As well as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there’s also a number of New Forest visitor attractions. The village of Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum as well as the scenic Beaulieu Abbey and Beaulieu Palace House. On the banks of the Beaulieu River in the heart of the New Forest is the Buckler’s Hard maritime and history museum, which is also home to recreated interiors of period buildings. To learn more about the history and conservation efforts of the New Forest, visit the New Forest Centre Museum.

The gateway city of Portsmouth is packed with maritime museums showcasing the best of the country’s nautical history. The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to the Mary Rose Museum and the famous ships HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Also based at the Dockyard is the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the only museum devoted to the men and women who served in the Royal Navy. Also nearby is the Royal Marines Museum and the Portsmouth City Museum, which is focused on the varied history of this seaside city.

The bustling city of Southampton is packed with heritage and visitor attractions which are great for a day out with the kids. One of the most well known Southampton museums is the SeaCity Museum, a maritime museum with a focus on Southampton’s rich history as a port city. Make sure you check out the Titanic Story at this museum, an exhibit which brings this famous tragedy to life. If you’re an aviation enthusiast, a visit to the Solent Sky Museum is perfect. The birthplace of The Spitfire, this museum tells the history of civil and military aviation and is great for a spot of planespotting!