Beaulieu home to the Montagu family since the 1530s and home to the National Motor Museum

The village of Beaulieu, situated at the head of the Beaulieu river has been in existence since the Cistercian monks founded their abbey on land given to them over 800 years ago in 1204 by King John who had a hunting lodge there.

When King Henry V111 dissolved the monasteries in 1530 the village passed into private ownership and has been in the same family since that time.

The present owner being Lord Montagu.

It was he, who being a great motor car fan founded the National Motor Museum that now houses more than 250 vehicles and often plays host to cars or other means of road transport that are the favourites of the day.The James Bond Aston Martins being one such example.

It is certainly worth visiting and a whole day can easily be spent in the museum and the grounds exploring the gardens and Abbey and being transported on the overhead monorail.

In the actual village there are a number of interesting shops ranging from Chocolate to gifts to art and craft as well as a garden centre.

Down river you will find the old 18th century ship building village of Bucklers Hard that was the birthing place of many of ships of Admiral Lord Nelson battle/warships fleet.

Although the shipyards are long gone there remains a maritime museum and the new SS Persia exhibition and also the historic cottages display their history.

It is also a pleasant place to stroll along the river bank or to take a boat cruise along the river and if you continue down stream you will pass Exbury Gardens on your journey to the Solent, that strip of Sea that separates mainland England from the Isle of Wight another jewel of the south.

Return to New Forest Villages

Return to Top of Beaulieu page