday. All for the price of a donation!!

Visited as part of the Beaulieu ticket. The house definitely has a more family emphasis than other historic houses, with a plethora of photos and paintings from over the Montagu family generations, with great signs that shared more about their lives and contributions. Many rooms to see through the ground and 1st floor, including a beautiful historic dining area, morning rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, a library, the old kitchens, and a few exhibits in the halls. We spent about 45-50 minutes inside, and are likely slower than many others as we were reading many (but not all) of the signs in the rooms.

Lovely building, friendly and knowledgeable staff, beautifully presented in the beautiful surroundings of Beaulieu.

A magnificently preserved palace with exquisite displays of the family history and lifestyle. The guides are delightful and welcoming. A must see. We loved it. The SOE war museum was a delightful surprise with intriguing artifacts from the ear and its covert history.

Beautiful place! Everything is very well kept and the historical atmosphere has been preserved wonderfully. Many rooms are open to explore. Highly recommend visiting!

Great place the motor museum covers cars and motorbikes from the start of motoring history, the palace is a good visit with plenty of gardens to wander in and there is the old Abbey all well presented with good displays. There is also an exhibition about SOE agents who came to the house and estate to finish there training before being dropped into occupied Europe. There is a monorail going round the site and a good cafe/restaurant as you enter. Well worth a visit.

A fascinating and interesting family house that is generously opened to the public. Beautiful grounds and well worth the visit.

Palace House at Beaulieu is well worth the visit even if visiting for the motor vehicles. This historic country house, with its Gothic architecture and rich history, offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of the Montagu family. Well preserved interiors and friendly helpful staff dotted around on hand to tell you about the history of the place.

An interesting moment in history with a monument to mark the location. Unfortunately the stone can’t be seen and there’s a weird triangular plinth thing surrounding the stone and blocking view. The inscription says it was necessary to put the triangular cover over because the original stone was defaced. The original oak tree has long gone but there is an old tree on the spot to help the imagination.

Great place for a walk, picnic or a pint at the pub. We did a 2 mile circular walk and had a picnic by the free car park.

The scenery around the stone is amazing. Not much else around but if you like walks it's stunning. There is a pub a bit further down the road tho with lovely views

William the I had four sons, Richard, Robert, William and Henry. Richard died in a hunting accident in the New Forest leaving the other three brothers. When William I died he left Normandy to Robert, he left England to William and Henry was left nothing in his Will. William II reigned for 13 years, he was out hunting with his brother Henry when one of Henry's followers mistook William for a stag and shot and killed him with an arrow. Henry raced to Winchester and within days had had himself crowned king, the crown to which should have gone to his older brother Robert. Williams body was left in the forest for several days and it was only because of some local people that it was taken for burial in Winchester cathedral. Somewhere on or around this spot is where he died.

This might be my favorite place in the New Forest!

It’s a well kept memorial to an important event in English history, now over 1,000 years again. Hard to imagine that time span. It doesn’t look like much has changed in the area and whether the location is accurate or not it’s important to have an account of history.

Nice little stop, bit history, walked from campsite

A beautiful location for a family day out or a romantic walk. There's 3 car parks which are usually busy, so I advise to arrive early. You have more chances to find a space in the smaller car parks which is the 1st one off the main road. In the main car park there's usually a coffee truck and ice cream. Picnic tables are also next to the main car park.

This is a stunning part of the New Forest with beautiful trails. The Tall Tree Trail is a personal favourite of mine, flanked by giant redwood trees it really feels magical to walk amongst these majestic trees. I grew up close to the New Forest and often return as it’s such a special place. This area, as well as Ornamental Drive are well worth visiting.

Just magical, so beautiful to walk around. This is an enclosed/gated area part-way along the Tall Trees Trail, only takes 15 minutes to walk around and then re-join the main trail. Lots of interesting information boards along the way.

We visited from an Airbnb in Portsmouth. It took us about an hour to get there, but it was well worth the trip! A great place to escape into nature in the picturesque New Forest. We did both the Tall trees trail and Arboretum trail in about 2 hours and this was with plenty stops for chats on the benches and little diversions walking more into the forest. It’s just be right amount of walk if you’re looking for something light but energetic. There were toilets and a van serving ice cream with a small choice of dairy-free and gluten free options too and plenty of picnic benches dotted around. We ended the trip with a coffee trip into the nearby village of Lyndhurst. Well worth the visit!

