For any organisation, celebrating a centenary is quite something. When it is a yacht club, started as an elite few, that is now one of the most highly respected and successful clubs in the country, then a centenary is an opportunity to celebrate both the past, today and also the future. For nearly 40 years RLymYC has been ahead of its time - championing sailing for all with its highly popular Wednesday Junior Sailing sessions, aimed at encouraging young people who might otherwise not have the opportunity to learn valuable life skills out on the water.
Much has changed over one hundred years - yet also so little. Whether 1922 or 2022, there is still "nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
And so on Saturday 7th May the Royal Lymington welcomed over 800 people to a very special Vintage and Classics Exhibition. An open event to showcase a specially selected collection of privately-owned vintage boats - and also classic cars and motorcycles, demonstrating how things have evolved over the past one hundred years. The event was free for all the community to attend, and by the number of enthusiasts and interested locals arriving in droves throughout the day, this was much appreciated.
"Our fascinating display of vintage cars and motorbikes alongside beautiful classic yachts and dinghies, many with interesting histories, attracted a huge amount of interest", said Stephen Crates, Vice Commodore of the Club. "Many thanks to our members and friends who kindly allowed us to include their classic as an exhibit in our collection and to all who helped to organise the day. It was great to open the Club up to the public for such a unique event. The feedback from visitors was fantastic.”
The unique exhibition included classic vessels on the pontoon and vintage dinghies next to the Club, many of which were designed and built locally in Lymington, such as the 1924 35ft West One Design yacht, Suvretta, that was one of five produced by Berthon to establish a class at the Yacht Club.
Also fully dressed for the occasion and on display was the 1924 31ft Alfred Westmacott cutter Windflower, 1932 21ft Alfred Westmacott X One-Design Zest, 1938 22ft classic Rossiter Heron cruiser Nancy, 1952 25ft classic Folkboat Genifrède, 1964 15ft Sea Urchin runabout Kandie, 1964 Seafarer 21 small cabin launch Chinook and 1972 38ft modern Old Gaffer ketch 2000 Alice III.
On display were two original collapsible Berthon lifeboats, a design pioneered in 1854 by the Reverend E. L. Berthon that would eventually help to normalise ships carrying adequate safety boats.
Visitors could view and place bids on an original wooden Firefly which was owned by a member of the Club whose widow gave it to a young member to restore as part of his Duke of Edinburgh bronze award. The dinghy was finally sold for £1,535 with all proceeds given to the charity Médecins Sans Frontières.
The Club was founded by Scow racers and visitors had the opportunity to see a fantastic line up of prams including the famous 11-foot pram and a wooden Lymington River Scow. Also included in the display of vintage boats was a wooden Flying Dutchman, a wooden Finn, a 1934 14ft International built by Uffa Fox and a classic 18ft wooden rowing skiff.
A number of vintage cars and motorbikes were displayed in front of Royal Lymington Yacht Club, the oldest of which were the fascinating 1915 GN belt-drive cyclecar and the 1921 GN chain drive "Vitesse".
It was interesting to see how quickly technology advanced from these early cars to the 1932 Ford Indianapolis Sprint Car and then onwards to the 1953 MG, 1969 E-Type Jaguar 4.2 litre and 1973 4/4 Morgan. In total fifteen privately-owned classic cars were displayed and much appreciated by enthusiasts.
The display of seven vintage motorcycles included a 1921 Sunbeam 500cc and a 1932 Norton 500cc which was fascinating to compare with the 1957 Norton 600cc Dominator.
Visitors were able to enjoy "vintage tuck shop" refreshments in the Club's restaurant and out on the sun terrace, from where they could enjoy also a birds-eye view of the dinghies and yachts on display. They were also able to find out about the history of the Club and learn about Wednesday Junior Sailing, for which the season is now underway - find out more and register at rlymyc.org.uk/wjs
Without a doubt, the Royal Lymington Yacht Club is a superb organisation with something for all ages and all abilities. The club welcomes new members all year round - if you missed this opportunity to visit and would like to find out more about the club, contact Maria Shannon on
TMB, May 2022
If you are organising fundraising events for Ukraine please feel free to add them to our Events Calendar, you'll need to register on the Lymington.com website to get a username and password then add details of your business or organisation, then can log in and add events. For guidance on adding events please read How to Add Events to Lymington.com.
Lymington.com and its online media channels are independently owned by Bartley Marketing Ltd. We produce a free weekly e-newsletter containing lots of useful information - if you don't already subscribe and would like to, please sign up here!
