Your essential guide to living like-a-local in Lymington...
Lymington's boat-bobbing market town borders the National Park and hugs The Solent - making it the perfect mix of coast & country.
Stock up at the Saturday market, wander the Sea Wall, or people watch from the Quay- the world is your oyster. Lymington is often ranked in The Times ‘Top 10 places to live in the UK’... Obviously we are totally biased and agree... it is marvellous!
We love Lymington’s Georgian architecture as the colourful town houses stand proud amongst the High Street & surrounding areas. Lined with cafés & restaurants galore, you’ll also find a great selection of independent boutiques & shops to explore. Lymington also boasts two marinas, and a picturesque Quay – which is perfect for watching the world sail by with a coffee or cold drink in-hand!
The Saturday market sees Lymington’s High Street really come to life as the stalls reveal fresh produce, antique wares & local treasures. Established in 1250, this is the perfect spot to fill your basket & stock up. We also love the smuggling tales of Lymington, with reported tunnels connecting the Quay to old ‘inns’ in days gone by.
Today, you’ll find a lovely mix of hustle & bustle here, with plenty of ways to spend your day…
There are a fab array of shops in Lymington! Some of our favourites include:
– Elliots – a much-loved, independent store that is 150 years old.
– Modern designer boutiques like the Frock Shop & Stanwells (as featured in Vogue).
Follow the High Street all the way down ‘the cobbles’ down to the Quay for yet more indie shops … there are also plenty of cafés along the way to replenish you as you shop!
Being a coastal town means Lymington promises a bounty of seafood treats, and there’s always a catch of the day to be found. Lobster, crab and other local fish are all excellent from the Solent Waters, so look out on the menus (you can also spot the fishing boats from the Quay as they return with their finds).
Hoxton Bakehouse – Artisanal bread and exceptional coffee in a stylish, minimalist setting. The cinnamon buns and ham & cheese croissants are a must try.
Coffee & Drift – A bright café by the Quay serving feel-good brunch and artisan coffee.
Huddle – Known for its paninis, milkshakes, and great portion sizes.
The Larder – Deli-style café serving fresh, local produce with a modern touch. They have a sunlit patio, welcoming vibe, and excellent coffee.
Mabel’s Café @ Shallowmead Nurseries – Garden centre café with a peaceful, countryside charm. It’s a beautiful setting, dog‑friendly, and an ideal brunch escape.
The Ship Inn – Waterside pub with hearty food—perfect for relaxed meals by the marina.
The Fisherman’s Rest – Cosy country pub—great for roasts and a quiet pint with family.
The Ferryman– Chilled riverside spot—ideal for lunch after a walk, with dog-friendly vibes.
The Elderflower- Elegant fine dining—go here for creative dishes and a special night out.
There are plenty more fish in the sea when it comes to places to eat, drink & be merry though so please just ask us for our recommendations (we’re all local so can definitely help!).
If you are wanting to cook something lovely back home, we love the butchers in The Angel Courtyard, Hoxton’s for its sourdough and Cook if you want something quick! For everything else you’ll find a Tesco express, a Waitrose and an M&S foodhall.
There’s plenty of family fun to be had in the Lymington area!
– Woodside Park, our top, where you’ll find fairy doors, tennis courts, a great playpark, a skatepark, and 20 acres of land to explore
– The park & boules area (tucked just behind the Church of St Thomas the Apostle).
– The waterside play park along Bath Road & its bandstand.
– The Grove Gardens, conveniently situated just behind the shops, where dogs & little ones can stretch their legs.
Lymington’s Sea Wall will take you from Lymington to Keyhaven whilst boasting the most beautiful Solent views along the way. From this rural path you’ll be in prime position to watch the sun rise & fall, the sun seekers out at play, and the many birds and wildlife that call this stretch home.
You can choose from a few places to start (and where to hop off), but we can’t think of a nicer stretch to walk or bike than this. You’ll spot lots of locals here as a fave place to run, birdwatch & walk.
