National park · United Kingdom
New ForestNew Forest National Park
Entry is free — there is no gate and no ticket. Go for a half-day walk from Brockenhurst or Lyndhurst, drive the unfenced lanes at 40 mph or less, and start before 9:00 on spring and summer weekends when car parks fill.Entry is free — there is no gate and no ticket. Go for a half-day walk from Brockenhurst or Lyndhurst, drive the unfenced lanes at 40 mph or less, and start before 9:00 AM on spring and summer weekends when car parks fill.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
566 km² (219 sq mi)219 sq mi (566 km²)
approximate
Established
2005
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 566 km² (219 sq mi)219 sq mi (566 km²)
- About 566 km² (roughly 219 sq mi); the older figure of 148 sq mi (383 km²) refers to the historic forest, not the 2005 national park boundary (check).
- Established
- 2005
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- London
The New Forest is free to enter: no gate, no ticket, no booking. It is a working landscape of open heath, bog and oak enclosures where ponies, cattle and pigs graze loose, established as a royal hunting reserve in 1079 and designated a national park only in 2005. Most visitors start from Brockenhurst or Lyndhurst, walk or cycle the gravel tracks, and drive the unfenced lanes at 40 mph or less because animals step into the road. Spring and summer weekends fill the car parks by mid-morning, so arrive before 9:00 or come in May, June or September. There is no single entrance and no single trail: pick a village, pick a loop, and carry a paper map because the tracks look alike.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2005.
Size and age
566 km² (219 sq mi)219 sq mi (566 km²) · national park since 2005
About 566 km² (roughly 219 sq mi); the older figure of 148 sq mi (383 km²) refers to the historic forest, not the 2005 national park boundary (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: London.
Why go
- No entrance fee and no gate: you can walk, ride or cycle from a village or a car park the moment you arrive.
- Ponies, cattle and pigs graze loose across open heath and woodland — a working landscape, not a fenced reserve.
- A dense network of gravel tracks and footpaths lets you cover miles away from traffic.
- Two hours from London by train to Brockenhurst, so it works as a day trip or a two-night base.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanWet, muddy tracks; short daylight
- FebCold and often overcast
- MarMilder; ground still soft
- AprDry spells, longer days, fewer crowds than summer
- MayWarm, heather starting, bluebells in the woods
- JunLongest days; busiest weekends
- JulWarm but crowded; car parks full by mid-morning
- AugSchool holidays; heaviest traffic on the lanes
- SepWarm, quieter, good walking
- OctDeer rut; autumn colour; wetter underfoot
- NovWet and grey; some sites close
- DecShort days, mud, limited services
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Forest ponies (free-roaming)All year · Do not feed or touch them; give mares with foals a wide berth. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Fallow and roe deerAll year · Most visible at dawn and dusk; the rut peaks in October. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Pigs (pannage season)Sep–Nov · Released to eat acorns; dates vary each year (check). | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Heather and gorse floweringJul–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Bluebells in the woodlandsApr–May | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From London
Train from Waterloo to Brockenhurst (direct services roughly hourly), then walk or hire a bike from the village.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Southampton
Train to Brockenhurst, or the Hythe Ferry across Southampton Water to Hythe on the eastern edge.
20–40 min
From Bournemouth
Train to Brockenhurst, or drive the A337 via Lymington.
30–45 min
From By car
M27 from the east (junction 1 for Lyndhurst, junction 2 for Beaulieu); the A31 bisects the forest with few junctions.
