Discover Beaulieu: Culture, Motoring and River Experiences

Beaulieu combines English history, motoring culture and experiences on the water. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Beaulieu can explore the area as a base for a wide variety of days out: historical exhibitions, interactive motoring stories, walks through parkland and guided tours on the Beaulieu River are among the defining themes.

History around Palace House and the Abbey

Palace House was once the gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey. Since 1538, it has been the home of the Montagu family. This brings together the history of a medieval abbey and the long-standing use of a house by the same family in one place. The Abbey Exhibition tells the story of the English Beaulieu Abbey from the 13th century, as well as the monks who lived and worked there.

Beaulieu also brings more recent history to life. The “Secret Army Exhibition” explores Beaulieu as a top-secret training facility for specialist agents of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. More than 3,000 SOE agents were trained in Beaulieu, Hampshire, in the south of England, before undertaking daring and dangerous missions behind enemy lines. For travellers who want to explore the historical context in greater depth, this exhibition offers a distinctly different perspective from the history of the Abbey.

Motoring, design and discoveries for different interests

The “The Motorcycle Story” exhibition presents motorcycles in their historical and cultural context. It combines technological developments with changing trends in fashion, style and sport. Another way to explore motoring history is “We Had One Of Those”, a permanent interactive exhibition featuring some of the most popular cars from the 1960s through the 2000s and beyond. Little Beaulieu also includes a wooden replica of Palace House as part of the visitor experience.

A combined ticket provides access to the National Motor Museum, “We Had One Of Those”, Palace House & Gardens, Little Beaulieu, Beaulieu Abbey and the Secret Army Exhibition. Unlimited rides on the monorail are also included. The Beaulieu Monorail follows a one-mile circular route through the attraction. A network of footpaths also runs through the parkland and gardens. This makes it possible to shape the visit around exhibitions, historical themes and time spent outdoors.

Water experiences on the Beaulieu River

Those who want to focus on more active pursuits during their holiday will find several different formats. “Family Kayaking” includes a guided tour on the Beaulieu River. “Canoe Explorer” is a guided canoe trip through the Beaulieu River Nature Reserve, while “Kayak Hire” offers a self-guided kayaking tour on the Beaulieu River. Choosing between a guided tour and a self-guided trip can determine the desired pace when planning the day, without requiring culture and nature to be split across separate trips.

Getting there and comparing other destinations

For travelling to Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire, visitor information is available for arriving by car, bicycle, bus or ferry. This is helpful if, before searching for a holiday apartment, you first want to clarify which way of travelling suits your holiday plans. To compare other destinations, you can also view Abbotts Ann, Micheldever, Thruxton, Havant, Plaitford, Kingsclere, Basingstoke and Yateley.

Beaulieu is particularly well suited to travel plans that seek to combine historical stories, vehicles, gardens and water activities. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether your main focus is on the cultural visit, time by the river or a balanced mix of these experiences.

For the overarching travel overview: Hampshire.