Things to Do in Lyndhurst: A Weekend in the Heart of the New Forest

Have you ever had a New Forest pony walk past your car as if it owned the road? In Lyndhurst, it does.

Lyndhurst is the village at the centre of the New Forest, and I spent a weekend there using it as a base. All of it was within a short drive or a walk. I went in early summer.

These are the things to do in Lyndhurst and around it that I would go back for, with the facts checked and the practical bits at the end.

Why Stay in Lyndhurst?

Because it sits in the middle of everything. Lyndhurst is often called the capital of the New Forest, because the district council and the Verderers' Court are based here.

The Verderers are the ancient court that looks after the Forest's commoning rights. They meet at the King's House, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, and the public can sit in.

Where Should You Stay and Eat in Lyndhurst?

I stayed at Ormonde House Hotel on Southampton Road, a five-minute walk from the high street. It is small and cosy, with 19 rooms.

For dinner, La Pergola is an Italian restaurant close by, open Tuesday to Saturday. The Stag, on the high street, is a pub with rooms. On a budget, there is a Co-op and a Tesco Express in the village.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Lyndhurst Village?

Start at the New Forest Heritage Centre, by the main car park, for the Forest's history and wildlife. It opens daily, from 10am to 5pm in summer and until 4pm in winter.

Then walk up to St Michael and All Angels, the red-brick church on the hill, built in 1858–68. Inside is a fresco of the Wise and Foolish Virgins by Frederic Leighton, and stained glass by Burne-Jones and Morris & Co.

In the churchyard are the ashes of Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. She married Reginald Hargreaves and lived near Lyndhurst, and her grave says Hargreaves.

Is Furzey Gardens Worth Visiting?

Yes, especially in late spring. Furzey Gardens, at Minstead, is 12 acres of rhododendrons, azaleas and 1930s plantings from Asia. More than 40 fairy doors are hidden around it, which children love.

The gardens are run by the Minstead Trust, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities. Entry is by suggested donation.

Don't miss the alpacas in the meadow. They are calm and curious, but give them their space.

What Is the Tall Trees Trail at Blackwater Arboretum?

A 2.3-kilometre walk off Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, through some of the tallest trees in the Forest. There are two giant redwoods and Douglas firs planted in the 1850s, among the oldest in Britain.

The shorter arboretum loop is under a kilometre, with picnic tables and toilets at the car park.

Can You Still See Deer at Bolderwood?

Often, but there is no longer a deer sanctuary or feeding station there. The rangers used to feed the fallow deer by a viewing platform, and many older guides still say so.

The Deer Watch Trail still runs from the Bolderwood car park. Walk it quietly, early or late in the day, and you may see a herd in the clearings.

What Is Bolton's Bench?

A small hill with an old yew tree on top, a five-minute walk from the centre of Lyndhurst. It is named after the Duke of Bolton, who was given the manor of Lyndhurst in the seventeenth century.

There is also a local legend about a knight who killed a dragon and died on the hill, turning into the yew. It is a story, not history.

Ponies and cattle graze all around it. From the top the heath rolls away in every direction, and it is the easiest big view in the Forest.

Can You Feed the New Forest Ponies?

No. The ponies belong to commoners, who have the right to graze animals on the open Forest. Feeding or petting ponies and donkeys has been banned since July 2023, with a £100 fixed penalty.

They look tame, but they kick and bite. Keep your distance, and drive slowly, because they walk straight out into the road.

How Do You Get to Lyndhurst From London?

By train from Waterloo to Brockenhurst or Ashurst New Forest, about an hour and a half. From there it is a short taxi or bus ride. In summer the open-top New Forest Tour bus runs through Lyndhurst.

By car it is roughly two hours on the M3 and M27. For other weekends away from London, I have written about a seaside weekend in Hastings, the Long Walk in Windsor and a Cotswolds weekend.

Visiting Lyndhurst and the New Forest: Practical Notes

📍 Where: Lyndhurst, Hampshire, in the middle of the New Forest National Park. The Heritage Centre is at the main car park, SO43 7NY.

⏰ Opening: New Forest Heritage Centre daily, 10am to 5pm (April to October) and 10am to 4pm (November to March). Furzey Gardens daily, 10am to 4pm.

🎫 Admission: Furzey Gardens by suggested donation, £10 for adults at the gate in 2026. The church, Bolton's Bench, the trails and the open Forest are free.

🚇 Getting there: Train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst or Ashurst New Forest, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

🚗 Parking: Since April 2026 all Forestry England car parks in the New Forest charge, from £1.50 an hour to £8 for the day, paid by RingGo.

☕ Food: La Pergola and The Stag in Lyndhurst, plus a Co-op and a Tesco Express for picnic supplies.

⏳ How long: A weekend. One day for Lyndhurst and Bolton's Bench, one for Furzey Gardens, Blackwater and Bolderwood.

📷 Best time: Late spring for the rhododendrons at Furzey, or early morning and evening for deer.

🗺️ Nearby: Minstead, the Rufus Stone, Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and Brockenhurst.

Have you stayed in Lyndhurst, or do you have a New Forest walk I should try next time?

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