Beaulieu is one of the most picturesque villages in the New Forest. It sits on the southern banks and at the head of the beautiful Beaulieu River. It could be described as “the Historic Heart of the New forest”, its origins dating back to the 13th century and the days of King John. It is also situated close to its more urban neighbours, Lymington and Lyndhurst. Visitors to the village of Beaulieu can find many attractions and places of interest to visit, the gently sloping High street has a variety of village stores to browse, ranging from gift and chocolate shops to art and craft. Beaulieu River, the centre point of the village, provides an ideal location for a leisurely stroll or a place to relax for a picnic.
Alongside the river lies the impressive Exbury Gardens, home to the Rothschild family, the Exbury steam railway and Exbury’s wonderful collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias.
A short journey down river you’ll find wonderful Buckler’s Hard, a former shipbuilding village preserved in time, with its Maritime Museum, riverside walks and boat trips.
Beaulieu is one of the New Forest’s smallest but most visited villages, and can get very busy during Summer. It is home to the National Park’s most popular attraction, the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. Together this trio is just called Beaulieu.
The Mill Pond
At the head of the river is the Mill Pond, a picture-postcard village scene that attracts an abundance of bird life such as swans, ducks, coots and many other seasonal visitors. Donkeys and ponies are also attracted to the Mill Pond when they fancy a drink. On the opposite side of the pond from the village you will see Palace House, which is the present home of Lord and Lady Montagu.
Behind the house are the remains of the once enormous Beaulieu Abbey, while the world famous National Motor Museum is hidden from view from the village.
Towards the western edge of the village, motor enthusiasts can take a look through the showroom windows of the privately owned Beaulieu Garage. Here you will see a fine display of vintage and classic cars for sale. For those who just seek to relax, there are some lush natural grassy lawns that can be found on the northern bank of the river, located in front of the Palace House grounds.
It`s worth noting there are no cattle grids on the roads around the village, so great care must be taken whilst driving through it. New Forest ponies and donkeys are free to wander throughout the centre and while donkeys aren’t as common as ponies throughout the New Forest, they can often be seen, which makes a great photo opportunity!
Things To See And Do In Beaulieu
- Taking the time to wander through the village streets to browse the interesting shops and houses will be well worth it. These include antique shops, gift shops, a pottery, quaint little tea rooms and its fine pub The Montagu Arms. A picnic on the village green is invariably shared by the resident donkeys.
- The magnificent Beaulieu Estate incorporates Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and the world famous National Motor Museum, which is what most visitors to the village probably come to see. The Collection features some 250 vehicles which includes cars from racing and motorsport, as well as early examples of motoring from the 1890s to legendary land-speed record holders such as Bluebird and Golden Arrow. The present Lord Montagu of Beaulieu is a well known motoring personality who founded the Museum, internationally recognised as one of the finest in the world.
- Pony Sales on the first Thursday of September, October, November, and December take place in the morning at Beaulieu Road Station, Beaulieu Road, between Lyndhurst and Beaulieu.
- Other notable attractions nearby include the maritime museum at Bucklers Hard as well as stunning Exbury Gardens.
History of Beaulieu
Beaulieu acquires its name from the Latin word “Bellus Locus” which aptly means beautiful place. The estate has been in the Montague’s family since 1538 and has been a Motor Museum since 1952. If you take a close look as you wander through the village you will no doubt observe that some of the cottage doors are painted red whilst others are not. What this means is that the red doored cottages signify that they still belong to the Montague Estate.
Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204 by Cistercian monks on land given to them by King John. Although much was destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries when Henry VIII reigned, there is still much for the visitor to see today. Palace House was formerly the 14th century Great Gatehouse of the Abbey, it is set in stunning grounds and gardens with immaculate spreading lawns and walkways overlooking the beautiful river.
The abbey thrived until 1538 when, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII ordered the destruction of the religious buildings to the extent restoration wasn`t deemed possible. Some buildings were allowed to remain however, only if they could be put to secular use.
Beaulieu passed into the ownership of the present Lord Montagu’s ancestor Sir Thomas Wriothesley and has been the ancestral home of the Montagu Family ever since and remains so to this day.
The 8,000 acre estate has been in the ownership of the Montagu Family for nearly 500 years.
A holiday in the New Forest would not be complete without a visit to Beaulieu.