Since the initial invasion of Ukraine by President Putin's Russia on 24 February we have continued to compile this page from information we find mainly online in news articles and through our contacts, and are updating it as we receive more information.
If you can see information which needs updating and/or know of other ways in which local people can help which you'd like added to the list please email
New Forest Homes for Ukraine has been matching refugees to New Forest sponsors since the end of March
You will not be hearing any more from them because they expect you to find the refugees yourselves!
Matches can and have been made on-line, but NFHU has been set up as a CIC (Community Interest Company) to provide a free matching service.
Once matched, hosts and guests can jointly apply for a visa through the Government Scheme. NFHU provides “before and after” arrival advice and support and has collated information from a wide variety of sources, all easily accessible on its website New Forest Homes for Ukraine.
Once the Ukrainian families arrive NFHU aims to support them and their hosts by
There is a shortage of hosts in the Forest at the moment; New Forest Homes for Ukraine has already matched 74 groups of guests with accommodation in the 6 weeks since beginning operating.
Many people who registered for the Government scheme are completely unaware that they need to identify the Ukrainian family that they will house themselves. This is quite a challenge for most people who have no contacts in Ukraine.
That is where the New Forest Homes for Ukraine free matching service comes in.
It is running public meetings in various local towns and villages over the coming weeks in a bid to encourage more people to register for its free matching service or maybe volunteer to be part of its support activities.
Come to one of NFHU's public meetings to hear about hosting refugees and support activities
www.newforesthomesforukraine.co.uk
St Barge is joining forces with local translators, schools, counselling services and food banks to become a focal point for families fleeing the war. With New Forest District Council and voluntary groups and services, it is building a network of support to give Ukrainian families practical help as well as a warm welcome.
Please contact the St Barbe hub at this special email address:
The Red Cross is working on the ground in Ukraine and bordering countries, supplying food, water, medicine, shelter and clothing to those refugees fleeing the fighting, and helping those remaining in Ukraine. www.redcross.org.uk.
To make donations online to the British Red Cross: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal
A number of trusted local businesses are collecting for either the Red Cross or the Salvation Army in their local outlets eg shops and restaurants, and you may find this a convenient way to donate. Look out for their signs and collection boxes!
Has been busy setting up collection points and distribution channels to get supplies to the Polish border and into Ukraine. It has had a huge response and already had a number of vans and lorries head out to Poland.
There are two collection/drop off points, one in Brockenhurst (Industrial Heaters - next to the Rainbow chip shop in Brookley Road) and the other in Lymington, at Coffeemongers on Ampress. These then go off to a hub in Southampton where lorries are going out via the Polish community to the Polish border.
Local businesses and people are all getting on board and helping. Coffee Mongers have been great providing warehouse space on Ampress for collections. They also need large cardboard boxes if you have any to recycle. Volunteers also required to help pack.
LATEST UPDATE OF URGENT GOODS REQUIRED : 05.05.22
Crockery, Cutlery, Pots, Kettles - Bedside lamps (euro-plugs) - Washing powder / capsules - Towels - Instant Meals - Shampoo - Hand and Face Creams - Lip Balm - Body Wash - New Flannels or Sponges - Flip Flops - Soaps - Baby Wipes - Wheeled Suitcases/Bags - New Underwear for Women and Children - Disposable cups, plates and bowls - Tea, Coffee, - UHT milk, sugar
Helen H wrote in to tell us about the house at 25 Avenue Road, Lymington which is taking all things for Ukraine
The house is opposite NFDC offices and you can park outside in marked off area
There is a Notice outside on pavement saying they are collecting
Hordle, Ashley, New MiltonAs reported in the A&T, Jane Marriner, a volunteer with Lymington Cat and Kitten Rescue, is coordinating local collections of items such as food, clothing and nappies, to be taken to Southampton from where Polish delivery drivers transport them to the Poland/Ukraine border to hand out at refugee camps.
Jane had been using her home in Ashley as a base where people could drop off and Everything Pets in Hordle was providing another drop off point.
Things have ramped up somewhat, Hordle Church has been providing space for sorting, and there's a new Facebook page called Hordle Heroes.
Contact Jane via https://www.facebook.com/HordleHeroes/
Jane has also set up a wish list on Amazon.
Jane is also looking for drivers to volunteer to take the items to Southampton. Please contact her via the Facebook page above.
