Locals describe living in Milford on Sea, a charming village on the New Forest coast, as like being on holiday every day. Families and retirees are attracted to its seasidey lifestyle, foodie credentials and community spirit.
The dog-friendly beaches have wide views across to the Isle of Wight, there are breezy coastal paths, water sports, and a tasty cluster of bars, bistros and cafés. In addition, there’s a friendly, welcoming vibe with lots of clubs and sociable happenings.
The village’s calendar focuses on seasonal events held on the traditional green right at the heart of the village. These include the May Festival with maypole dancing, a Music & Arts Festival including lots of family fun, and carols with festive markets, part of the Magical Milford at Christmas celebrations.
Education ticks another must-have box. The village primary is highly regarded, considered by Ofsted to be Good with Outstanding aspects. This school feeds into Priestlands secondary in Lymington – described as a good, nurturing school. The local independents also impress – including Ballard School in New Milton and Durlston at Barton on Sea.
Property choice is dominated by family homes, among them sought-after Edwardian character houses on leafy lanes, chic contemporary builds on roads leading to the seafront, and mid-century chalet bungalows.
Connectivity is not what Milford is about. Roads amble along the coast or through the Forest, although there’s a mainline station at New Milton (three miles away) providing train services into Bournemouth (approximately 16 minutes), Southampton (30 minutes more or less) and London (around one hour and 50 minutes). For anyone who travels abroad regularly, Milford is well positioned between two regional airports. Bournemouth’s is just 13 miles away, offering holiday destinations from Tenerife to Turkey, while Southampton’s is 27 miles away, with flights to destinations such as Amsterdam, Belfast and Geneva.
EXPLORE
Essentially, Milford on Sea is for outdoorsy types who like good food. The assortment of bars, cafés, pubs and restaurants have certainly put the village firmly on the foodie map. This is thanks to the likes of Verveine, a Michelin-recognised fish market restaurant, The Cave drinks merchant and tapas bar, and Ray’s Italian Kitchen. There’s also The Red Lion pub with regular live music sessions, The Wash House micro ale bar, and an impressive selection of cafés – among them Melleford, The Paddle on the Green, Sammy’s Café and Tidal Kitchen.
Indie food stores include Bakehouse 24 (which only opened here in April), Delicious on the Green and a traditional butcher that also sells grocery items and fresh fruit and veg for easy local shopping.
There’s plenty to do to work up an appetite. Stretch your legs and draw breath. Milford is at the start of the Solent Way. This long-distance route runs for 60 miles to Emsworth and now forms part of the King Charles III England Coast Path.
For shorter coastal strolls, simply head east to Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve. Keyhaven, a delightful sailing hamlet with a good pub, has a little ferry that you can hop on for a trip out to Hurst Castle. Located at the far end of Hurst Spit, a mile-and-a-half-long shingle bank, this Tudor fort was built by Henry VIII, but also served as a prison to Charles I and saw action in both World Wars. The castle can be reached by walking along the spit – a bracing walk that blows away the cobwebs.
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Milford on Sea’s shoreline encompasses Hurst Beach, along the west side of the spit, Hurst Road Beach and Hordle Cliff Beach. Each has a different character, yet all enjoy sweeping views across Christchurch Bay to the Isle of Wight. Hurst Beach is so long it never seems busy; Hurst Road Beach is a family favourite thanks to its play area and café; Hordle Cliff Beach is popular with kayakers, kite surfers, paddle boarders, swimmers and wind surfers. It is backed by colourful beach huts, and low tide reveals a sand bar where groups gather to enjoy a game of beach cricket.
Away from the seafront, there are nature reserves to explore and wildlife to discover. A public bird hide overlooking Sturt Pond offers monthly Birding for Beginners sessions, and opportunities to spot waders and wildfowl.
There’s also a network of paths running west, alongside the Danes Stream and through 14 acres of woodlands known as The Pleasure Grounds, towards Sharvells Copse and Studland Common. Ideal for childhood adventuring and dog walking.
For fun and games, there’s a tennis, squash and racketball club, while The Bridge Community Centre is home to a diverse choice of clubs and events. There’s beginner adult violin group classes, table tennis coaching, games evenings, National Theatre Live screenings, folk, jazz and soul music sessions, and even performances of original scripts.
BAG A PROPERTY
Andrew Grice, director coastal sales, Spencers Lymington, says: ‘Milford on Sea is the jewel in the crown of the south coast. This vibrant village has a variety of facilities from wine bars to bakeries, framed by attractive period buildings and arranged around a village green, plus a beautiful beach that’s ideal for safe swimming. We regularly receive enquiries from buyers outside the area seeking exactly the lifestyle that Milford offers. Young families, once here, seldom want to leave.
‘Milford’s housing stock is varied: modern seafront apartments sit comfortably alongside thatched houses next to ultra-modern homes. Many Edwardian houses were designed by local architect William Ravenscroft who specialised in Arts & Crafts homes which perfectly capture the village’s relaxed pace of life.
‘Quieter leafy lanes like Barnes Lane, Sharvells Road and Blackbush Road feature larger houses in generous plots. Whitby Road is ideal for proximity to the village green. There are numerous roads between the green and the sea with smaller houses and bungalows.’.
MY VILLAGE LIFE
Becca and Tony Michael have owned a café in Milford on Sea since 2016, after falling in love with the village.
Tony says: ‘Our café, Melleford, takes its name from the old Saxon name for Milford on Sea. The position is perfect.
‘We overlook the beautiful village green which is the hub of the village – a community space where events are held throughout the year including a music festival, plant sale and Magical Milford at Christmas.
‘We are incredibly proud of our beautiful café and its warm, welcoming atmosphere. We serve freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches and popular Sunday roasts. We will also be opening for evening dining soon – date to be announced! We serve fresh seasonal food and support as many local suppliers as possible, and most of our menu is also gluten-free.
‘Living and working here still feels like a holiday – being so near to the sea and having a beautiful village full of independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs. This lively village has a fantastic community spirit. This includes The Bridge, a vibrant community centre which runs a variety of classes, clubs and cinema screenings. One of its most popular events is a comedy club.’
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