Top Things to do in New Forest National Park Hampshire
10 Fun Activities & Games in New Forest National Park Hampshire That You Shouldn't Miss
If you need a word to perfectly describe New Forest, “welcoming” would be it. The lowland (i.e. no mountains) park is filled with scenic views and wide trails that beg to be explored as they wind through centuries-old woodlands. Visit Bolderwood, a protected forest and deer sanctuary that was once the hunting grounds of the Norman kings. Fish at Moors Valley before heading skyward for a treetops walk. Prefer the country-house life? Head to Beaulieu, where you can get lost in the Victorian-era at the Palace House before following in the footsteps of medieval monks at the property’s abbey.
Restaurants in New Forest National Park Hampshire
1. New Forest Activities
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 827 reviews
New Forest Activities provides you with fun and enlightening outdoor experiences. Perfect for getting active in the New Forest National Park. We provide activities for a wide range of people and organisations. Our activities are perfect for Individuals, Couples, Families, Team Building Events, Stag & Hen Parties, Kids Birthday Parties and Social Events. We also run custom programmes for youth organisations and schools. Activities include Battlefield LIVE infra-red combat games, Canoeing & Kayaking on the Beaulieu River, Cycle Hire, Archery, High Rope Adventures, Bushcraft and Team Building Challenges.
2. Created By You
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
We have a paint your own pottery studio in the heart of the new forest perfect for holiday makers or locals looking for something crafty to do! Suitable for all ages and party bookings welcome. We also hold regular sewing classes and workshops as well as having a wide range of fabrics in stock.
3. Coles Mead Recreation Ground
4. New Forest Pottery Time
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
5. ClueCrypted Escape Room
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 279 reviews
ClueCrypted is an exciting real life escape game designed for small groups of 2 to 6 players. Based in New Milton in Hampshire ClueCrypted offers a personal escape room experience designed to test your mind and wits.
Reviewed By Lolobennito - Manchester, United Kingdom
Myself and a couple of friends played this one Friday evening. I’ve played a couple of escape room before but didn’t know what to expect from a virtual one. Emma was behind the camera with just her hands visible, a great host showing us around the clues and guiding the camera to where we wanted to look. After a few minutes you are completely immersed in the puzzles and barely notice that it is Emma doing the handiwork rather than yourself! One tip for future guests is to print off the documents you are sent before the game (don’t spoil it for yourself by looking!) as it would be handy to have them in front of you as your looking at the screen. I had to resize the screens so I could look both on my small laptop screen which worked, but slowed us down! Thank you Emma, we really enjoyed!
6. Insight Activities
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 840 reviews
PRE – BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL – please do not visit us without booking! Insight Activities have 2 woodland locations. We are based in a gorgeous private woodland in the New Forest and also in Tolpuddle Dorset. We are a small company not a large mulit activity center. We specialise in authentic woodland activities : Archery, Archery Combat TAG, Rifle Crossbow Shooting, Axe Throwing and giant Catapults in the New Forest & Dorset. Our outdoor activity company has been featured twice on TV in the past year highlighting our unique activities and refreshingly different approach – We are not a large scale commercial outfit, we are small, authentic and offer a more intimate New Forest experience. Insight activities provide unique and fun outdoor activities within the new forest, Hampshire and in Tolpuddle, Dorset. If you're looking for some of the best things to do then please read on. We offer activities for individuals, couples, families, stag and hen dos, private parties, corporate events and mobile activity supply for events. We have consistently excellent customer reviews and are proud to be awarded the Tripadvisor certificate of excellence in 2016. Archery: We run two gorgeous woodland Archery ranges. One in the new forest and another in Dorset. Both use professional quality bows, the same as those used in the Olympics! Our belief is that when introducing a beginner to archery you should offer the best equipment and coaching possible to help ensure success. We offer archery lessons and courses in the new forest, Hampshire and in Tolpuddle, Dorset. Our archery range is progressive, increase distance, bow power, have a competition and shoot for tiny balloons as your archery skills improve. You are active for the full hour, no rotating your go. Our archery range is run by a professional ArcheryGB coach. Ages 6+. Crossbows: If you fancy yourself as ‘Daryl’ from ‘The Walking Dead’ then join insight activities for some Zombie killing action in the woods. We will be slaying zombies with Rifle Crossbows fitted with a magnified scope to help you shoot a Zombies head at 25m! Ages 12+ Axe Throwing: Connect with your inner warrior and experience the medieval activity of Axe Throwing in the new forest. We use custom made throwing axes and provide excellent tuition to ensure your success. A safe and fun activity in the new forest for all aged 12+. Archery Combat TAG Essentially Archery meets Paintball in this exciting new form of Archery combat game. Swap static targets for moving ones as you chase your friends around the woods trying to ‘tag’ them with specially designed ‘safe’ arrows. Hunger games for real, the most fun youre ever likely to have with a bow and arrow! Wild Snake Walks New Forest We are the only local company qualified to run exclusive, guided wild snake walks within the new forest, Hampshire. These unique guided walks are lead by a professional and licensed Ecologist. A unique new forest guided walk lead by an ecologist where you will find, identify and even handle new forest snakes in the wild, we have a dedicated study site to ensure we find some fascinating reptilian residents. The data we collect on our walks goes to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and contributes directly to habitat conservation in the New Forest. An excellent location if you're looking for fun and exciting things to do in the new forest, Hampshire or Dorset. Activities for individuals, couples and families, fun things to do with the kids, unique birthday parties, stag and hen do activities, corporate events. Our New Forest woods are located just 10 minutes from Sandy Balls holiday park, 25 minutes from Bournemouth, 25 minutes from Salisbury, 30 minutes from Christchurch, 30 minutes from Lyndhurst. Our Dorset wood is located just 10 minutes from Monkey World, 10 minutes from Bovington Tank Museum, 15 minutes from Dorchester, 25 minutes from Poole and 25 minutes from Weymouth. Dog friendly – well behaved dogs welcome. Mobile range Insight activities also run a mobile activity range and can supply archery, crossbows, axe throwing and Archery TAG for mobile events and private parties. Booking – PRE BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Minimum age for Archery and Guided walks is 6+, 10+ for Archery TAG and 12+ for Crossbows and Axe throwing.