From Sway Hearsay Facebook Group Rosie McMillan says: "A friend and I want to send items to the Polish border for the refugees coming from Ukraine, so we are asking for donations of nappies, wetwipes, clothes, non perishable food items, blankets, womens sanitary items, shampoos, body wash, hand wash, hand sanitizer, dog food, cat food, sleeping bags, blankets, gloves, scarfs, socks etc. anything that you can spare! We are doing a large collection in the Southampton area and my mum who is based in Sway is helping us, so please if you can spare anything, please can you drop it to her at 22 Stanford Rise, Sway (if she is not home, please leave items by her door). We have several lorries going over in the next few weeks and we want to be able to send as much as possible to help them. As you are all aware, the situation in Ukraine is critical and Poland has opened its borders to the refugees and they are going to need help and support in these horrible times."
If you live or travel in the Bournemouth direction, the empty Argos store at Castlepoint has been turned into a well organised collection point for donations being run by a volunteer group Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine. People with donations can drop them off in the main Argos store - through the blue doors - on the top level of Castlepoint between 9am and 5pm daily.
Other useful links include:
If you are organising fundraising events yourself for Ukraine please feel free to add them to our Events Calendar, you'll need to register on the Lymington.com website to get a username and password then add details of your business or organisation, then can log in and add events. For guidance on adding events please read How to Add Events to Lymington.com.
There are fraudsters who will try and take advantage of a crisis situation in the form of scams. As always when donating money, please remain alert to possible scams and fraud. There is advice and support at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Also, sharing information is important but misinformation and disinformation can be damaging so please take a pause before you share anything. Full Fact are independent fact checkers. You can read their latest checks https://fullfact.org/, and raise anything you think is false https://fullfact.org/get-involved/suggest-a-fact-check/ You can also follow them on twitter https://twitter.com/FullFact and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FullFact.org/ And they have advice on how to spot fake information https://fullfact.org/blog/2022/feb/how-to-fact-check-ukraine-videos/
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside, and living anywhere in the New Forest and particularly here on the coast we're so lucky to be so close to it in all its splendour! But on Friday 18 February as Storm Eunice approaches please do NOT visit the seaside today! And in case of serious problems please refer to this guidance from NFDC. These fabulous photos were taken by Steve Elson earlier in the week.
Lymington.com and its online media channels are independently owned by Bartley Marketing Ltd. We produce a free weekly e-newsletter containing lots of useful information - if you don't already subscribe and would like to, please sign up here!
As Christmas 2021 approaches rapidly, the Lymington Society has announced the welcome news that with the support of the Chamber of Commerce and the Town Council, it is again launching its “Shop Local” campaign. This year especially it's to remind people that, although the national economy has bounced back remarkably since the end of restrictions in July, local retailers have been really badly hit during the pandemic and need our help as much as ever.
Under the slogan “Shop Local – Save Shops – Support Lymington This Christmas” the Society would like everyone to think about keeping their shopping pounds in Lymington to support retailers and jobs locally and help boost the local economy
The pandemic had taken a terrible toll on retailing in Lymington. That includes major chains with a previous presence in the town which have been hit badly, with the result that despite encouraging signs or recovery, there remain many empty shops in the town.
With this in mind, the Society would like to remind local people to “think before you click” and support the community by trying to do as much of their Christmas shopping locally as possible and really boost the local economy with their much-needed Christmas shopping pounds
Speaking about this campaign, Lymington Society Deputy Chair Don Mackenzie said:
“Looking at the many empty shops in the town The Lymington Society is as aware as we all are about the terrible effect the coronavirus has had on the local economy and particularly retailing. Thankfully there are encouraging signs with several new shops and businesses opening in the town since the end of lockdown and we all hope that the worst is past.
However, if this encouraging trend is to become established, we all need to “let our legs do the walking” not our keyboards and to follow what is becoming a national movement to shop local and keep our pounds in the local economy to everyone’s benefit.
As I said last year, whilst shopping on the web has its place, there’s nothing to beat shopping in your own town where amazing, exciting, and different things can be found from local retailers. You can also get a coffee or a bite to eat and you’re bound to meet someone you know and have a quick catch up - you can't do that online in the same way.
There is also the wonderful Lymington Market, with its friendly stallholders and exciting stalls with an amazing range of local and artisan items that you simply can't get on the web
If you’re not certain local shops have what you’re looking for, why not phone up and ask them to get it in for you to collect the next day. Local Click and Collect. So please “Think before you Click” and “Support Lymington this Christmas”
Banners are on display around town and 100 posters have been distributed to put in shop windows.
