It’s easy to reach the New Forest by train, bus and ferry and it’s often quicker and cheaper than arriving by car.
Trains from London take just 90 minutes and start at just £10 each way if you book early.
Bus travel from Southampton, Bournemouth and Salisbury is included free, when you buy your New Forest Tour ticket on board a local bus or show your printed/mobile online ticket to the driver.*
Ferry travel from Southampton to Hythe (on the Green Route) is included free, when you buy your New Forest Tour ticket from Hythe Ferry in Southampton (inside the Red Jet Terminal). Please note that free ferry travel only applies to same-day travel on Hythe Ferry.
By public transport to:
Brockenhurst
- Frequent South Western Railway service from London, Southampton and Bournemouth
- Hourly CrossCountry service to Reading and the Midlands
- Hourly Bluestar 6 bus from Southampton
Lyndhurst
- Hourly Bluestar 6 bus from Southampton
Lymington
- Every 30 minutes South Western Railway service from Brockenhurst
- Hourly Bluestar 6 bus from Southampton
- Every 30 minutes More X1/X2 bus from Bournemouth
- Hourly Wightlink ferry from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Hythe
- Every 30 minutes Hythe Ferry service from Southampton
- Hourly Bluestar 8 bus from Southampton
- Every 20 minutes Bluestar 9 bus from Southampton
New Milton
- Frequent South Western Railway service from London, Southampton and Bournemouth
- Every 30 minutes More X1/X2 bus from Bournemouth
Ashurst
- Frequent South Western Railway service from London, Southampton and Bournemouth
- Hourly Bluestar 6 bus from Southampton
Ringwood
- Every 30 minutes more X3 bus from Salisbury and Bournemouth
Fordingbridge
- Every 30 minutes more X3 bus from Salisbury and Bournemouth
You can plan any rail journey at www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484950
You can plan any bus journey at www.travelinesw.com or call 0871 2002233
By bike
The New Forest is a great place to explore by bike. National Route 2 runs right across the forest, linking Brockenhurst with Bournemouth and Hythe (for ferry to Southampton). National Route 236 links Southampton to Lyndhurst.
You can bring your bike on the train (subject to space) or you can hire bikes at Brockenhurst station from Cyclexperience.
Car
If you’re arriving by car, you can plan your journey here www.transportdirect.info
*Buy your New Forest Tour ticket onboard local Bluestar or more bus from Southampton, Bournemouth, Hythe or Salisbury and get free travel to and from the Tour.