Outdoor Space

One of the Treasure Houses of England, Beaulieu literally means ‘Beautiful Place’. It is a magnificent destination with a spectacular motor museum for exploring. Home to the Montagu family since 1538 Palace House, Beaulieu Abbey and the Gardens make for a grand day out.

Firstly the National Motor Museum; there are over 250 vehicles to see including World Land Speed Record Breakers Campbell’s famous Bluebird and film favourites such as the magical flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The museum is an award-winning attraction and has plenty of events and exhibitions on throughout the year.

Take a tour around Palace House and experience the Victorian splendour as costumed guides give you a flavour of life `below stairs`. Perfect for Downton Abbey lovers, Palace House was formerly a 13^th century Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey. It has a fabulously gothic style and has been kept in keeping with its later Victorian additions, despite being bought in 1538 by Sir Thomas Wriothesley after the dissolution of the monasteries.  Get nosy and discover plenty of Montagu family treasures, portraits, photographs and memorabilia as this is still a family home.

A visit to Beaulieu must include a potter through the gardens to explore the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey, which houses an exhibition on the monks that once lived and worked here. There’s plenty to learn about the lifestyle of the Cistercian monks who founded it in 1204 on land given to them by King John. Take a stroll through the cloisters and herb garden in which the monks grew a number of aromatic plants for both cooking and medicinal purposes. Much of the Abbey was destroyed during the reign of Henry VIII, discover the history of the buildings of the Abbey, originally called Bellus Locus Regis  - the beautiful place of the King.

Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, SO42 7ZN | 01590 612345 | beaulieu.co.uk

Locate yourself in the luxurious surroundings of a boutique cottage in Hampshire.