Pictured are left to right: Don MacKenzie, Lymington Society; James Hoare, Lymington & Pennington Town Mayor; Peter Leyland-Jones, Chairman, Lymington & District Chamber of Commerce
Click here to remind yourself of the benefits of shopping locally at Christmas!
And if you don't already receive Lymington.com's useful Weekly What's On e-newsletter - do sign up here!
After such a long and strange time it's good to know that Small Business Saturday will be back this year, and will take place across the country on Saturday 4 December.
For Lymington and the New Forest there will be free parking in New Forest District Council car parks.
Get ready to support our small businesses by saving lots of your Christmas Shopping to shop local on Small Business Saturday 2021!
The NFDC will be promoting Small Business Saturday to both residents and businesses, so businesses do let them know your plans for the day and they can help you promote it. You can also click here to download logos and other materials and advertising on the small business finder register.
Small high street businesses please click here to get your discount code for a Premium Listing on Lymington.com.
Since Covid appreciation of the great outdoors has blossomed, or perhaps we should now say mushroomed! That includes in wheelchairs or buggies or on mobility scooters: so for walks on wheels or miles without stiles we've started putting some information together here.
And, according to new research, Hampshire has the second highest number of accessible walks in the UK! (Beaten to second place by Somerset, apparently.)
Accessible Countryside for Everyone has provided an online list of walks, country parks and nature reserves that are all accessible.
And a number of the walks in Hampshire are in the Lymington and New Forest area. Including beautiful places like Keyhaven, Hatchet Pond and Hordle Cliff.
Disabled access, wheelchair walks, easy access, access for all, mobility, walks on wheels, miles without stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces. People need this information for so many reasons when planning to be in the great outdoors, from buggy wheeling to mobility scootering to short term necessity caused by injury or illness...
The list of walks is followed by other useful lists of accessible beaches, and sport and other information pertinent to reduced mobility and indeed disability, including our own very special Lymington Sailability!
Wheelchair accessible walks in the New Forest
Accessible walks - miles without stiles in the New Forest!
Full of lots of useful information and tips as well as upcoming events, in Lymington and the New Forest.
Without a doubt, the increased cost of living is making school holidays more expensive than ever for many families. Fortunately, the Lymington and New Forest area has a wealth of things to do (whatever the weather!), many of which are free or almost free. Read on for a selection of our favourites - and do
Every Friday we email our FREE Weekly What's On detailing what's on in the New Forest and Lymington area, including many community events which are free of charge (or low charge). Sign up for our Weekly What's On below. Follow us on Facebook (@LymingtonHampshire), Twitter (@lymingtondotcom) and Instagram (@lymingtondotcom) for more great ideas and local information. Keep an eye on our Events Calendar too where you'll find oodles of free or nearly free events listed for the holidays.
It's free to use and by all accounts it's awesome! Grab your skateboard, scooter or stunt bike and off you go! Located by the Lymington Mariners rugby field at Woodside Park, the skate park was redesigned and rebuilt a few years ago and is popular for boarders and bikers alike!
At Woodside Park, younger children will love the Woodside Fairy Trail around the gardens. Follow the enchanting trail to find where 'The Fey of Woodside' dwell. Download your own map here. Afterwards, throw down a rug on the lawn and enjoy a picnic or play in and around the huge rhododendron bushes. For total fairy addicts, across the New Forest in Minstead visit Furzey Gardens, a worthy social enterprise, to take a walk hunting for the Fairy Doors. An absolutely magical outing! (Top Tip: Book tickets online in advance which is slightly cheaper)
Did you know that the New Forest has over 40 miles of coastline? Or that the water at all our local beaches has been rated Excellent by the Environment Agency? The nearest beach to Lymington is Milford-on-Sea, a shingle beach with good views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles. There are three car parks: Hurst Road East is next to the Needles Eye Cafe and a children's playground. There is an excellent walk along Hurst Spit to Hurst Castle. A little further along the B3058 (Cliff Road) and you will reach Paddy's Gap car park, with a cliff-top path and steps down to the beach and then on to Hordle Cliff car park, with an ice cream kiosk and public WC. Between Paddy's Gap and Hordle Cliff, the beach is lined with colourful private beach huts. Swimming and bodyboarding are possible, although there is no lifeguard service, so do be vigilant as currents can be strong. Find our guide to local beaches here.
At Woodside Park, you'll find an Outdoor Gym and two Table Tennis Tables (bring your own paddles and balls), alongside the Tennis Courts (bring your own racquets and balls), free for all to use. There's also a running track in the field adjacent to the park. Alternatively, take your own chess pieces or draughts pieces to Bath Road park and play a game on the new chess table. Work out your mind in beautiful surroundings next to the Lymington River!
