Things to do in Fordingbridge

9 activities, venues and outings in Fordingbridge, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Arniss Equestrian
British Horse Society and Pony Club-accredited stables offering group and private tuition at all levels of experience. Or you can enjoy some of the finest horse country in England with a guided "hack" (leisure ride) into the New Forest.
By appointment onlyLessons: 30 min from £33 pp, 1 hr £35 pp; hacks: 1 hr from £45 pp, 2 hr from £80 pp, 3 hr £115 pp
Do
Fordingbridge Festival
Annual community festival on a Saturday in mid-July. Expect heavy horse obstacle racing, dog shows, tug of war, falconry, arts and crafts, and live music.
July 2023
Do
Insight Activities
archery & axe throwing
Email via online contact form (page bottom). Supervised fun with mediaeval weapons in the woods! Guided sessions for absolute beginners in longbow archery, crossbow shooting and axe throwing. The tuition is personable and humorous with an emphasis on safety and proper technique. Combine a lesson with an activity: in 'Siege the Castle', groups design their own giant projectile and fire at a model castle, while 'Combat Tag' combines a number of archery team games - back-to-back duelling, capture the flag and something called 'death match'. The archery range is open to all ages, while the other activities aren't suitable for children under 12.
Booking essentialArchery only (2 hr): £25 pp; archery, crossbow and axe throwing (2 hr 30 min): £35 pp; siege the castle (2 hr): £30 pp; combat tag (2 hr): £30 pp
Do
New Forest Water Park
A private lake for water sports and activities. There are two wakeboard systems; one for beginners to practise (15 min lessons are usually enough even for first-timers), and a main course on which to try out tricks, jumps and rails. The Aqua Park features two floating obstacle courses with hurdles, climbing walls, slides and more. For a more relaxing activity, the park also offers kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and freshwater swimming. The park also has a campsite (see below).
Easter-early Nov. Times and days vary, but most often Wed-Sun noon-8PM. Check siteWakeboarding: 15-minute lesson £35, 2 hr on main course £30. Aquapark 1 hr £20. Kayaking 1 hr £20/£30 single/double kayak. Paddleboarding 1 hr £20. Swimming £7. Wetsuits for hire £5
Do
Pumpkin Pastures
Pick your own pumpkins: choose from 30 varieties (and not just the bright orange ones), explore recipes, or carve your own jack-o-lantern. Family-friendly games, seasonal crafts, and hot and cold refreshments are all part of the fun.
Mid-Oct until Halloween daily 9:30AM-4PM. Early bonfire night fireworks display, Sat 30 Oct 6PMFree entry and parking. Pumpkins from £1 each. Fireworks £5 pp
Do
Regal Cinema
Classy Art Deco cinema, built in 1933 and lovingly restored in 2016. The façade is nice, but the lobby and the bar are something else, so make sure you allow some time to enjoy them before or after the film. The intimate 30-seat auditorium makes each screening - of film, live theatre or opera - special.
Box office Mon-Fri 8:30AM-1:30PM, 2:30PM-5PMTicket prices can vary, but most are £10.70 for adults and £7.70 for children and students
Do
Riverside Park
Fordingbridge Park or Recreation Ground
Despite not knowing what to call itself, this has pretty much everything you'd want from a small town park: a decent-sized playground, sports pitches, a snack kiosk that makes its own ice lollies, and even a shingle beach where you can paddle or swim in the languid waters of the Avon.
Daily 8AM-7PM
Do
Rockbourne Trout Fishery
Fish for trout at this complex of six lakes with exclusive access to a 1-mile stretch of pristine chalk stream. The wild Hampshire natives are brown trout, though other species have been brought in from around the world to supplement these. At the end of the day, you can swap your catch for a packet of smoked trout.
Daily 8AM-7PM / dusk (winter)Day tickets from £48; tuition 1 hr £40, 3 hr £100; tackle / rods for hire £15
Do Not mapped
Fishing (angling) in the Avon
Fish anywhere along the river's course through the park and try your luck at landing grayling, pike, perch, roach, or trout.
Daily dawn-dusk, kiosk 7AM-7PM / dusk (winter)One day permit: adult £5, concession £2.50, under-16 free. Purchase from Riverside Kiosk in the park, or from the information centre in town. You must also have a rod fishing licence from the Environment Agency (£7/day, £13/week, £33/year)

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Fordingbridge (CC BY-SA 4.0).