The large village of Lyndhurst is known as the ‘Capital of the New Forest’. The most important property in the village and indeed the forest, is The Queens House, which you can find at the top of the high street. It’s home to the New Forest Verderers’, an ancient organisation dating back to the 13th Century. The Verderers’ sit here, meet in the hall and court to oversee, administer and protect the rights of local commoning practices and conserve the forests landscape. The Queens House is also the local headquarters of the Forestry Commission.
Lyndhurst’s high street is lined with lots of independent shops, cafes and eateries. Our favourites include: ‘Shave Green’, a treasure trove of intriguing vintage and quirky gifts, ornaments, trinkets and collectables. Shoppers can step back in time at ‘The Old Apothecary’, a magical collection of knick-knacks, remedies, oils, soaps and unusual bath time treats with a modern twist. ‘Pages of Lyndhurst’ is best described as an emporium of popular and unusual alcoholic drinks, teas and coffee beans, novelties and gifts with friendly knowledgeable staff. If you have a couple of hundred thousand pounds (preferably more) to spare, pop into the Meridien showroom at the bottom of the high street and take a look at their selection of Ferrari and Maserati cars for sale.
Food and Drink
The Curry Leaf has an excellent reputation for Indian dishes, Italian food lovers should head to The Pergola and for authentic Thai cuisine try the Siam Thai Lounge. For great pub food The Waterloo Arms is a must. Just two miles away in the hamlet of Bank is one of the New Forests best pubs for food, The Oak Inn.
The New Forest Centre can be found in the village centre car park. It’s crammed full of activities, information and what’s on in The New Forest National Park. It offers Visitor Information and houses a gallery and a gift shop. Within the same building is The New Forest Museum, depicting the forest’s rich history, heritage and way of life for its human and animal inhabitants.
The town centre maybe a hive of activity, but Lyndhurst has plenty of green spaces to burn off energy or relax with a book. The Mount and Bolton's Bench to the right as you head out towards Ashurst, is a lovely expanse of grass to fly kites, play rounder’s and enjoy a picnic. Turn right before the Mount on to the Beaulieu road, after a couple of hundred yards you’ll find the village cricket pitch, often surrounded by ponies and donkeys. A lovely place to spend a sunny summer afternoon watching a match.
Other days in Lyndhurst could encompass a bike ride. Trax Bike Hire in the village will deliver bikes to your cottage; or you can pick them up from their shop along with a choice of cycle routes. New Forest Golf Club in Lyndhurst wins rave reviews for its 18 well designed holes and friendly atmosphere. The New Forest Reptile centre is only a mile away; and has enclosures of British reptiles and New Forest Reptile Centreamphibians with lots of information and guides on hand to tell you how they are being conserved in the New Forest.
The pre-Raphaelite church of St Michael and All Angels has a striking 160ft (49m) spire, beautiful stained glass windows and the grave of Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll's inspiration for Alice in Wonderland.
During the warmer months there’s an open top double decker bus tour with optional audio commentary. There’s a choice of 3 routes, all of which start and finish in Lyndhurst. Tickets are open for the day, so you can jump off at a different village, beach or attraction and catch a later bus back. The Visitor Information Centre has more details.
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