A great walk around some beautiful countryside, pretty flat so easy for all ages. Lots to take in and explore. Can imagine it would be beautiful whatever the season.

Amazing place to go for a walk. I will coming back soon. It has public toilets. And there is a small food truck that has all the essentials. Ice cream, coffee, snacks Great place !

The trail is very well-maintained with various species of trees from around the world located along the yellow path. An ice cream van and restrooms are available on-site, as well as free parking.

A solid three star review dropped to a two. Why? Having to stand in a glass foyer got 35 minutes to secure access to the pool. Not pools, just pool. Indoor and out. The locker rooms are dire, missing tiles, rusting flaking fittings. The service was frustrating, not being told a padlock was needed for the lockers, leading to have to walk back out already changed and asked for 2 quid to borrow a padlock. The restaurant we ate in was good and quick. But again, the toilets were a mess, toilet paper all over the floor. But again the food was pretty good, and hot and quick. We stayed on the camping field which was nice enough, but the squared off plots made it feel pretty sterile and took the charm out of it, portacabin toilet block was okay. The cleaners did a great job, but left the floor soaked so frustratingly it was a muddy mess moments after they cleaned. All in all I was excited about visiting Sandy Balls, but it's in need of care and refurbishment. I probably won't visit again.

After reading some of these reviews, I am very glad I didn’t have the same experience! All I can say is wow! We have stayed at a few ‘Away Resorts’ locations and this is by far the best one we have come by. We booked a 10berth for my 30th birthday, just my partner and I. It was lovely, spotlessly clean. Beds a little hard for my liking but you can’t please everyone! A special mention to cleaners Verity & Thistlebe for making our stay so lovely and clean. We were really pleased and shocked at the little things, I.e towels folded nicely, prosecco on arrival, mirrors absolutely spotless. Also a shout out to Karen in guest services, she has been faultless through and through with helping us! She has been so polite and efficient. Infact, all of the staff we have come across have been lovely & friendly. Entertainment not great for us as we are 2 adults and there is a lot of kids stuff on, so would’ve been nice for more adult entertainment. The arcades were great and clean and again, helpful staff in there. Food at the Woodside Inn was brilliant although pricey. Lovely location for us to be able to walk the dogs being right near the Forest. All in all, I would definitely stay at Sandy Balls again and we are thoroughly enjoying our stay! Thank you!

Stayed for 3 nights and overall it was a really good stay. The main bedroom has ample room with a toilet, large dining and seating area, main bathroom and additional bedroom where our toddler stayed. A few reasons why I didn’t give it a 5 star: 1. Missing remote for bedroom tv - we didn’t need it but others might want to. 2. Frying pan was very old and needs replacing - we never used it. 3. Few of the kitchen kick boards were loose. 4. Drawer top completely loose in spare room. A bit of a touch up on these jobs and replacing kitchen items would make it a 5 star. We used the pool which wasn’t heated and I would suggest bringing flip flops as the changing rooms are very wet…also no where to change except 3 changing rooms - otherwise you have to hold your clothes or change next to your locker. Sauna doesn’t get hot either. For a 3 star resort, I would say it exceeds expectations and you get what you pay for. We will however stay again as it was worth the money, had stuff to do for our toddler and it was a great location.

Booking experience was chaotic. Customer service made an error with our booking ( they initially blamed me) until I proved that it wasn't my fault. We ended up having to stay in one type of accommodation for our first night and then move accommodation for the next 3 nights. Not very relaxing to unpack, repack and move. We were told to be out of the first accommodation by 10am and effectively be lodge less for 4 and a half hours until our next accommodation was ready. We obliged. However, this evening we found out that out first accommodation wasn't even needed until tomorrow. It hasn't even been cleaned so why couldn't they have just let us stay in it until our next accommodation was available? Instead we drove around the local area for 4 and a half hours!! On our return at 2.30 pm they initially said our new accommodation wouldn't be ready until 4pm!! Luckily, it was actually ready. My gripe is that after being messed around so much, more could have been done to lessen the inconvenience but it wasn't. It was really just shabby. Oh I forgot to mention that on arrival we were told that THE POOL WAS CLOSED FOR THE WHOLE TIME. So why didn't the company send out an email to guests letting them know?. Well because they didn't want anyone to cancel. Being a couple of old cogers, we weren't bothered but what about all the families with children? Again, where is the consideration for your paying holiday makers? The thing is, if you treat people like this, they won't come back. Anyway, the lodge we had Bluebell 25 was very nice. Please clean the blinds in the master bedroom toilet. They are disgusting. Very quiet. Well equipped. Heating good. So in a nutshell: Booking - nightmare and errors caused us to have to move accommodation after 1 day of our holiday Lack of consideration over pool closure We didn't appreciate being homeless for over 4 hours when they could have easily sorted this. Would we come again- possibly once I have forgotten about this experience! We are still at Sandy Balls until Thursday so hoping the rest of our stay is more enjoyable.