The unspoilt landscape is never the same and you may even meet ponies and cattle grazing on the marshes. We love how secret pockets of beaches reveal themselves as the tide ebbs & flows so little ones will love discovering shells and sea treasure along the way. With Hurst Castle as your landmark, do factor in the possibility of exploring the spit (you can also take a ferry from/ to Keyhaven), as well as treating yourself to lunch or an ice cream in Milford for afters, or at The Haven on your way home.
No self-respecting tween or teenager can possibly pass up the opportunity of Lymington’s Sea Water Baths. There’s a 150m floating obstacle course, offering hours of splish-splash fun for both children and daring adults. If you don’t fancy the inflatable course, there is plenty else to do here. The Lido offers water zorbs, stand up paddle boards, kayaks and aqua jousting along with a confectionery kiosk/cafe. The pool opening times vary each year weather depending, but tend to be July to September. Read our blog – New Forest Water Parks here.
Just off the High Street, you’ll find St Barbe’s museum, with a mix of local history displays, art, and creative activities plus a fab café and gift shop.
Where better to learn to sail than the town of Lymington? A famous yachting town with an international reputation for sailing; with Ben Ainslie as a previous resident, what better sailing pedigree could you ask for?
In Lymington you will find two Marinas, Berthon and Haven – along with two sailing clubs RLYC and Lymington Town. Boaty folk (and aspiring boaty folk) can look into chartering sailing boats/ RIBs, but renting a kayak/paddleboard is a great option for exploring Lymington River.
New Forest Adventure Golf– This 18 hole course is centred on New Forest landmarks, and great fun for all the family.
On a rainy day, Lymington Community Centre’s Malt cinema provides a sweet & old fashioned way to watch a showing (Truffles sweet shop on the high street is a fave if you’re bringing treats!)
Bordering lots of luscious National Park countryside, you can head out on your bikes (hop on the train to Brockenhurst) and go off-road exploring. You’ve also got nearby villages such as Sway and Beaulieu there for the taking if you are looking for a good old forest stomp. For those seeking a beachy adventure, Milford on Sea is just a 6 mile jaunt up the road where you can pitch up for the day, wild swim, or walk the cliffs to further afield.
The “Historic Roman Seawater Baths” in Lymington are not quite Roman. Built in 1833, the attraction is, however, the oldest lido in the UK. It’s also one of the largest, capable of holding up to 1.7 million gallons of water.
Fired-up by the fabulously successful 2012 Olympic Games, the people of Lymington waiting patiently for Royal Mail to paint one of the local letterboxes gold in recognition of Ben Ainslie’s fifth Gold Medal. As many other boxes countrywide turned gold, Royal Mail painted a tiny one in Cornwall instead (where Ben grew up). Local licensee, Rob Smith, took it upon himself to paint the High Street letterbox and got himself arrested. A furore ensued, Royal Mail capitulated… and painted it gold without making the same mess as Rob…
If the number of smuggling yarns circulating about a town is any reflection of the importance of the place in free trade, then Lymington would have been the trading centre for the whole of Hampshire! The tales of tunnels leading from the Town Quay up to the Angel Inn have been many and varied. Whether their basis in fact is sound, or the tunnels are simply an elaborate Victorian drainage system, remains to be seen – but it’s much more fun to perpetuate the legend!
Lymington is conveniently located just over a couple of hours away from London, with fab train links taking you from Waterloo to Brockenhurst which is just a quick stop away from Lymington.
Situated just at the bottom of the High Street, you’ll also be approx 30 mins from Southampton (we love the Mayflower Theatre here), and a similar distance to Bournemouth (The BIC runs a great array of events). Lymington’s great connections through Brockenhurst mean it’s easy to plan a car free stay in the New Forest.
If you are driving down, there are plenty of eco-friendly travel options in the New Forest whilst you’re here if you wanted to ditch the car.
The Isle of Wight makes for a fantastic day trip, and the Wighlink Ferry from Lymington Pier takes you straight into Yarmouth. Only taking approx 30 mins, you’ll get to see the sea teaming with action on your way over, and visit attractions like Blackgang Chine. Bring your bike or wander up the old railway line via the Red Lion pub. You can also hire a boat to take you from Lymington to the Island with a trip around The Needles as a must see.
