New Forest Open Heathland
Lyndhurst · SO43
Amenities
Summary
A 375-square-kilometre national park of ancient heathland and mixed forest — free-roaming ponies, Iron Age field systems, and a landscape used in productions from Robin Hood to War Horse.
About this location
The New Forest is a national park in southern Hampshire covering 375 square kilometres, established as a royal hunting ground by William I. The open forest heathland — the main visual character of the park — is a mosaic of heather, gorse, grassland, and boggy valley mires, grazed by commoners’ ponies, cattle, and pigs under an ancient system of rights. The forested areas include both the ancient deciduous Crown woodland (Bolderwood, Mark Ash) and areas of conifer plantation. The variety of habitats within a contained geographic area makes the New Forest one of the UK’s most flexible outdoor location environments.
Productions that have used the forest include sequences from the 2010 War Horse (Stephen Spielberg shot preparatory work here), various BBC and ITV natural history series, and multiple period drama productions. The open heathland reads as generic pre-industrial British countryside; the ancient woods read as primeval forest without plantation regularity; the valley mires are an unusual wetland habitat.
The New Forest National Park Authority manages filming permits for all land within the park boundary. Forestry England manages commercial filming on the Crown forestland specifically. The two are separate permit processes; most productions use both as different areas are needed. Keeper posts (Forestry England rangers) facilitate on-ground logistics. The busy A31 bisects the park and creates some vehicle noise intrusion; western areas around Fordingbridge and Burley are quieter. Spring and autumn offer best light and smallest tourist crowds.
Access notes
- Parking
- On-site parking available — confirm crew-vehicle capacity with the venue.
- Loading access
- Loading access not listed. Confirm access points, door widths, and lift availability with the venue before the day.
- Public transit
- Lyndhurst has mainline rail and regional bus connections. Check the nearest station and allow for equipment on-foot from transit.
Ask us about this location
Quick question before you enquire upstream? We often know day-rate ranges, permit lead times, or a direct-to-owner shortcut not shown on the source page.
On the map
Lyndhurst — drag to pan, scroll to zoom.
FAQ
- Do I need a permit to film at New Forest Open Heathland?
- Yes — filming on or around New Forest Open Heathland typically requires a permit. Allow roughly 5–10 working days lead time for most UK councils. Interior shoots on private property may also need owner consent.
- Is parking available at New Forest Open Heathland?
- On-site parking is available at New Forest Open Heathland. Capacity varies — confirm crew-vehicle numbers with the venue before the day.
- How much does it cost to film at New Forest Open Heathland?
- New Forest Open Heathland sits in the £ band. Typical UK film-location day rates range from under £200 for simple interior shoots to well over £1,000 for period properties and landmark venues. Confirm with the venue directly.
- What crew size is suitable for New Forest Open Heathland?
- New Forest Open Heathland can accommodate a large crew of 15+ including feature-film unit requirements, trucks, and extras.
- Has anything been filmed at New Forest Open Heathland before?
- New Forest Open Heathland appears on Filmshoot's UK location index because it has a documented track record or strong characteristics for film and photography. Specific production credits aren't displayed unless publicly confirmed by the venue — ask the venue directly or check ScreenSkills and IMDb Locations for verified credits.
Own this property? Request delisting or claim this listing.