Visitors love this beautiful, Georgian market town that’s also a popular sailing resort. Lymington boasts three marinas and was the training ground for local hero Sir Ben Ainslie, you can see the golden letter box at the bottom of the high street, painted in recognition of his success with a fifth Gold Medal in the 2012 Olympic Games. Lymington is one of the largest towns in the New Forest and has a key role in the life of the area. This charming town is packed full of history dating back to the Norman Conquest, and is an important port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent. Human habitation in the Lymington area dates back to the Iron Age, and a 6th Century BC hill fort known locally as Buckland Rings can still be seen today. As with many other towns and villages in the area, Lymington thrived during the Norman Conquest, thanks to its key location on the south coast.
If you want to leave your car at home and come by train, Lymington Rail line is a branch off the main Waterloo to Weymouth line. Once here, you’ll find regular buses with stops all over the New Forest and coastline.
There are lots of places to walk and amble in and around Lymington, these include characterful cobbled streets leading down to the town quay and harbour – a great place to relax and watch harbour life - fishing boats land their haul, yachts and leisure boats coming in and out.
There are lots of town events, activities and day trips from Lymington including fishing trips, boat and sailing charters, canoeing and kayaking, diving trips, mini cruises and ferry over to the Isle of Wight with your car or as a foot passenger.
Saturdays in the high street are a hive of activity, with a weekly street market selling everything from plants, clothes and household goods to home-made cakes, fruit and veg and a whole lot more. Shopping is great with a high street brands mixed with an interesting and eclectic mix of independent retailers and boutiques. There are a few supermarkets and specialist food shops for provisions to take back to your cottage, including one that makes their own home-made dishes and desserts and freezes them.
Lymington also has a number of really good eateries in and around the town, with the main concentration being around the high street. Lanes of Lymington serves superb food and also runs a cookery school. The Elderflower, whose chef/proprietor hails from the famous 5* Chewton Glen Hotel is superb.
During the warmer months you can relax in the bandstand gardens and enjoy some free musical entertainment. A few minutes’ further on are Lymington Sea Water Baths, the oldest of their kind in the UK, dating back to 1833. A short walk further on is the start of Keyhaven Nature Reserve. Well worth going to if you like birds, wildlife and natural beauty complimented with wonderful views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
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