If you are here in the New Forest on holiday, on a day trip with your family or are local to the forest, there are lots of excellent family friendly places to eat and drink. So, if you are after a quick ice cream stop, a café or tea room for some lunch or afternoon tea or perhaps somewhere to pitch up for an evening meal take a look at some of our food and drink opportunities that all the family can enjoy.
Look out for facilities such as outdoor play areas, cycle racks where you can put your bikes whilst you make a pit stop, children’s menus and much more.
Pubs and inns where children are more than welcome
You will find several of our pubs in the New Forest are particularly family friendly and will offer things such as children’s menus, play areas or just a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
The Waterloo Arms is a family friendly pub in Lyndhurst, here they offer a fantastic kids menu and they also have a large garden, where they can let off some steam, plus colouring, activity books and colouring pens on offer too! Or take a trip to The Bold Forester, where you can find a wonderful kids menu and outdoor space for games.
Family friendly cafés and tea rooms
Where better to sample some freshly made cakes, or even perhaps a locally-made ice cream… everything the kids love? There’s a wide range of cafes and tea rooms in the New Forest that will welcome the whole family to grab a quick snack or lunch stop.
Local produce is top of the menu at Steff’s Kitchen, Beaulieu, with many of the vegetables grown in the café’s kitchen garden. Look out for the ‘Little Rascals Menu’ aimed at children aged 12 and under.
The Farmyard Cafe at Hockey's Farm is a beautifully situated cafe that welcomes children. With great options on food and drink for the kids, and loads of other things to do and see whilst you're there, these are both perfect locations for a bite to eat.
Why not hire a bike from Burley and cycle along the disused railway track to The Old Station Tearooms? This converted railway station has old railway memorabilia to view and an extensive menu for little ones.
Family friendly restaurants
High quality restaurants don’t have to be intimidating places for families, and loads of our restaurants in the New Forest welcome kids! New Park Manor Hotel is one of the most family friendly locations in the New Forest, with a brilliant, easy to read menu so the kids can choose what they’d like for themselves, or book on for the ultimate experience with their Matilda afternoon tea.
Hartnett Holder & Co at Lime Wood for example offers a relaxed, yet stylish environment where children are very much welcomed. Beresfords Restaurant at the Balmer Lawn Hotel is another example of a hotel restaurant that is particularly welcoming to families.
You will find many of our hotel restaurants are family friendly. To find out more take a look at the listings below or use the search box on this page.
Family friendly days out
Many of our attractions in the New Forest also have family-friendly places to eat and drink as well including cafes at National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Peppa Pig World at Paulton’s Park and the New Forest Wildlife Park where hot and cold choices are available. So explore as much as you like before making a pit-stop at one of the onsite cafes or restaurants for a quick snack or a lunch. You will also find plenty of places serving up the locally made New Forest ice cream!
Save yourself money on family meals out
Purchase a Go New Forest Card for just £10 and enjoy nearly 400 money-saving offers on food and drink as well as discounts off attractions, activities, places to stay and places to shop. It’s well worth picking up a card if you are travelling with a family, you will soon recoup the £10 back.
