Lyndhurst Tourist Guide New Forest Visitor Centre Hampshire

Lyndhurst Tourist Information

Lyndhurst is an historic town in the middle of the New Forest. It has been a main centre for the area since the Middle Ages. The Queen's House still acts as the official seat of the Court of Verderers - the ancient legal system operated within the New Forest that protects the rights of the Commoners and where New Forest by-laws can be made. The Court meets six times a year in the Verderers' Hall and is open to the public when in session.

Lyndhurst is the location for the main New Forest Visitor Centre and is a great place to start your trip for maps, leaflets and things to do. Not only does it have a huge array of visitor information, but also contains displays and artefacts detailing the history of the New Forest and the unique way of life for its inhabitants. The comprehensive Christopher Tower New Forest Reference Library is also housed here as well as a gift shop.

Lyndhurst Visitor Information Centre, The Main Car Park, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7NY. Tel: 023 8028 2269. Email: office@newforestmuseum.org.uk

Lyndhurst has retained many of its historic buildings and is now a bustling shopping centre in the heart of the New Forest. The town is host to a good range of high street names, independent shops, cafes, antique shops and butchers selling locally caught meat including venison. The Parish Church, St Michael & All Angels, at the top of the hill whose spire dominates the town, is where Alice Liddell is buried. It was she to whom a story about a girl named Alice and her underground adventures was first told by Lewis Carroll before he crystallised it into the "Alice in Wonderland" story known the world over today.

New Forest Tour - Open Top Bus

Lyndhurst is where you can pick up the New Forest Open Top Bus Tour. It departs from the main car park throughout the day - also handy for the Visitor Information Centre. From here the tour takes you around the New Forest National Park stopping off at other New Forest towns and villages like Brockenhurst, Lymington, Beaulieu and attractions such as Exbury Gardens.

You can use the bus to see the New Forest, take your bike with you to access some of the 100 miles of cycle trails or use the daily Hop on Hop off ticket to link up some circular walks.

Check the link right for up-to-date information on fares and arrangements for booking a space for your bike.

New Forest Reptile Centre

For a family day out try the New Forest Reptile Centre two miles west of Lyndhurst. On a warm day it's one place you're sure to see all Britain's native reptiles including adders, grass snakes, smooth snakes, lizards including sand lizards that also live on the New Forest heathlands, as well as amphibians including newts and natterjack toads - another heathland specialist species.

You can find the New Forest Reptile Centre two miles west of Lyndhurst on the A35 road at Holidays Hill. There's a pay and display car park but admission is free.

Open from daily April to September 10am-4.30pm.

New Forest Reptile Centre, Holidays Hill, Bournemouth Road, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7NH. Tel: 023 8028 3141. Fax: 023 8028 3929.

Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary

If you want a guaranteed view of deer, that can be elusive in the wilds of the New Forest, then Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary fits the bill. You can often see a herd of fallow deer from the viewing platform which is also a great place from which to take photos. See if you can spot the unusual all white deer.

There are also a range of graded walks through the woodland at the Sanctuary. All start from the picnic area and stretch or half, one or two miles. The woodland at the Sanctuary includes native ancient woodland as well as exotic species including Redwoods and conifer species.

You can reach Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary via the A35 from Lyndhurst and then turning along Arboretum Ornamental Drive. The car park is two miles up this road on the right.

New Forest Golf Club Lyndhurst

Just outside Lyndhurst is the New Forest Golf Club. It became established in 1888 on open heathland - one of the traditional and best habitats for playing golf. It's an 18 hole course and the club is noted for its friendly welcome.

Visitors and societies are welcomed at the Club by contacting the Golf Manager, Kevin Nolan on tel: 023 8028 3094. Email: secretarynfgc@aol.com.