Beaulieu combines abbey history, vehicle culture and activities on the Beaulieu River. This makes it a helpful base if you are looking for somewhere to stay overnight that offers more than one historical perspective: Palace House, an exhibition about SOE training during the Second World War, and a range of vehicle themes are part of the offering, alongside guided and self-guided tours on the water. When planning, consider which aspect of your stay is your priority; the offerings differ in period and type of activity.
Palace House, Abbey History and the SOE
Palace House was once the gatehouse of the medieval Beaulieu Abbey and has been the home of the Montagu family since 1538. The Abbey Exhibition tells the story of the English Beaulieu Abbey of the 13th century, as well as that of the monks who lived and worked there. This lets you consider the history of the house and monastic life as two connected but distinct perspectives.
Another historical focus takes you to the Second World War: more than 3,000 SOE agents were trained in Beaulieu, Hampshire, in southern England, before undertaking daring and dangerous missions behind enemy lines. The Secret Army Exhibition explores Beaulieu as a top-secret wartime training facility for special agents of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Alongside the older abbey history, this offers a distinct way to explore the history of the war.
Motorcycles, Cars and Palace House in Miniature
“The Motorcycle Story” presents motorcycles in their historical and cultural context. The exhibition connects technological developments with changing trends in fashion, style and sport. The permanent interactive exhibition “We Had One Of Those” showcases some of the most popular cars from the 1960s through the 2000s and beyond. The contrast is clear: cultural connections are also central to the motorcycle exhibition, while the car exhibition is interactive and covers a broad period.
Little Beaulieu includes a wooden replica of Palace House. This lets you encounter the house as a scaled-down building as well—a different perspective from the historical context of the original building.
Combined Ticket, Monorail and Paths
A combined ticket grants access to the National Motor Museum, “We Had One Of Those”, Palace House & Gardens, Little Beaulieu, Beaulieu Abbey and the Secret Army Exhibition, as well as unlimited rides on the monorail. Ticket terms may change; check them before your visit. The Beaulieu Monorail follows a one-mile loop through the attraction. A network of footpaths also runs through the grounds and gardens. This means you can distinguish between the stated length of the monorail loop and the paths through the gardens when finding your way around.
Guided and Self-Guided River Tours
The water-based activities differ in whether they are guided and in their routes. Family Kayaking includes a guided tour on the Beaulieu River. Canoe Explorer is a guided canoe trip through the Beaulieu River Nature Reserve. With Kayak Hire, the kayak trip on the Beaulieu River is self-guided. When choosing between the activities, you can first distinguish guided tours from self-guided paddling. Canoe Explorer also specifically includes the nature reserve as part of the trip; the other two activities take place on the river.
Getting to Beaulieu
Visitor information is available for travelling to Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire, by car, bicycle, bus and ferry. Use the information for the mode of transport you are considering for your journey. This gives you a practical starting point for planning your trip, while you can choose the focus of your stay independently.
Discover more destinations: Penton Mewsey, Fordingbridge, Emsworth, Cadnam, Exton, Andover, Litchfield, Whitehill.
For the wider travel guide: Hampshire.
