9 reasons to visit Beaulieu Village in the New Forest

A trip to Beaulieu Village makes for a fantastic family day out in the New Forest National Park. Despite being rather small and extremely charming, this village has far more than its fair share of visitor attractions, from the famous National Motor Museum to Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. Admissions to all the special Beaulieu attractions are all covered under 1 ticket which costs £20 for adults and £10 for children. Here are 9 reasons not to miss Beaulieu…

National Motor Museum

The National Motor Museum is Beaulieu’s most popular attraction and needs no introduction for car fans. Here you can see over 350 automobiles and motorcycles and learn all about the history of motors from the beginning to the present day. You can also see famous vehicles like the Blue Ford Anglia used in the 2nd Harry Potter movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Formula 1 cars. Fans of James Bond absolutely should not miss the Bond in Motion exhibition showcasing the largest collection of original James Bond vehicles anywhere else in the world. You can also take a look around the World of Top Gear which features some of the best (and worst!) cars from the show.

Beaulieu Abbey

Lovely Beaulieu Abbey dates back to 1203 and has a number of fascinating things to see and do, including audio tours, galleries, interesting artefacts on display and even some good old ghost stories! Although mostly destroyed during the reign of Henry VIII, you can still learn about the wonderful buildings that made up the abbey and about the monks who resided here. Open all year round, the Abbey can be visited as part of Beaulieu attractions single ticket.

Palace House

Palace House overlooks the Beaulieu River and has wonderful, immaculate grounds and walkways to explore. The charming house has been kept in the style of the Victorian era and was once the home of Lord Montagu. Visitors can enjoy the many portraits and treasures inside the house including a new exhibition the ‘Royal Pageant’ which details the Montagu’s connections with the royal family stretching over 800 years. Families can enjoy games on the lawn and falconry displays.

Victorian Flower Garden

Palace House is also home to wonderful gardens including the Victorian Flower Garden. This garden is stunning on a sunny day when you can smell the fragrant roses and in the Wilderness Garden you can see a multitude of snowdrops, daffodils, bluebells and crocuses all lovingly cared for by the garden’s staff. There is also the Ornamental Kitchen Garden with an 1870’s restored vine house and a Mill Pond Walk where you can enjoy a stroll. The gardens are a nice place to relax and enjoy a picnic before heading off for more fun.

Autojumble

The International Autojumble is Beaulieu’s most famous motoring event and is held in the village of Beaulieu each year around September. It is the biggest outdoor sale of motoring items outside America and a fantastic day for motoring enthusiasts and anyone interested in motor vehicles. There are over 2000 stands to explore with a whole host of interesting finds including vintage memorabilia, tools, clothing and books – great bargains are guaranteed.

Motorised Activities

There are a number of drives and rides on offer at Beaulieu, suitable for people of all ages. Younger children visiting Beaulieu can enjoy driving on Dipstick’s Driving Circuit in mini motorised vehicles and have a go on ride-on cars, while older children can have a go on the Go-Karts in the main arena. The whole family can enjoy a ride on the replica 1912open-topped Veteran bus for a journey around the village seeing the sights.

Buckler’s Hard

Buckler’s Hard is a small hamlet of distinctive Georgian cottages occupying a stunning position on the banks of the Beaulieu River and a real hidden gem. The hamlet can be reached easily via a lovely 2 mile stroll from Beaulieu. There is also a maritime museum to explore which provides interesting stories and exhibitions of the village’s 18th century shipbuilding days which includes the building of vessels for Lord Nelson’s Navy. You can also enjoy a walk along the river bank, visit the Apple Orchard for some freshly squeezed Beaulieu apple juice and enjoy a river cruise.

New Forest Ponies

One of the real charms of a visit to Beaulieu Village is seeing the New Forest Ponies roaming around freely. All the ponies you see in the area are pure New Forest breeds. They grow no taller than around 148 cm and the most common colours found are bay and chestnut. There are around 3000 ponies in the New Forest in total and they are allowed to roam freely wherever they choose. If you’re lucky you may see a mother with her young foal in the fields but keep your distance as the mares are very protective of their young! You might come across the Beaulieu Road Pony Sales which are held several times a year by local farmers between the villages of Beaulieu and Lyndhurst.

Monorail

The mile-long Monorail ride in Beaulieu Village is a brilliant and fun way to get a bird’s-eye view of what is on offer. The ride actually links the National Motor Museum to the Palace House and part of the line enters the museum building enabling passengers to view the wonderful collection of motor vehicles from above. Interestingly, this monorail was the first in England and was moved to Beaulieu from Butlins Holiday Camp in Minehead in 1974. Admission to the monorail is included in the standard entrance ticket to the village.

Beaulieu Village is a great family day out and holds various other events throughout the year such as an Easter-egg hunt, a Monster Truck show and a holiday caravan show for camping enthusiasts! There are a number of great locations to camp as part of your holiday and being ideally located in the New Forest National Park, you are sure to find many other great family attractions nearby too.