Beaulieu

Beaulieu is located in the south-east corner of the New Forest National Park, at the head of the tidal reaches of the Beaulieu River.

The name Beaulieu comes from the French for ‘beautiful place’. The village has only 850 residents and is a popular visitor spot thanks to its unspoilt charm. Its high street of red brick buildings accommodating shops, homes and businesses has changed little over the years.

History

Beaulieu is steeped in history and there is much to see. The Cistercian monks founded Beaulieu Abbey in 1204 on land given to them by King John, who is said to have wanted to make reparation for his oppression of the Cistercian community following a nightmare. The Abbey, one of the largest Cistercian churches in England, was destroyed in 1538 when King Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Beaulieu Parish Church was originally the monks’ eating place: unusually, because it was not built as a church, its altar is at the south end.

Palace House was formerly the 14th century gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey. The 7,000-acre Beaulieu Estate that covers most of the parish came into the Montagu family’s ownership in 1538. The house was extended in the 1870s and is now a mixture of Victorian gothic, medieval gothic and 18th century fortification styles.

Things to see and do

Beaulieu village is a pleasant place to wander round the high street shops and visit local pubs and tearooms.

The Beaulieu visitor attraction is one of the most popular family days out in the south of England: a ticket gains admission to the National Motor Museum, Palace House and the Abbey.

A couple of miles south of Beaulieu village is the 18th century maritime village of Buckler's Hard, on the western bank of the Beaulieu River. Here you can visit the Maritime Museum and Buckler’s Hard Story to discover the history of the village, take a boat trip on the river or walk beside the riverbank to see the wildlife. The marina at Buckler's Hard is one of the most picturesque on the south coast.