Reviewed By Melbamum1970 - North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Glen the teacher was very clear with what to do the surroundings in the woods where spot on and the whole experience was great whilst on holiday in the beautiful New forest Highly recommended we will certainly return ????
7. Inspired and Create Craft Studios
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Inspired and Create Craft Studios is located in the Heart of the New Forest and offers a variety of Art and Craft Workshops by local tutors. Our quiet and pretty studio is located close to bus and train links which free on street parking. For more information on our forthcoming workshops take a look at our website
8. The Regal Cinema
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
The Regal Cinema in Fordingbridge reopened in June 2017. This beautiful Art Deco building has been transformed into its former 1930's glory and provides a truly unique cinematic experience within the local community. In addition to the original foyer entrance there is a deluxe 30 seater auditorium with the latest technology, and an elegant bar area with a selection of refreshments.
Reviewed By KatieGnewone
Just to say thankyou to everyone at the Regal. We were at Saturday's screening of 1917 and enjoyed the film and felt very safe in your hands with regards all the covid safety measures. Well done and thankyou.
9. Go Ape Moors Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 394 reviews
Situated ten miles north of Bournemouth, our leafy outdoor hideout at Moors Valley Country Park is famous for its adventurous woodland play and cycling trails. Our Dorset adventure not only boasts a double Tarzan Swing it also features a Skateboard Zip for visitors to jump onboard. Go Ape Forest Segway and Tree Top Junior are also available for all to enjoy!
Reviewed By V4048SKsusanb - Hythe, United Kingdom
I fear heights so I had to wait until my grand daughter was 6 years old and she could Go Ape on her own. ( the 5 year old, just the minimum 1 m tall will have to wait a year as she has to be accompanied????) Supervising adults have to stay on hand. We booked easily on line and chose the 10 am slot to be first in the day . £18 for a good hour slot. Parking max is £10 for 4 hours. WiFi is a Council run site in the cafe. My grand daughter loved it and was fearless- managing an amazing 7 circuits in the time. You are clipped on so have to stay in order and therefore may go at the pace of the slowness, although there are 2 routes Both end in a zip wire. We re booked for a 2 nd outing today and it was equally great although off to a slow start while all the climbers were put into harness. It was a little chilly for watchers as the trees give shade from the weak sun. Warm up in the cafe or the 2 playgrounds afterwards... Staff friendly and enthusiastic.???? We have just done the return at Easter 2019 and the now 6 year old, just over 1 m had her 1 st Go Ape experience as part of her birthday presents. We booked the later 4 pm slot so their mummy could drive down from Somerset to watch too. The staff are really super- really professional and welcoming and very safety conscious. There was some hold ups particularly waiting for the zip wire but they kindly gave us an extra 15 minutes so the 6 and 7 year old grand daughters managed 6 circuits. We were told that coming soon will be a new addition joining the Junior Circuit with the adult zip wire ( being built by a French company where the Go Ape concept originated) Thank you for making this experience really special???? ( and I bought the £3 Go Ape medal to add to their fitness/ exercise collection). We will return!
10. New Forest Wildlife Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,378 reviews
Enjoy the amazing animals at this beautiful park, in the leafy New Forest, with its fabulous adventure playgrounds. Follow the woodland trails to see wallaby, European bison, wolves, wild boar, Scottish wildcats, lynx, foxes, pine marten, polecats, owls and ferrets. Meet the friendly deer and say hi to the playful otters, including the endangered giant otter. Feeding sessions, keeper talks and special events year round. Amazing playgrounds for under 6's and from 6yrs to 86yrs!!!
Reviewed By LondonSquirrel42 - London, United Kingdom
This is the wildlife park the least like a zoo we have ever had the pleasure of visiting! Although the beautiful weather helped, the setting really is gorgeous, natural and scenic. A lot of the animals are not really 'fenced in' at all, but kept from wandering too far just by wooden gates. The staff are very knowledgable. We watched Todd feed the asian short-clawed otters, and he was able to answer all our questions. I bet he loves his job! The creatures we saw included other types of otters, many types of owls, a ginormous bullfrog, wallabies, wild boar, water voles, polecats, harvest mice, wolves, and lots of different species of butterflies. And a couple of grey squirrels, who were squatting and not official park residents, lol! Oh yes and a wild bunny rabbit. The butterfly house is really nice. It's tropically hot, and you come out into the cool area where the otters and polecats live. The tiny harvest mice are so adorable! My highlight was seeing the wild boar, as I love piggies. I would love to have fed the one who showed an interest and came up to me, but the animals are all on special diets, and notices tell you this. We didn't visit the cafe, so I can't comment on that, but the gift shop was interesting and well stocked. We bought fridge magnets, postcards and a pen. If you have kids and feel very energetic, Longdown Activity Farm is just up the same road, so you could you both in one day. I am a vegetarian (for over 30 years) and don't tolerate 'roadside' type zoos who are only interested in making money. I recommend this place, as children would learn what animals naturally live in English woodlands, or did up to a few hundred years ago.
TAGS