We booked this on a whim after our holiday home in France needed builders in. And we were amazed with our holiday! We arrived slightly after 15:30 and there was no queue to check in, I walked in and was greeted by some very chatty and lovely staff at reception. They were attentive, friendly and more than happy to answer any questions that I had. We were given Tawnywood 13, which is deep into the resort, however it is clearly signposted and gave us all our first impressions of the park which was how clean and nice it was! However upon arrival we noticed that a previous holiday maker had driven into the electric car charging point and it was offline. I rang the office as the rest of my family unpacked and within 2 minutes staff had arranged for me to charge in the van next door which was brilliant! In to the caravan itself, it was generally very clean and up to date, although we did notice some signs of wear and tear, however nothing that was problematic or worse than we’ve seen in any B&B’s etc… we did find a wristband for Peppa Pig world in the sofa and some Pom bears, and I accept that people may be quite affected by that, hence the 4/5. Other than that there was everything we needed, the showers were hot and clean, beds fresh and made and heating was just right! We enjoyed all the facilities on site, the shop wasn’t as expensive as I thought it would be which was a pleasant surprise. Likewise the price of drinks at the bars etc…. For reference it was less than £1 difference between drinks rounds with the pub up the road. The staff behind the bars were all friendly and enjoyable to interact with, with them even joining in on jokes with my family which was great! The food we had was good; about on par with a regular chain pub or eatery, a tad more expensive but the new forest isn’t cheap at the best of times, again staff were attentive and friendly. Service was prompt and the food was cooked well! I would definitely recommend the tacos. They were delicious!!! Entertainment for my 2 year old was great, between the soft play and the Bear in our woods evening entertainment for him he was never bored and was knackered every night! Although we found the adventure play areas were a bit tired around the edges, with bits broken here and there, not that little one minded. Location is fantastic for visiting the new forest/Salisbury/Southampton/Bournemouth. We enjoyed it so much we booked again whilst there and benefitted from a discount, we thought the prices were reasonable anyway, so to get the little extra is always nice! Looking forward to coming back again! Hopefully the experience will be equally as nice!

Was a lovely place, we stayed in a lodge with a hot tub, although it overlooked two other lodge’s balconies. We were disappointed that the pool had been fully booked but were tools to wait for 10 mins to see if everyone turned up, they didn’t so we got to swim. It was great but in all felt it was an over priced caravan holiday club.

Unfortunately there isn't much to do on site and it's all run down and expensive for what it is. It might be passable for a couple of nights but that's it. The accommodation was really neglected, bathroom a bit manky in places, water damage to the worktops in the kitchen, all the dials had been rubbed off the cooker so no idea what temperature your oven is. Entertainment area was small. The whole place seems to be poorly managed by the current owners. Given you're in the New Forest, we asked if they had any maps of local walks but were told no, try the cycling centre, but that was shut. We made our own way to Fordingbridge using Google. Surely with such an asset on your doorstep you would make more of an effort to help people? We also had a tree branch scraping on the roof of our lodge all day and night in the wind which we reported but nothing happened. After two nights the builders moved in with heavy machinery to remove the lodge next to us. So much noise, we asked to move lodge but were told no so we left with only a partial refund and no apology. Just an excuse that we should expect noise on a 365 day holiday camp. Yes, like someone cutting the tree branch scraping on our lodge roof perhaps?

What a fabulous place! Lots of walking to do here including walking the cliff path and the Nature Reserve. Cafe and toilets right by the large car park (personally I think the parking fees are expensive). We decided to take the train to the beach huts then walk back over the "head" to the car park. Will definitely visit again but will probably try and get a bus to the nearby village then walk to the head.

A beautiful and tranquil beach with both sandy and pebble areas, ideal for peaceful walks, fishing, or relaxing with family. The rocky groynes and dunes provide scenic spots for photography and quiet reflection. The sunsets are stunning, and the location is clean, comfortable, and well-suited for those who appreciate natural coastal charm. Highly recommended for a laid-back visit!

