England's Preserved Shipbuilding Village Is A Charming Hidden Escape Inside A National Park With River Cruises

In the early 18th century, the community of Buckler's Hard was established in the south of England. Because it was surrounded by forests of oak — wood that's strong, durable, and water-resistant — the village became a vital hub in England's battles with France, where wooden warships were constructed for the empire's maritime campaigns. Its geographic location was useful, too, positioned on a sheltered bend of the Beaulieu River, meandering towards a strait called the Solent, which feeds sea traffic into the English Channel and towards the west coast of France.

Though time has moved on, it seems to have stood still in Buckler's Hard. The tiny village hosts 18th-century red-brick cottages and the original slipways, broad enough for dozen-gun vessels to slide into the river. You can visit the shipwright's workshop, looking much as it did during the village's shipbuilding heyday, and a recreation of the New Inn alehouse, where locals drank, reveled, and reportedly engaged in illicit activities. There's also a chapel of St. Mary, dating to the late 19th century (though the building itself is older).

Buckler's Hard is hidden within the New Forest National Park, enclosed by groves on one side and the water channel on the other. The name of the national park is actually a bit of a misnomer: some of the oaks are between 400 and 800 years old and less than half of the landscape is covered in trees. The New Forest acquired its current name in the late 11th century, when William the Conqueror decreed the area as "Nova foresta," his personal hunting ground, where all game animals and timber were reserved for royal use under Forest Law. Since 2005, it's been a national park, attracting visitors who explore its villages, stroll through the fertile countryside, or traverse the Beaulieu River on a cruise.

Learn about the maritime history of the village at Buckler's Hard Museum, exploring its connection to the Napoleonic Wars, and, in particular, the naval commander Horatio Nelson, who was victorious at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The "HMS Agamemnon," a surprisingly swift, 64-gun warship, constructed at Buckler's Hard, was the apple of Nelson's eye. "She is the finest ship I ever sailed in," he wrote in his journal, "and were she a 74, nothing should induce me to leave her while the Wars lasts." The recreation of the New Inn, depicting a gathering of drinkers on an evening in the 1790s, is also found in the museum at the site of the original pub.

Along the village main street, you'll find free-to-enter buildings, like the Shipwright's Cottage and workshop, full of models, artifacts, and displays detailing the life and work of one of the village's wealthier inhabitants; shipwrights were in demand during naval campaigns, so they could try to negotiate a higher salary. Visit the Chapel of St. Mary, also free of charge, which has been a dedicated place of worship since the 1880s. Beside the altar, you can see where excavations have unearthed a cellar, perhaps used for smuggling in centuries past.

Occasionally, old English mansions are turned into hotels, and the same principle has been applied to the Master Builder's House in Buckler's Hard, now a handsome accommodation with guestrooms named after ships built in the village. There's a suite called Agamemnon, with views over the Beaulieu River and the village, though the largest room is named Victorious, and furnished with a grand four-poster bed. Even though Buckler's Hard gives the impression of being a miniature theme park, there are still residents here, so be mindful of that when visiting.

The New Forest was voted Europe's best national park in Tripadvisor's 2022 Traveler's Choice Awards for Outdoor Enthusiasts, and one of the best ways to appreciate its bucolic beauty is on a cruise along the Beaulieu River. From Easter through September, river cruises leave the jetty in Buckler's Hard and travel along the waterway for 30 minutes, revealing the rich green forests and tidal coastlands of the area. The "Lazy Daze" catamaran is a more boutique rental option, offering a fully chartered, two-hour river cruise, leaving from Buckler's Hard that includes fishing equipment if desired. Longer fishing excursions are also available on the "Lazy Daze."

Alternatively, you can rent a kayak and navigate the river yourself. Rentals are available at Hazel Copse Farm, just upstream from Buckler's Hard in the village of Beaulieu, a quaint riverside escape with historic charm. Whichever seafaring vehicle you choose, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife around the river, like egrets, kingfishers, redshanks dunking for prey, and lightning-fast peregrine falcons wheeling in the skies. Common and grey seals, coming in from the Solent, are also regularly spotted in the river.

Though you can access the New Forest and its villages by public transport, a car will make your journey much more efficient. The nearest urban area to Buckler's Hard is Southampton, an underrated seaside city that's great for active travelers, about a 30-minute drive away. Major English cities like London and Bristol are around two hours away by car.