Beaulieu

Beaulieu (pronounced "byoo-lee", rather than the French way) is a handsome village in the New Forest that is very popular with visitors.



Understand
Beaulieu means "beautiful place" in French, and from 1204 was home to a Cistercian abbey. The village has been owned by the Montagu family since the dissolution of Beaulieu Abbey, and they have followed a policy of developing the tourist potential of the village, resulting in a mixture of attractions from the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey. The village itself is very attractive, clustering around the mill pond and the tidal headwaters of the Beaulieu River. Keep an eye open for the ponies and donkeys which can often be found congregating in the village's main street.

Get in
Beaulieu is in the south of England, in the New Forest between Bournemouth and Southampton, with easy access from London and the Home Counties.

By car
M27 exit junction 2, follow the brown and white tourist signs towards Beaulieu.

Sat nav postcode is SO42 7ZN, however please follow brown signage when in vicinity.

For up-to-date travel information, you can visit Traveline.

By bicycle
Cyclists who arrive at Beaulieu by pedal power get 20% off standard admission.

By public transport
There are limited bus services to Beaulieu. Morebus route 112 links the area to Lymington, but services are not timed conveniently for people visiting the attractions. In high summer season, it is possible to use the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses of the New Forest Tour Green Route, which operates on a circular route linking the attractions with Lymington, Brockenhurst, and Beaulieu Road railway station.

Monorail
There is a one-mile long monorail loop within the Beaulieu site, linking the car park, motor museum and palace gardens. The fare is included in the site entrance charge.

Pushchairs and wheelchairs
Pathways suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs join all the sites within the Beaulieu attraction, however, some of the garden and riverside paths are constructed of hoggin and/or gravel. Rallies and events held in the Beaulieu Parkland are staged on grass, generally accessible from gravel or hoggin roadways. There are free wheelchairs and electric scooters. It is advisable to book these in advance by calling +44 1590 614646.

The National Motor Museum has three floor levels with access available to all through ramps and lifts.

The lower level of Palace House is accessible to wheelchair users, but not pushchairs, but there is no lift to the upper floor. There is however a visual guide to the upstairs rooms and staff will be happy to show you this on your visit.

Visitors with dogs
Dogs are welcomed at Beaulieu and are permitted within the grounds, but must be on a lead. Owners are also asked to ensure that no mess is left within the grounds where it will be offensive to others. Scoops for disposal of mess are available free of charge - available from Visitor Reception.

Dogs are not allowed inside the National Motor Museum, Palace House, Abbey, Brabazon Restaurant, or on any of the rides. There is a special area available beneath the Motor Museum entrance where your dog may be left whilst you visit the Motor Museum.

The RSPCA advise against leaving dogs and other animals in cars. However, if you consider that weather conditions permit you to do so, please ensure that there is adequate ventilation at all times, while still maintaining your vehicle's security. Pass-outs are available from Visitor Reception allowing you to check, at any time during your visit, that your dog is not in any distress.