Lymington is a bustling coastal town, with plenty to see and do, both on the waterfront and in the characterful town centre. Below are 7 things you can do in the area – in no particular order!
👉 Take your time in and around Lymington by extending your stay at one of these highly-rated stays!
1. Stroll the old cobbled streets and enjoy the independent shops
The town is packed with a wide-range of shops, from popular stores to independent and local retailers, boutiques and antique stores.
On Saturdays, the Lymington Market on the high street is lined with stalls, selling fresh local produce abd arts and crafts, alongside a variety of items.
These shots on a relaxing weekend stroll and we always love the colourful shop fronts of independent shops, ice cream spots, and baked goods.
2. Crabbing on the quayside
Lymington is one of Hampshire’s top crabbing spots’. So, if you’re planning on coming to the area, bring your own supplies, or get yourself some from one of the local Lymington shops, and spend some fun (and free!) with your little ones.
Pro tip: crabbing is best during the warm summer months, as the water temperature is higher.
3. Pick your own soft fruits at Goodall’s Strawberry Farm
Goodall’s farm is just outside of Lymington and is great destination for summer time PYO.
There are less than ten spots in the UK where you can do cherry picking and we are lucky to have one here in our lovely county. Head there when the picking season opens; the season doesn’t last long so be quick!
The kids love this place. At the time of our visit, there was a large hangar to explore housing the cherries, which felt like a jungle adventure. The redder the cherries, the riper they are and we were lucky to see loads of red ones! The farm also had strawberries for picking which we had to get stuck into! 
Open every day 9am to 5pm and 10 to 5 Sundays.
Goodalls PYO, South Baddesley, Road, Lymington SO41 5SD
4. Beat your personal best at the mini golf
We were invited to New Forest Adventure Golf, a great spot for some family fun. There is a beautifully laid out, 18-hole mini golf course, for some putting in the sunshine.
The course is landscaped with a high level of detail and although built with children in mind, it also challenges any short-game competitor. For younger kids, they should have plenty of patience as the holes are a bit longer than your normal crazy golf, for example.
Expertly crafted to mirror the New Forest, the 18 holes lead us from The Isle of Wight across the Solent to Lymington by moving ferry. The two rivers flowing through the site are Lymington River and Beaulieu River with towns and villages authentically represented, including Bolton’s Bench in Lyndhurst, the ancient mariner port of Bucklers Hard and Exbury Gardens to name just a few.
The course is built on Goodall’s farmland and we combined out golf and fruit picking, a great combination!
Open 10am to 6pm
They have lots of free parking
SO41 5SD
👉 Lymington is great for a short break – don’t miss out on these highly-rated accommodation options.
5. Walk the Lymington Marshes
There is a brilliant circular walk with plenty on route for the kids to keep them entertained and fit! Walk along the Quayside for river views followed by the coastal marshes of the Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve. We took a leisurely pace, with plenty of stops, and it took us around 3 hours.
After the walk we grabbed coffee and pastries from the Saturday market and one of the many pasty shops on the high street to sat in the sunshine on the quayside. We also enjoyed a‘baby cone’ from our fave ice cream takeaway spot at the bottom of the cobbled st towards the quayside, Out of the Blue.
Start/finish: Lymington Town Railway Station, SO41 9AU, or one of the many car parks around the centre Distance: Around 4 miles or 6-7km Local facilities: Public toilets in Lymington, near St Barbe Museum. Train and bus transport to start of walk Accessibility: Easy walk along level ground More info available here – https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/…/lymington-marshes/
6. Get out on the water with pirates or some kayaking!
Plenty of options for getting out on the water…
First up, renting some kayaks from Yachtmail Chandlery which is opposite the quayside.
Head inside to the counter and you can rent either a single or double. Quick waiver form, briefing, they have a changing room and bag storage and then out on the river via the slipway. We headed out on the Lymington River to see a totally different perspective of the waterway.
We did an hour out on the water following the river out just past the sea water swimming bath area, it’s a pretty busy waterway with the yachts and huge wightlink ferry heading in and out so certainly a paddle where you have to keep your wits about. But all good fun!
single kayak £15 an hour and £20 for a double
Yachtmail Chandlery, admirals court, Quay Rd, Lymington SO41 3ET
Another more quirky way to get on the water…an interactive pirate ship experience for the family
This is a brilliant summer experience with the kids, last summer we headed out on the high seas onboard the ‘Black Puffin’ and a true pirate experience! You can buy tickets from the ticket pod right on Lymington quayside and you are welcome onboard by the pirate captain. It’s a 30 minute cruise and absolutely perfect for youngsters, there was so many fun aspects to the trip packed into just 30 minutes from choosing your pirate name, getting to steer the ship, dressing up as pirates, blasting cannons at passing vessels, finding treasure and more! So many surprises! 
It’s a family run business by husband and wife duo and Kylie invited us down after saying they loved our adventures and was keen to invite us on theirs!
They have run the business for five years now having taken over from the previous chap who owned it for 30 years. They have continued the success and really brought out the character of the trips and area.
They are open 7 months of the year and offer two types of cruises but in this post we will focus on their pirate trip.
They depart every day apart from Friday in August and in school term times they run during school holidays and weekends and bank holidays.
Prices change each year so check their board or website for more details.
Dogs – Free
All tickets are purchased at the kiosk on the quay
More info here – https://www.puffincruiseslymington.com/
They also run another more leisurely and calm 30 minute cruise on their other boat ‘Puffin Billi’ and we will bring you more on that in another post soon.
Head down this summer and get out on the waters of Lymington!
7. Lymington Sea Water Swimming Baths
The Lymington Sea Water Swimming Baths are not only a historic spot for a refreshing swim but also a hub for fun and excitement, especially with their seasonal inflatable water parks. 💦
During the summer months, large blow-up inflatables are set up in the seawater pools, turning this tranquil spot into an action-packed adventure zone. From giant slides to obstacle courses, the inflatables provide hours of entertainment for both kids and adults, making it a perfect family-friendly destination. With the natural seawater of the Solent and the thrill of the inflatables, Lymington’s Sea Water Baths offer a unique and lively way to enjoy the outdoors and cool off on a warm day.
📍 Bath Road, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3SE, UK
If you’re looking for accommodation options, here are a few:
The Bothy, Lymington ; Harford en-suite rooms, Lymington ; Sail Away, Lymington.
