Activities in Lymington

Dating back to the medieval times, the New Forest is one of 15 designated national parks in the UK and one of the largest at 219 square miles. As well as offering hundreds of miles of biking and hiking routes, the New Forest is packed full of activities including Peppa Pig World, the National Motor Museum, New Forest Water Park and Exbury Gardens. A good place to start exploring is from the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst around 10 miles from our Lymington hotel. For more information on the New Forest and hiking routes, check out our Premier Inn hiking and walking guide.

Built by Henry VIII on a remote coastal spit overlooking the Solent, Hurst Castle is a jaw-dropping fortress with a rich history and stunning coastal views. Used as a naval fort until the Second World War, the castle is now a popular tourist spot with guided audio tours, a gift shop, playground, picnic areas and regular exhibitions.

The Beaulieu National Motor Museum is another New Forest hot spot, housing over 250 motor vehicles including F1 classics and land speed record breakers. Fans of Top Gear should check out their section which houses some of the wacky creations and modified cars from the hit BBC TV series. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm with the ticket including access to the nearby Palace House and Abbey.

The old town, quay and marina are at the heart of Lymington’s appeal. Dating back to the middle ages, the old town is an eclectic blend of evocative cobbled streets, Georgian and Victorian buildings – with some medieval influences – interspersed with cafés and shops. Make sure to take a stroll along the Quay, grab an ice cream and watch the world go by, or sign up to one of the many sight-seeing or fishing trips along the Solent and the quayside. Alternatively, take it easy and stroll along the marina on a sunny day checking out the gently bobbing yachts and dinghies.

There are no shortage of vantage points to take in the gorgeous coastline views around Lymington, but one of our favourites is the 60-mile Solent Way footpath which runs from Milford on Sea to Emsworth Harbour. If you don’t fancy tackling the entire trek, the route can be broken up into stages including the 10-mile hike from Lymington to Milford-on-Sea and the same length inland walk to Beaulieu.

Focussing on Lymington’s history and the New Forest coastline, the St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery is a great place to get up to speed on the region. As well as regular exhibitions from the local community which rotate every two months, the museum covers the town’s maritime history including the smugglers, boat builders and salt makers that first put the town on the map.