Learn tales about Lymington's history in our historic walks around town. Find details of the walks here. The walks and map are detailed in a handy guide, usually available at information points around town. The walks give an insight into Lymington so that both tourists and residents can appreciate the history and development of the town. Approximate duration of each walk: red route 1 hour, blue route 1.5 hours, green route 2 hours.
Visit your local library to borrow books and DVDs. Plus every summer we recommend for primary-school-aged children the Summer Reading Challenge - it's a great way to get even the most reluctant readers reading! Check your local library for opening hours, and keep an eye on our Events Calendar for all the latest activity sessions.
Top tip! Local independent bookshop, The Imaginarium, also sells preloved books and from time to time will have 'giveaway' preloved books too - definitely worth a visit to Angel Courtyard for a browse. Plus check our Events Calendar for free events with authors.
Crabbing is a great activity to while away the hours! All you need is a crabbing line, some bait (raw bacon works well), a bucket, and perhaps a net, and off you go! Popular local crabbing locations include Lymington Town Quay, Keyhaven, and the bridge at Hurst Spit. (Top tip: head to Yachtmail opposite the Town Quay in Lymington for crabbing supplies!)
9) Discover the Lymington to Keyhaven Nature Reserve!Once an industrious area for harvesting salt, the nature reserve covers nearly 200 Ha (500 acres) between the mouth of the Lymington river and the village of Keyhaven and offers great walks along the Solent Way (often referred to as the sea wall). There are great views of the marshes and their wildlife from the Solent Way which runs the length of the reserve. There are also several attractive circular walks on local footpaths which cross the area. The reserve is open every day of the year for quiet informal recreation on designated paths and tracks. An information guide is available at the St Barbe Information Point. Find out more about the Lymington to Keyhaven Nature Reserve here.
St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery has a range of craft events throughout the school holidays, many of which are included in the (low cost compared to many other places!) entry fee. Check out the craft events and activities in our Events Calendar.
FREE! Children who receive benefit-related free school meals, have special educational needs and disabilities or are considered vulnerable can benefit from Healthy Food and Holiday Activities (HAF) at St Barbe. Over the Easter holidays, the activities will run for four days 11-14 April from 11.30am - 3.30pm. Two days are specifically for families (5+ an adult is required to accompany them, younger siblings welcome) and two days for 11-16-year-olds (no adult required), each day there will be craft activities, a hot meal, snacks and lots of FUN! Click here to find out more and to check eligibility.
Lymington Woodside parkrun takes place at Woodside Gardens in Lymington (starting by the Sports Pavillion) and in Brockenhurst the parkrun starts at Brockenhurst College. Both are part of the national parkrun and are free, community events where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning at 9am. Find the latest details in our Events Calendar.
Whether it’s the Ancient and Ornamental woodlands, with their magnificent oaks and beeches; the scattered birch and pine across the Open forest with clear views of plantations, mires and valleys beyond; or the more uniform plantation woodlands, there will be a walk for you to enjoy.
There are free car parks all over the forest with walking opportunities galore - click on the picture above for a larger map. If you are looking for a set route to walk there are a number of way-marked walks - these walks are also suitable for those who are less able and for pushchairs and buggies as they are on gravel tracks. Map reading is not required, just follow the wooden posts with the coloured markers. And of course, along the way, there are plenty of beautiful places to enjoy a picnic...
The New Forest is home to ponies, donkeys, cattle and in the autumn, pigs too! Take a walk and be sure to admire animals from afar, don't be tempted to touch or feed them. Remember the New Forest code:
From the wobbly beginner to the experienced off-roader, the New Forest has plenty of space for everyone who wants to ride. Cycling in the New Forest is ideal for families wanting safe off-road and gentle cycle routes. New Forest cycling is available all year round and is the perfect way to take in the different seasons from spring with the bluebells and baby animals, summer with the new foals, autumn with the beautiful golden leaves and winter with crisp frosty mornings ideal for cycling on our gravel tracks. Download a FREE map of cycle routes in the New Forest.
Top tip: Hire bicycles at Cyclexperience by the station in Brockenhurst.
