Visit us


The New Forest Heritage Centre is conveniently located in the centre of Lyndhurst, adjacent to the main pay & display car park behind the High Street.

If you are using a SatNav the postcode is SO43 7NY, alternatively you can click here for a map.

The New Forest Heritage Centre is accessible to a wide range of visitors, and we always try to meet the needs of everyone who visits us. If you or your group has a specific need please contact us. Please email office@newforestheritage.org.uk

Family Visits

We love to welcome families, and there are lots of things for you to do! Discover our galleries, displays, and a programme of family events and activities inspired by our museum collections over the school holidays.

We have free museum trails, activity sheets and colouring sheets available in our museum for our younger visitors to enjoy.

Whether you pop in for a quick visit or spend a little more time exploring, you’ll find activities to engage and educate the whole family, from toddlers to grandparents!

Children Visiting Us

  • We welcome unaccompanied children aged 14 or over.

How to get to us

  • By Bicycle

    You can visit us by bike and use the racks on the side of our building. The New Forest offers over 200km waymarked cycle routes, much of it off road and traffic free. The station at Brockenhurst allows you to bring your bikes and get straight out into the Forest or if you don’t have bikes with you pop in to one of the many cycle hire Centres.

  • By Public Transport

    By Bus

    The New Forest is served by a public bus network, which provides the opportunity to travel around the area by bus.

    Bluestar Buses – Southampton 023 8061 8233

    Wilts & Dorset – Salisbury 01722 336855

    The New Forest Tour (July - September)

    The New Forest Tour open top bus is the best way to See More, Explore More and Enjoy More of the New Forest. Sit back relax and experience rich open countryside, beautiful coastline, historic villages, and all that England’s smallest National Park has to offer.

    You can hop on and off where you like and catch another bus later, or switch between tours, all on the same ticket. With tours running every day during the summer this a really unique way to get a grandstand view of the New Forest.

    By Coach

    National Express coaches stop at Lyndhurst, Lymington, and Ringwood and other stops in The New Forest. Please contact National Express for information on timetables, access, and fares.

    National Express 08705 808080 between 08:00 and 20:00

    Travel Helpline: 0121 4238479

    www.nationalexpress.com

    If you are a wheelchair user or need assistance when travelling by coach you should book your journey at least 24 hours in advance.

    By Train

    The main train service in the area is operated by South West Trains which provide good links to Southampton, Bournemouth, London, and further afield. The train stations within the National Park are Ashurst, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, and Sway. The other train stations in the New Forest are Hinton Admiral, Lymington, New Milton, and Totton. Please contact the below for information on timetables, access, and fares.

    Tel: 08457 484950

    www.nationalrail.co.uk

    If you are a wheelchair user or need assistance when travelling by train you should book your rail journey at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact South West Trains Assisted Travel.

    Tel: Freephone 0800 5282100 or 0845 6000650

  • By Car

    The New Forest lies to the west of Southampton Water in south-west Hampshire. If you are travelling from Southampton, London, or the east, exit the M27 at Junction 1, signed Cadnam and head southwards into the New Forest.

    If you are travelling from the west, you can use the A31 from Dorset. From the north, take either the A338 from Salisbury to Ringwood in the west of the Forest, or the A36 to Totton in the east.

    We are located in the large main Pay and Display car park in Lyndhurst (operated by RingGo - 2579). There are several parking spaces for disabled persons beside the Centre.

    The Centre is also signposted with brown heritage signs on all the major routes into Lyndhurst.

 FAQs

  • We are dog-friendly throughout our building.

  • There is a large public car park to the front of the building (this is a council run car park with charges).

  • The New Forest Heritage Centre is located in the Main Car Park in Lyndhurst. Our Welcome Desk is located through the main, step-free entrance and staff will be here to welcome you.

  • We have two accessible toilets – one downstairs and one upstairs.

    Male and Female toilets with disabled access and baby changing facilities.

  • We are accessible for those with mobility and sensory disabilities. We have a wheelchair-friendly lift to reach our upstairs displays.

  • We have a step-free entrance.

    The museum is wheelchair-accessible with a lift located in the gift shop near the café (please ask if you need any assistance).

    An adult-sized wheelchair is available for free loan during your visit. Please ask reception staff, or let us know in advance that you would like to use it and we can have it ready for you.

  • We have comfortable chairs in the downstairs and upstairs gallery. Our seating upstairs is a quiet and calm area that can also be used for breastfeeding.

  • Large-print guides for our permanent museum displays are available in the museum.

    We have a Sensory Explorer bag available to borrow during a visit. You can find it in hanging on the little pegs in the corridor outside the toilets. We hope it will make your visit enjoyable. Please return the bag to the pegs or hand to a member of staff when you have finished using it.

  • We have baby changing facilities in our accessible toilet upstairs.

  • We offer variety of options

    Self-Led Visits

    We welcome groups of all ages for self-led visits to our museum for up to 30 people. Our suggested donation is £2 – £4 per person.

    Self-Led Resourced Visits for Groups with Children

    For an additional suggested donation of £1 per child we’ll provide a museum trail about the history and geography of the New Forest for each child in your group.

    Contact Us

    To book or to discuss in more detail please contact office@newforestheritage.org.uk or education@newforestheritage.org.uk

  • The library and archive can be accessed Monday to Friday throughout the year by appointment. To arrange a visiting time, please contact the library by emailing library@newforestheritage.org.uk or on 023 8028 6150

  • We are a child welcoming establishment and we also offer workshops and classes for children to learn about the New Forest and its heritage.

  • We offer room hire opportunities for small to medium sized groups.

    Please visit our Room hire page