Beaulieu

Beaulieu is a village in New Forest, Hampshire, that stretches along a main street lined with red brick houses, small shops, and the Montagu Arms Hotel by the Beaulieu River. The place is shaped by the ruins of a medieval abbey set in open countryside surrounded by green fields.

Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204 and shaped the settlement from the start as a religious and economic center. After the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, the site was repurposed and the ruins remained as a landmark of the past.

The National Motor Museum displays vehicles that show how British engineering evolved, drawing visitors interested in transport history. The collection gives a sense of how mobility changed over time.

The place is reachable via the A326 from Southampton or the B3056 from Lyndhurst, with parking near the main attractions. The streets are relatively flat and easy to explore on foot, especially the area around the museum and abbey ruins.

New Forest ponies and donkeys wander freely through the village streets, a feature that sets this place apart from other English villages. These animals are part of the rural tradition and a common sight when walking through the settlement.