Buckler's Hard village is free to enter: the grounds of Buckler's Hard village, Shipwright's Cottage, St Mary's Chapel, the Captain's Table and Master Builder's House Hotel are free for everyone to visit. For those arriving by vehicle, a parking charge applies to help maintain the heritage site. To enhance your visit and learn more about the special heritage of Buckler's Hard, you have the option to pay a small admission charge to explore the Museum or enjoy the River Cruise. Museum tickets can now only be purchased from the Buckler's Hard Museum, whilst River Cruise tickets can only be purchased when boarding the boat.
Top Tip: over the Easter weekend (6-10 April 2023) children visit the Buckler's Hard Museum free - find out more here!
Visit the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst, which offers free entry and always has an interesting exhibition. Open 7 days a week with events for children and families on some days - check our events calendar for details.
Visit Knightwood Oak, the largest oak in the New Forest, at 7.4m girth, and surely one of the oldest. It is still going strong today and is a spectacular example of the ancient art of 'pollarding', the traditional way of harvesting wood without killing the tree. A shady spot to bring a picnic, "get away from it all" and try to imagine what it would have been like over 400 years ago when this tree began to grow. Download a podcast.
The Rufus Stone Car park is situated within an ancient wood pasture on the eastern edge of the Forest. A short stroll takes you to the famous memorial to King William II. Many stories abound but it is said that an arrow shot at a stag by one Walter Tyrrell glanced off a tree and killed the King. Download a podcast to learn more...
The New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst, helps protect rare snakes and lizards and encourages the re-introduction of these animals across the country. There are special outdoor ‘pods’ at the centre which provide a natural home to the sand lizard, smooth snake and adder. These reptiles can be difficult to see in the wild as they are rare and very secretive, so the Reptile Centre is a great place to see them close up. Entry is free although a donation of £3 is welcomed. Closed during the winter months. Open from 10.30am – 3.30pm from 1st April 2023.
19) Go deer spotting Spotting deer in the New Forest isn't always easy, but at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary there is a purpose-built viewing platform overlooking a large meadow area where a herd of fallow deer regularly gather. Deer viewing at Bolderwood isn't guaranteed but the herd are fed daily by the local New Forest keeper, between the months of April and September, so the deer are more than happy to remain in the main meadow and are very accustomed to human presence. Feeding time can be between noon and 3pm. Several of the animals are white, which is quite an uncommon colour for fallow deer to be. The platform provides an excellent photo opportunity although a zoom or telephoto lens is a very good idea if you want close-up shots. Download the Guide to Deer at Bolderwood podcast.
Top Tip: During school holidays there are often free or low-cost trails and activities for children at Bolderwood car park, opposite the Deer Sanctuary.
And finally, the Country Traveller's helpful and growing series of videos about the local area now includes Five Free Things to See and Do in the New Forest.
Updated March 2023
Whether you're local to the New Forest or visiting on holiday, you'll find loads to keep you busy this summer.
Our summer holiday guide for families and children is stuffed full of fab things to do in the Lymington, New Milton and New Forest area over the school summer holidays. Take a look also at our fun days out feature if you're looking to venture slightly further afield. And for those having to juggle work with school holidays, we have information about holiday childcare, which also includes details of activities days for children.
See what's on day by day in our New Forest Events Calendar. Remember, if you're organising a local event then you can add your event to the Lymington.com calendar for free and contact us to find out about Lymington.com membership which includes local advertising and promotion (including being in this article!)
Find inspiration also in our Things to Do section, which includes Places to Visit, Walks and Leisure Activities.
And if you've not already subscribed to receive our FREE Weekly What's On newsletter, emailed every Friday morning and full of the latest New Forest events, news and information, subscribe here:
You can also follow Lymington.com on Facebook (Lymington Hampshire), Twitter (@lymingtondotcom) and Instagram (@lymingtondotcom).
Swimming and inflatable funLymington Sea Water Baths are open throughout the school holidays from 9.30am to 6pm each day. Book online in advance for 90-minute sessions on the 200m of inflatable obstacle courses, paddleboards or for swims. You'll find great fun whatever the weather - once you're wetsuited up and in the water the rain doesn't matter! Wetsuits are available for hire. Lifeguards on duty. Snacks and drinks are available at the kiosk. Book here.
Ballard School Summer Camps include swimming. There are also private swimming lessons available.
Head to the beach The sea is lovely and warm! Find our guide to local beaches here, including details of parking, where dogs are allowed and which beaches have a lifeguard patrol - plus the all-essential nearby cafés and other conveniences.
Lymington really is the place to learn to sail! Find out here about learning to sail in Lymington. This summer Royal Lymington Yacht Club welcomes non-members and members on their RYA Learn to Sail training courses on various dates during the school holidays.