Amazing place ! Perfect for walking, jogging, dogs walks. Beutyfull view of the coast, perfect for a relaxing day out, perfect escape from the city busy life... 2 options for parking: *. paid-car-park or *. 1 h free parking on the road.

Many people only think of Hengistbury Head as a small hill and not much more but that is far from the truth. Here’s why… The long peninsular that forms the southern and south-western arm around Christchurch Harbour, is a fascinating place with so much for the visitors. It has an excellent visitor centre which tells the history of this important piece of land. Near the centre is a good cafe and toilet facilities including a Radar accessible toilet. There are many well maintained paths that form excellent walks around and up to the Head itself. When approaching the top from the landward side where there is plenty of parking, it’s a fairly easy walk up to the top with some benches and a trig point beacon. About 150 metres along the top is a coastguard watch hut with useful information regularly updated about the tide times and so forth. You can then walk right along to the end of the headland and then down all the way to the sea level and Mudeford Spit with its famous beach huts. The birdlife all along the Head is hugely varied. On just one walk recently I saw lots of common, Ballack-headed and heron gulls, sandwich terns, shelducks, oyster catchers, a buzzard, a dartford warbler, a greenfinch, a turnstone, sand martins, starlings and other common passerines. This is also a rare area for seeing the protected Natterjack toad. A wonderful place for walkers, history, fabulous views of the harbour and the sea and the coast back to Bournemouth and Poole.

Lots of people told me about Hengistbury Head, but today I went for the 1st time. It was as good as people have said. Very dog friendly with plenty of bins around. The coast part was great and great, but equally great is a well planned walk through dense woodland close to the sea line. Amazing! worth the hour drive there. Dolly seemed to love the freedom and varied terrain off the lead meeting other well-behaved dogs.

I’ve been to the area several times but never visited this place. Beautiful views of the surrounding area. Fairly easy walk from car park to top and back down again. Well maintained and free ! (Other than parking at £3 per hour, cheaper after 2 hours). Cafe near car park ok. Good selection and ok ish priced. Plenty of seating. Both walk and cafe dog friendly.

Lovely part of the world, great beaches, beautiful views and you can walk for miles.

Back of Beyond is an outstanding campsite and easily one of the most enjoyable we’ve stayed at. The setting feels wonderfully secluded and tranquil, making it a perfect escape from the busyness of city life, yet it’s still very accessible and not far from the motorway. The facilities were excellent, spotless showers and toilets, well-kept pitches, and a lovely woodland area that was ideal for evening walks. Monty’s Bar added a great social touch, and the 80s night was a brilliant highlight of our stay. The staff deserve a mention too, welcoming, attentive, and always ready to help. We visited with friends and my girlfriend, and the whole experience was relaxing, fun, and memorable. We’re already looking forward to booking again.

We spent 3 nights at this site and were very disappointed with the whole experience as we thought we were going to a lovely welcoming site however it turned out to be the complete opposite . I can only describe it as feeling like you’re staying in a detention centre with all the rules & regulations. We were told on arrival if your dogs bark in the bar you have to leave immediately and calm them down before you return, as we couldn’t guarantee that our dogs wouldn’t bark [I think most dogs bark] we didn’t bother with the bar and it’s only open between 4pm - 8pm so don’t think we were missing much. The shop sells very little and what it does sell is ridiculously overpriced such as a 4 pack of ICELAND quarter pounders which they are re selling at £4.50? The cheapest wine was £12 which resembled a cheap watered down wine you could get out of a supermarket for £3. There is nowhere to walk to from the site unless you want to walk along a busy dual carriageway. The pitch we were on had weeds growing up through the table and chairs on the pitch as well as the grass being long and covered in bald patches and weeds. The park gives the impression if you are not a regular at this site then you’re not welcome, I can honestly say I’ve never been to such an unfriendly place and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. We’ve been going to sites up and down the UK for many years and have luckily never came across one like this before. Thank you for your reply. For the record our 3 dogs are sociable and well behaved and didn’t cause any problems during our stay. We didn’t go to your bar because we didn’t feel welcome after the comment about the dogs, I don’t need guidance on how to manage my dogs in a public place but I can’t guarantee that they won’t bark if other dogs are barking. You clearly don’t like constructive feedback as your response appears to be the same to all negative reviews. However, I notice you haven’t commented on the state of our pitch!

