Visiting the New Forest

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Sazzahazza May 2019 3:25pm, 21 May 2019 766 posts	0 Sazzahazza We went a couple of weeks ago with our two year old. Monkey World is great and my friends with older kids have been to the tank museum and have enjoyed it. Have a lovely time!
alpenrose May 2019 3:34pm, 21 May 2019 39,415 posts	0 alpenrose I'd also thought about the Tank Museum and Monkey World - further on into Dorset. I haven't been to Beaulieu for years but there's lots more there apart from the museum, a great day out for all the family. Sounds like it may be quite a costly holiday.
alpenrose May 2019 3:36pm, 21 May 2019 39,416 posts	0 alpenrose Christchurch, crabbing at Mudeford Quay is always a favourite and a cheap thing to do.
DeeGee May 2019 4:26pm, 21 May 2019 18,674 posts	0 DeeGee Yes, AR, I'm a little concerned about the cost, tbh.
Nick Cook May 2019 4:35pm, 21 May 2019 33,225 posts	0 Nick Cook Don't stay at Carey's Manor then! Very nice hotel - but very expensive!!
um May 2019 5:06pm, 21 May 2019 957 posts	0 um Where are you staying DG? The reptile centre is only worth doing on a hot day - and (I'm guessing) will only amuse the children for 30 - 40 mins. (but well worth a trip, and free, other than parking). Or really free if you park at Millyford & walk there. Beaulieu has loads - google it to see Hurst Castle is good - but the mile shingle spit is a killer - you'll be carrying the 3 year old, or (as suggested above) take the ferry from Keyhaven. (lots of waders to see on the way) Bucklers Hard is also good & interesting. Avoid Lyndhurst town - unless you enjoy sitting in stationary traffic. Almost anywhere in the forest has ponies (& new foals now) and deer (harder to find) and donkeys (babies popping out now) and cows (also calfs and big hairy long horns) and ice cream vans. There's streams and ponds and more than enough opportunities to walk, run, get muddy & wet etc (any age). The Royal Oak at fritham is a must, if you like beer, but not so much on offer for children. Cycling - the bike hires also have trailers / add on saddles for the 3 year old A few pics from a few May runs ... photos.app.goo.gl And if you get fed up with the forest, Southampton, Lymington, Bournemouth, Poole & Purbeck (Corfe Castle) are not far away. Oh - the police do like to enforce the 40mph ... lots of radar traps, esp in the Hampshire parts.
DeeGee May 2019 9:57pm, 21 May 2019 18,675 posts	0 DeeGee We're actually not too far from Christchurch, a lodge on a park on the cliffs just to the East of there.
Serendippily May 2019 10:03pm, 21 May 2019 12,667 posts	0 Serendippily If weather is good lymington lido is good fun for kids
Serendippily May 2019 10:04pm, 21 May 2019 12,668 posts	0 Serendippily (And there is a playpark near, always handy)
Serendippily May 2019 10:05pm, 21 May 2019 12,669 posts	0 Serendippily lymingtonseawaterbaths.org.uk