Home to hundreds of animals, including giraffes, tigers and penguins, as well as endangered Amur tigers, Snow leopards and White rhinos; get closer to the wonders of the natural world at Marwell Zoo. There are also four adventure playgrounds for little ones, a free road train service to get around the zoo, plus daily talks and animal feeding. It’s a little further outside of the New Forest, nearer to Winchester, but well worth the journey. Bartley Lodge Hotel is ideally located if you are looking for a place to stay near Marwell Zoo.
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Paultons Park
Ower, Romsey SO51 6AL
Voted the UK’s number one family theme park, Paultons is set in beautiful parkland on the edge of the New Forest and has over seventy rides and attractions. It’s home to Peppa Pig World, Tornado Springs, Little Africa, Critter Creek, and the Lost Kingdom. Special events include a ‘spooktacular’ Halloween and magical illuminations around the park at Christmas. Are you looking for a family hotel near Paultons Park? Bartley Lodge is the perfect place to stay near Paultons Park for a short break.
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Furzey Gardens
School Ln, Minstead, Lyndhurst SO43 7GL
Explore the meandering paths of Furzey Gardens, which support the work of the Minstead Trust charity. Known for their spring displays of rhododendron, azalea, camelia and magnolia, thousands of crocus, daffodils and bluebells are also a popular draw. Come autumn, the gardens are awash with colour, with collections of maples, Liquidambar and Sorbus. For little ones, there are forty fairy doors hidden around the gardens to discover.
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Grave of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Church Cl, Minstead, Lyndhurst SO43 7EX
The grave of the writer who created Sherlock Holmes is tucked into a corner of the churchyard at All Saints in Minstead. Sir Arthur had lived in the Forest after buying a home nearby while researching one of his novels.
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Dog friendly
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Rufus Stone
Minstead, Lyndhurst SO43 7HN
This stone near the village of Minstead is said to mark the site of the oak tree on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell glanced and struck King William II (known as William Rufus), killing him instantly. Although the original oak has gone, it’s possible that the tree behind the ironclad stone is its descendant.