This was our second visit and cant fault this campsite. Staff very pleasant and helpful. Has off site meal vans visiting every night. Lovely little bar which opens at 4pm. Our pitch was lovely, big and right by bar/reception area so perfect for us. Its doggy heaven and all on the park are on leads. Booked to come again later this year which will be coming again next year.

We decided to book here from a friend’s recommendation. Got to say it has been exceptional. Very helpful & friendly staff. Loverly site/pitches for all. Very clean service areas (wash/shower areas). Good walks, a “natural” pitch & putt golf course, a couple of small nature ponds, a good bar and local evening food vans which come onto site (excellent quality from them too). And all of the visiting guests are friendly too which is due to the sites ambience. A very relaxed stay. We’ll definitely recommend and return.

Beautiful and calm location, staff were attentive and friendly and the on site pub was reasonably priced. We also enjoyed the nightly food vans, wish the baked potatoes was more often than once. The fish and chip van was disappointing as the chips were cooked from frozen and scampi was over cooked. Aside from the chip van we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and as promised the site was silent after 10pm which we were very grateful for as we were seeking a relaxing break.

Lovely campsite, great bar, clean facilities, only problem for us was so dog friendly you felt overwhelmed by the amount of dogs & their noise. One man let his dog poo on the end of our pitch instead of using the provided dog exercise areas. Not the dogs fault, but disgusting behaviour. Staff are fantastic here though and well worth a visit. We’ll be back I’m sure.

Really loved staying at this campsite. There's a lovely bar and different food vans daily. Perfect woodland walks for the dog (and us) right on the doorstep, and a quiet site for over 18's only. I look forward to our return, and my pup looks forward to his next doggy ice cream!

Lovely day out with kids. We had ages 2-7 and they all enjoyed running, looking for birds and generally enjoying nature. The park is well maintained and nice trails for walking, running and cycling. Food and toilet facilities at hand. There's a no bin policy, so be prepared to take home your trash.

Great visitor centre. The rangers were very helpful. Good play area for children and supervised nature activities. Fantastic walks across the heath with 1km or 3km routes. Function room for hire for meetings or kids parties.

Avon Heath is a hidden gem. The cafe here is excellent and very keenly priced. We visit several times a year just because they have the cheapest and most generous proper Ice cream! A nice visitors centre, gift shop and some decent trails.

A lovely place to walk your cannine friend , well signposted, free map from the Visitor Centre, nice cafe and toilets , great play area for children and parking is good...£3.80 for 2 hours. Very friendly helpful staff.

We had a lovely time at Avon Heath park there was lots of open space for our dog to run around and my kids loved exploring the woods especially the dens that had been built! There is a great park with plenty to do for children.

Great place to take the kids and have them having fun 😁 within an area we can control. They loved it! Toilets, shop and some food available. Pay for parking.

Great playground for kids and a nice walk through the woods - safe and fun for kids. Lots of space and tables for a picnic. Cafe food is okay but to justify the prices (£5.95 for a Bacon roll) they give you crisps and salad with it! Would rather save a pound or 2 and not have the dressing thanks!

Lovely day out well set out and helpful people to give information. I loved the little signs dotted about giving relevant information on the plants and wildlife you might see.

Lovely well kept nature reserve! Fantastic to see and hear some many different species of birds!

Such a beautiful and peaceful place to spend sometime in. The paths are all level and great for folk using wheel chairs. There was at least one motorised one hired out while we were there. Toilets on site. The hides are great to view the wildlife and in particular the birds. I saw a heron catch a fish and fly off. Note to take binoculars next time. Also picked loads of blackberries. We then finished off our time with lunch at Hockey's farm shop and farmyard cafe (a 5 minute drive away).

If you like a walk in the woods with stop offs to watch the birds both in the woods and on the lakes, then this place is for you. There are well marked trails which are easy walking. They are also pushchair and wheelchair accessible but there are some kissing gates which could be difficult to negotiate with a chair.

We had a lovely visit to Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve. It was so peaceful and beautifully maintained. Parking was easy, and all the bird hides were clean and well-kept, which made the experience even more enjoyable. A great spot to unwind and connect with nature. I felt so lucky to have spotted a blue flash of a woodpecker before we left.

Amazing place to visit. Free parking and toilets. Hides are great and if your patient you might even spot a kingfisher whoosh past.

Been going here for years and it’s great, but ruined by the rudeness of the regulars in the hides. It’s a known problem as there are new signs up saying to be courteous etc, but it’s not working. They’re always talking at full volume in the hides, swearing constantly even when there are children in the hides - no respect at all, not for people or for the birds.