Lymington Charter Market
Lymington’s Charter Market takes place every Saturday from 8am to 4pm along the High Street. With around 100 stalls, you’ll find edible treats, plants, local produce, household goods and crafts.
Discover Lymington and Pennington
Our Bench offers family and wheelchair-accessible self-catering holiday accommodation in Lymington. We’d love to welcome you for a week’s holiday or an out-of-season break. Here are some of our favourite places and activity ideas in the Lymington area. You’ll also find more inspiration across the New Forest National Park on our accessible day trips page.
“This is the 3rd time we've visited Lymington and Our Bench and haven't yet been disappointed.”
Things to see and do in Lymington
Lymington Quay and Quay Hill
At the bottom of Lymington High Street you’ll find cobbled Quay Hill leading down to Lymington Quay. While access to some shops is limited due to historic buildings, it’s worth the visit. For step-free access, follow the road round to the right.
Lymington is a premier yachting centre with deep-water moorings. Enjoy a river cruise, a pirate boat trip, or simply sit on the quay with a coffee, a gin and tonic, or a pint. Children love crabbing here. You can buy buckets and lines in local shops, or borrow them from us.
Lymington Sea Water Baths
Open in the warmer months, this outdoor lido is fun for the whole family. There’s a 200-metre inflatable obstacle course, paddleboards, aqua jousting and a splash pool for younger children. Disabled access and facilities are available. Pre-booking is required.
Lymington to Keyhaven Nature Reserve
This 500-acre reserve stretches between the mouth of the Lymington River and Keyhaven. It’s perfect for walking, cycling or using a mobility scooter. Look out for migrating birds and views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery
Learn about the New Forest coast, maritime heritage and smuggling history. The museum includes interactive exhibits, changing art exhibitions and the Old School Café.
Lymington Community Centre
A hidden gem in the centre of Lymington, home to a varied programme of events and activities, a lovely spacious level access coffee shop - the Malt Cafe - and tranquil wall guarded garden, with its very own changing places - which we discovered in 2026.
Visit the Lymington Community website
The Malt Cinema
This small community cinema shows films and theatre productions, with wheelchair spaces available at all screenings, located in Lymington Community Centre
Lymington Health and Leisure
The leisure centre offers a 25-metre pool, accessible changing facilities (but no hoisting facilities), family fun sessions, a gym and classes. Non-members are welcome.
Lymington to Yarmouth Ferry
The Wightlink ferry runs from Lymington to Yarmouth in around 40 minutes. Advance booking is recommended. Discounts may be available for Blue Badge holders (check when booking).
Other local attractions
- New Forest Adventure Golf 18 themed holes, open year-round. PYO fruit in summer, plus a picnic area and café.
- Lymington Sailability Sailing and powerboat opportunities for people with disabilities.
- Lymington Golf Centre 9- and 18-hole courses, open to visitors year-round (booking recommended).
- New Forest Tour Bus Seasonal open-top bus with commentary. Two routes stop in Lymington. View timetables
- Woodside Gardens - a community garden with a compressed gravel circular walk, rose garden, children's play area, cafe and gallery space.
Crabbing on Lymington Quay
Children and families love spending time crabbing on the quay. Buckets and lines can be bought locally, or borrowed from us.
Adventure golf with a New Forest theme
An 18-hole mini-golf course inspired by the New Forest. Great fun for all ages, with a café and summer PYO fruit nearby.
Lymington Sea Water Baths
Enjoy inflatables, paddleboarding and water-based fun at this historic outdoor pool. Accessible facilities are available.
Eating out in Lymington
Lymington has plenty of pubs, restaurants and cafés to enjoy. Here are some of our favourites.
Pubs and restaurants
- The Lion and Lamb - Traditional village pub about 7 minutes’ walk away. There’s a step at the front door, with ramped access via the rear gate. No wheelchair toilet, but ground floor toilets are available.
- The Townhouse Opposite Waitrose with level access. Great food, quiz nights and live music. No accessible toilet.
- The Old Mill Riverside pub about 2.5 km away. Some split levels, but an accessible toilet is available.
- The Six Bells (Wetherspoons) Step-free access, with app ordering available.
- The Monkey Brewhouse Live music on Sundays. Not all areas are accessible, so it’s worth booking and sharing your needs.
- The Sail Inn At the top of the High Street. Accessible toilet, family friendly, vegan wines. Breakfast at weekends.
- The Ship Inn Harbourside pub on the Quay with cocktails and views.
- The Mayflower Large garden, lovely for summer drinks.
- Walhampton Arms Good parking, carvery, and a monthly quiz night.
Fine dining
- Stanwell House Boutique hotel restaurant.
- The Pig at Brockenhurst Country house dining with local produce.
- The Kitchen at Careys Manor Fine dining in nearby Brockenhurst.
Cafés
- Lounges of Lymington Just off the High Street with courtyard seating. Dog friendly.
- Mabel’s Café At Shallowmead Nursery. Fully accessible, with a garden courtyard.
- Otters Garden Centre Breakfast, lunches and Sunday roasts.
- Bridges of Lymington Family-run at the top of the High Street, with lots of tea choices and good dietary flexibility.
Dining in your holiday cottage
Shopping delivery
Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s all deliver to our cottages. If you book delivery for between 10am and 1pm on your arrival day, we can bring it into the cottage for you.
Home-cooked meals
Local caterers 7th Wave Events can cook family meals, BBQs or even a three-course dinner in your cottage, and they take the washing up away afterwards.
Takeaways
At Foxpond (SO41 8DW) you’ll find Indian, Chinese, Thai and fish and chips. The nearest fish and chip shop is in the village square. Rivaaz on St Thomas’ Street also serves an excellent Indian menu with gluten-free options.
Cook frozen meals
Lymington has a Cook shop selling high-quality frozen meals. You can order online for collection within 2 hours. Please note: the entrance has a step, and cottage freezers are small.
Please note: facilities, accessibility, costs and opening hours can vary, so we recommend checking ahead to make sure they suit your needs.