New Forest Activities in Beaulieu offer kayaking and family canoeing along the beautiful Beaulieu River. There are also Ladies Only Paddles on dates throughout the summer (check our events calendar for dates). For families with children aged 12+ try the Beaulieu Canoe Explorer, which covers a good distance on this extended trip through the Beaulieu River Nature Reserve.
Hire paddleboards at the New Forest Paddle Sport Company, based in Milford on Sea. Meanwhile, local experts Chad and Jamie at New Forest Surf have a great online shop.
Ballard School Summer Camps are running each week during the summer holidays and include a range of sports, Mad Science, Horrible Mysteries, drama, music, art, stay and play, gymnastics, swimming, junior DofE, Forest Rangers and BikeAbility. These fun summer camps are running daily throughout the school holidays and are open to all children, not just those who attend Ballard School. Get the lowdown here.
New Forest Hockey Club is running hockey camps for 8-15 year olds on 9th, 10th and 11th August on the astro pitch at Lymington Health and Leisure. Each day 8.30am to 3.30pm. A great way to have fun, make new friends and improve your hockey skills with NFHC's brilliant coaches. Find out more and how to book a place here.
Lymington Cricket Club is holding cricket camps for 9-13 year olds on 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th July and 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th August at Lymington Sports Ground. Players of all abilities are welcome - whether you’re hoping to make the district or Hampshire team, or a first-time player. A fun and friendly environment with dynamic coaching. Book for individuals days or a whole week: find more information and how to book here.
New Forest Football Academy is once again providing day camps throughout the summer holidays. Find more information and contact details here.
For more sports holiday camps and clubs, see our Holiday Childcare article...
GolfNew Forest Adventure Golf is open throughout the holidays from 10am to 5pm. Built with children in mind, it's also fun and challenging for adults. The beautifully landscaped adventure golf course is a high spec 18 hole discovery adventure of the New Forest, including Isle of Wight ferry, Lymington and Beaulieu Rivers and New Forest towns and villages.
Lymington Golf Centre is open every day for 'pay and play' out on the fabulous 9 hole course - or practice your swing at the driving range (purchase a token at the clubhouse to get a bucket of balls at the driving range). If you're new to golf or would like to improve your technique, we recommend lessons with the brilliant (and very patient!) resident PGA golf pro, Matt Vineer. Matt is an inspiring teacher for children and adults alike - you'll learn loads! Contact the club for more information.
Pack up a picnic and head out on a family cycle! If you'd rather cycle away from the main roads, the New Forest has numerous tracks and trails. Find a useful map of cycle routes here. Hire bikes at Cyclexperience in Brockenhurst (conveniently located near to the station) or at New Forest Bike Hire in Lymington (Quay Street).
Anyone for tennis? Lymington Tennis Club still has their 30 days for £1 offer for locals - brilliant for older children who want to rediscover their tennis skills over the summer break! More information here.
This summer, help Oakhaven Hospice race around the world: the distance around the world is 24,901 miles - collectively, as a community, can we complete the trip? Sign up now to take on the challenge by pledging your own mileage goal and how you’ll complete it. For example, you could simply pledge to walk 2 miles a day during the 80 days: 160 miles. The choice is yours! Let’s walk, cycle, run, row, sail, swim (or indeed any other mode of travel that takes your fancy) our way around the world and all those miles will provide a world of care at Oakhaven Hospice. Find out more and sign up here.
If the weather is kind, make use of our local facilities, including tennis courts, table tennis tables and outdoor gym at Woodside Park, plus the chess/draughts table at Bath Road Park.
Visit St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery to learn more about Lymington and surrounding areas. Find out more about the New Forest coast, an area with a rich maritime heritage where smugglers made a profit on the shores, and where boat-builders and salt-makers developed their trades.
At St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington the team has organised a range of fun art and craft workshops for the summer holidays. Come along to Magical moths (27th July), Animal sketchbook workshop (3rd August), Botanical illustration (10th August), Plastercine patterns (17th August), Fish hats workshop (24th August) and Drawing in the dark (31st August)
Learn Pyrography - draw and write with fire with wood turner Graham Turner at Keyhaven Scout Hut on 14th August.
Join the Summer Reading Challenge "Wild World Heroes" at your local library! It's free to join your local library and the summer challenge is a great way to inspire and encourage young readers! From 3 July to 18 September - and completely free of charge! Lymington Library is currently open 9.30am - 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and from 9.30am to 1pm on Wednesdays.
