Head off bright and early on the Red Jet from Cowes and arrive in Southampton in just 28 minutes. From Town Quay, connect with the Hythe Ferry taking you across the waterway. Ride the world’s oldest pier train into the town to connect with the New Forest ‘Green Route’ on the open top bus!

There are three bus routes around the New Forest, each one interlinked so you can hop on and off along the way and swap between each route as you please. From the open top bus you’ll have great views across the beautiful New Forest National Park, looking out for ponies, deer, pretty villages and the stunning landscape vistas along the way. 

Hop on the Green Route open top bus from Hythe Pier, taking you toward Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Lymington and Beaulieu before returning to Hythe. Along the Green Route you’ll find popular places to visit like Lymington Town, New Forest Adventure Golf, Beaulieu National Motor Museum and Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway to visit – as well as the many walks through the forest. You can also change onto other routes around the forest, with changes for the red and blue routes at Lyndhurst and Burley.

The Red Route is the longest route around the forest, with the closest bus stop to Hythe being Lyndhurst – use the Green Route from Hythe to get here. On the Red Route you’ll drive through the heart of the forest, with breathtaking views from top deck. Stop off at chocolate box villages along the way, including the witches’ village of Burley! From Burley you can swap from the Red Route to Blue and head for the coast!

The Blue Route will take you along the coastline, from Barton on Sea, to Milford On Sea and into the pretty maritime town of Lymington – a great stop off for lunch and shopping! Swap back to the red route at Burley or onto green at Lymington. 

Choose a route and area to explore for the day, or why not do a circular of all three routes around the New Forest National Park! Start from Hythe on the Green Route, hop onto the Red Route at Lyndhurst, complete the Red Route to Burley, hop onto the Blue Route and follow the coastline round to Lymington where you can return to the Green Route and head back to Hythe!

Please note: The Open Top Bus Tour finishes after the 15th September. 

Finish off the day with delicious chippie tea for you and your group at Philpotts, a popular family run fish and chip restaurant in the heart of Hythe. 

Dogs on leads are welcome aboard the New Forest Tour and travel for free. The lower floors on all buses are accessible, with space also for prams. Bikes are not permitted on buses. Please note there are stairs to the upper deck on open top tours.