A short visitor's guide to Fordingbridge, Hampshire: things to do, places to eat and drink, and what's on through the year.
Fordingbridge is a small market town on the River Avon at the northern edge of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, known as the "Northern Gateway" to the forest. The town takes its name from the Great Bridge, a seven-arched medieval crossing over the Avon that remains a focal point today, alongside the large riverside park and recreation ground on its banks. A bronze statue of the painter Augustus John, who lived in the town, stands on the riverbank near the bridge.
The town has a well-used High Street with pubs, cafes and independent shops, and an independent cinema housed in a former pottery. For those exploring further, Godshill is two and a half miles into the forest, and the Elizabethan Breamore House is three miles to the north.
Fordingbridge's main attractions are compact and mostly within a short walk of each other.
The Fordingbridge Recreation Ground Playpark is the most visited spot in the town, a large riverside park with a children's play area, memorial gardens and sports fields. It sits alongside the Great Bridge and the River Avon, and is well suited to a relaxed afternoon. St Mary's Church on Church Street is a Norman church with some distinctive medieval features, including a memorial to James Alexander Seton, said to be the last person killed in a duel in England. For something more active, The Crypt, New Forest Escape Room on the High Street is a 60-minute group escape room adventure rated 4.9 from over 60 visits.
The Fordingbridge Memorial Garden within the recreation ground is a quiet, well-tended memorial space alongside the River Avon, good for a reflective walk or a rest. The riverside park as a whole is the best outdoor space in the town, with the Great Bridge, open playing fields and the river walk all immediately accessible. The New Forest's open heathland begins on the edge of the town, with forest tracks connecting into the national park.
The Regal Cinema, Fordingbridge on Shaftesbury Street is a notable local asset: a beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco building operated as a not-for-profit community cinema by the Fordingbridge Regal Cinema Club, with a 30-seat auditorium, 4K projection, Dolby Atmos sound and a bar area. It shows a mix of classic, modern and family films, and is available for private hire. The Fordingbridge Museum Trust in King's Yard on Salisbury Street holds local and New Forest history exhibits and is a useful introduction to the area.
Fordingbridge has a compact but well-regarded pub offer, with the best options clustered around the High Street and Bridge Street.
The George on Bridge Street is the town's most popular pub by volume, with over 1,100 reviews: a whitewashed gastropub overlooking the Great Bridge, with a locally sourced British menu that changes regularly. The Crown Inn on the High Street is the straightforward local option. On the edge of town, Forde Inn on Whitsbury Road is a well-rated bar, and in the same premises The Moody Cow serves artisan gelato alongside drinks. For something more refined, Juniper and Vine at number 57 High Street is a wine bar and deli specialising in cheese, charcuterie and curated wine.
Fordingbridge's restaurant scene covers French and British fine dining, Indian, Chinese and a standout sandwich shop, all within a small town footprint.
The Three Lions on Stuckton Road is the prestige option: a country house restaurant with a French and British fine dining menu, gardens and rooms, consistently well reviewed. The Railway Hotel on Station Road is a family-friendly restaurant and hotel option. For everyday eating, The Kebab House on Provost Street is highly rated for freshly prepared kebabs, wraps, pizzas and fish and chips. New Wongs Garden on Salisbury Road is a well-regarded Chinese takeaway, and J&D's Sandwich Shop on Bridge Street is a near-perfect-rated local institution.
Fordingbridge has a good spread of cafes along the High Street and by the river, including two dog-friendly options.
Bridges at number 26 High Street is the most popular cafe in town with nearly 300 reviews, serving coffees, teas, breakfast, lunch, cakes and milkshakes, and explicitly welcoming dogs. The Riverside Tea Garden at 16 Salisbury Street is another dog-friendly option, a relaxed waterside cafe in a garden setting. Belindas Bakery is a well-rated bakery on the High Street, and Fordingbridge Tea Room at Roman Quay is a quaint tearoom with scones and sandwiches.