The fabulous team at New Forest Academy of Dance is running a summer school from Monday 26th to Thursday 29th July at Lymington Community Centre. Explore dancing, theatre, singing, drama and more through a week of fun and engaging classes with industry professionals.
Meanwhile near Ringwood, Forest Forge Theatre Company has a holiday theatre workshop from 2nd - 6th August. An exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of theatre and performance for a whole week.
Lymington's Malt Cinema will be showing:
The New Forest Players are performing 'Curtain Up' at Ballard School from Wednesday 28th to Saturday 31st July. A comedy about five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theatre and plan to bring it back to life again.
Join New Forest Activities for a Family Woodland Adventure Day! Light a fire and build a woodland shelter before testing your aim with a bow. Explore woodland Low Ropes Challenges before taking to the trees for your High Ropes Adventure. Various dates throughout the summer holidays including 1st, 15th and 29th August.
Become a Little Ranger at New Park Farm near Brockenhurst! Regular 2 hour courses for 3-12 year olds and parents throughout the holidays, looking at wildlife, nature, conservation, New Forest myths, legends and folklore and much more. Find out more about Little New Park Rangers here.
Take a walk on the wild side with Wild New Forest! Fascinating guided walks in the New Forest with Russell and Marcus, who have over 50 years experience in wildlife survey, monitoring and photography in the New Forest National Park. Try the Bolderwood Kids Wildlife Adventure on 24th July and walk out for more guided walks in our Events Calendar!
Throughout the holidays, hop on a New Forest Tour bus to visit new places around the Forest - there are 3 routes and plenty of buses every day. (Editor's tip, combine a visit to New Forest Adventure Golf and Goodalls PYO Strawberries with a bus tour around the New Forest!)
Head to Beaulieu for a fun-filled family day out this summer, where there really is something for everyone. Beaulieu makes a great day out for locals and visitors to the New Forest area, come rain or shine. One inclusive ticket provides access to the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, the ancestral Montagu home Palace House and beautiful gardens, Little Beaulieu - a fantastic new children's adventure play area, Beaulieu Abbey, the Secret Army Exhibition (perfect for kids studying WW2) and unlimited rides on the monorail.
Plus until 30 August, see Sculpture at Beaulieu - the works of 50 renowned sculptors, including Dawn Rowland, Frederic Chevarin, Helen Sinclair, Neil Wilkin, Paul Vanstone, Shaun Gagg and Lymington's very own Michael Turner.
Keep an eye on our Events Calendar for special events at Beaulieu, including evening tickets to view Sculpture at Beaulieu and the popular 'Simply' events. On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August it's the popular Supercar Weekend, a must-see family spectacular that brings some of the world’s most exclusive and desirable motors to Beaulieu. See displays of prestigious supercars and hear their distinctive engine notes as they unleash their horsepower on the demonstration run. Book your tickets now!
Just down the road from Beaulieu is Bucklers Hard. Discover the Maritime Museum and Bucklers Hard story, brought to life by living history characters.
Pick your own strawberries at Goodall's Farm (plus raspberries, cherries...and more!) - they really are the tastiest strawberries in the world. Afterwards, explore the new farm shop full of local produce. A great activity combined with New Forest Adventure Golf right next door.
Over at Bickton Manor Farm (near Fordingbridge), the Maize Maze opens on 7th August, along with pick your own maze and sunflowers, art and craft activities, a Peter Pan theme and lots of family fun! This year raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Find out more here.
In East Boldre, the legendary Beer Festival at The Turfcutters Arms will be taking place from Friday 30th July to Sunday 1st August. The Turfs has a fabulous children's play area and based so close to the Forest makes a super place to combine a good walk with food, drink and fun!
One for the diary: on Saturday 11th September it is the Family Fun Day at Oakhaven Hospice. A wonderful traditional family fête with games, stalls and delicious refreshments, all raising funds for our fabulous New Forest, Waterside and Totton hospice.
Take a look at our Fun Days Out article for more ideas on places to visit locally...
Lymington Charter Market is every Saturday 8am to 4pm on Lymington High Street - come and explore the wealth of different stalls! Find out more about Lymington's famous market...
You could also explore the bargains at the New Forest Car Boot Sale on Sundays (unless pouring with rain). A great way to find some different pre-loved toys and games!
Discover Lymington's playgrounds! Find out more about where to play from some intrepid experts...
Remember to keep an eye on the Events Calendar as new events are added daily! And subscribe (above) to receive our free 'Weekly What's On' newsletter by email every Friday and we'll keep you up to speed with what's happening locally.
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