From Hampshire
Regional base for Winchester, Portsmouth and the south coast.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Forest | Higher, more open heath north of the A31; fewer roads and fewer people. | Open; free to wander on foot or bike. |
| Southern Forest | Lower, more wooded, and home to the main villages — Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Beaulieu, Burley. | Open; busiest zone. |
| Brockenhurst and the railway | Main railhead, bike hire, pubs and easy access to open heath. | Open; trains from London and Southampton. |
| Coastal edge (Lymington, Beaulieu, Hythe) | Solent shore, ferry to the Isle of Wight, Buckler's Hard and Exbury Gardens. | Open; some attractions charge separately. |
Sketch map
- 1Brockenhurst · Ranger station≈50.816, -1.573Map ↗
- 2Lyndhurst · Town≈50.873, -1.577Map ↗
- 3Beaulieu · Village≈50.820, -1.453Map ↗
- 4Burley · Village≈50.828, -1.700Map ↗
- 5Lymington · Town≈50.759, -1.542Map ↗
- 6Buckler's Hard · Village≈50.799, -1.423Map ↗
- 7Rufus Stone · Viewpoint≈50.918, -1.606Map ↗
- 8Hythe Ferry pier · Gate≈50.871, -1.399Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation; the park has no single entrance and no gate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | There is no entrance fee and no gate; the national park is free to enter. |
| Car park (Forestry England / National Park car parks) | GBP 2–8 (≈ US$3–11) | day | 2026 estimate; varies by site and season, often card-only machines (check). |
| New Forest Tour bus (summer open-top loop) | GBP 10–20 (≈ US$14–30) | day | 2026 estimate; day ticket, hop on and off (check). |
| Bike hire, adult, per day | GBP 20–35 (≈ US$30–50) | person | 2026 estimate; shops in Brockenhurst and Burley (check). |
| Camping, pitch per night | GBP 15–35 (≈ US$20–50) | night | 2026 estimate; official sites only — wild camping is not allowed. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Car park payment permit or guide
Camping permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- £2–8≈ US$3–11
- £10–20≈ US$14–30
- £20–35≈ US$30–50
- £15–35≈ US$20–50
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on New Forest National Park Authority before you go.
Park rules
- Speed limit
- A blanket 40 mph applies across the forest; ponies, cattle and deer step into unfenced roads, especially at night and in fog.
- Do not feed the animals
- Feeding ponies and deer makes them approach people and traffic; keep your distance and never come between a mother and her foal.
- Wild camping
- Not allowed anywhere in the park; use a licensed campsite.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs under control and away from livestock; ground-nesting birds are vulnerable in spring (check seasonal restrictions).
- Fires and litter
- No open fires or disposable barbecues on the heath; take all rubbish home.
- Drones
- Not permitted without permission from the National Park Authority (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Brockenhurst
Main railhead with hotels, B&Bs and bike hire; the easiest base without a car.
In the park
Lyndhurst
The forest's main town: pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and camp stores.
In the park
Burley and Beaulieu
Smaller villages with inns and guesthouses, quieter in the evening.
Near the park
Lymington
Coastal town on the Solent with the ferry to the Isle of Wight.
Near the park
Southampton
City hotels and airport, 20–30 min by train or road.
Safety
Animals on the road high
Getting lost on the heath medium
Weather turning medium
Ticks and adders low
Deer during the rut medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Brockenhurst station, Lyndhurst and Beaulieu have step-free access to shops, cafés and some paths.
- The New Forest Tour bus uses low-floor, easy-access vehicles in summer.
- Gravel rides and forest roads are firm but uneven; the open heath is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs off the main tracks.
Visiting lightly
- Pay for car parks and use the summer bus or train rather than adding cars to the narrow lanes.
- Keep to existing tracks on the heath — ground-nesting birds and rare heathland plants are easily damaged.
- Never feed the ponies, and never book anything that promises close contact with the deer.
- Buy from village shops and pubs so the communities inside the park benefit from visitors.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter New Forest?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee, no gate and no ticket for the national park. You pay only for car parking (roughly £2–8 a day, 2026 estimate), the summer tour bus, bike hire or a campsite pitch.
What are the best hikes in New Forest?
For a first visit, the flat loop from Brockenhurst station onto the open heath (2–3 hours) and the short walk from Lyndhurst to the Knightwood Oak (1.5–2 hours) are the easiest. Longer half-day loops start from Burley over the northern heath. Carry Ordnance Survey Explorer OL22 — tracks look alike.
When is the best time to visit New Forest?
May, June and September: warm, long days and fewer people than the July–August school holidays. April and October are quieter but wetter underfoot. Winter is muddy with short daylight, and some sites close.
Do I need a car to visit New Forest?
No. Brockenhurst has direct trains from London Waterloo and Southampton, with bike hire and footpaths from the village. The summer New Forest Tour bus links Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Beaulieu and Lymington. A car helps for the quieter northern heath.
Can I camp anywhere in New Forest?
No. Wild camping is not allowed anywhere in the park. Book a pitch at a licensed campsite in or near the villages; official sites run from about £15 a night (2026 estimate).
Can I feed or stroke the ponies?
No. They are semi-wild and can bite or kick. Feeding them makes them approach people and traffic. Keep your distance, and never get between a mare and her foal.
Why is the speed limit 40 mph?
Most roads are unfenced and ponies, cattle and deer walk onto them, especially at night and in fog. The blanket 40 mph limit applies across the forest.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go