New Forest Reptile Centre

The New Forest Reptile Centre is to be found at Holidays Hill, approximately 2 miles west of Lyndhurst on the A35.
It's a small but very worthwhile attraction and conservation centre where you can (potentially...) see all of Britain's reptiles in one place; adders, grass snakes, smooth snakes, lizards, frogs and toads are displayed in separate open air netted pens, with all reptiles being in their natural environment.

Although the reptiles are limited to where they can go, there is plenty of natural cover in each pen for them to disappear from view, especially on busy days!
So the best chance of seeing the most reptiles is on a warm sunny day, when they will be basking in the sunshine to warm their blood.

Two of the species found at the New Forest Reptile Centre are two of Britain's rarest animal species - the smooth snake and sand lizard.
These are small in number throughout the UK, although sand lizard numbers are increasing - after being very close to extinction - thanks to successful breed-and-release programmes across the country (including the New Forest Reptile Centre).

The smooth snake is Britain's rarest and most elusive snake, similar in size and appearance to the adder, Britain's only venomous reptile.
Both smooth snakes and sand lizards inhabit the open heathlands of the New Forest.

As well as the snakes and lizards, the New Forest Reptile Centre is also home to common frogs, Naterjack toads, 3 species of newt and slow worms.

Away from the reptile pens there is a grassy picnic area and a 1 1/2 mile walk, aptly named The Reptile Trail, through the Ancient and Ornamental Woodland of the area - keep your eyes peeled, and you might just see some wild reptiles along the walk!
There is also a short way-marked cycle route that connects the reptile centre to the Emery Down-Bolderwood road.

Getting to the New Forest Reptile Centre

The New Forest Reptile Centre is 2 miles west of Lyndhurst on the A35 (Christchurch) road. There is a gravel lay-by opposite the entrance at Holidays Hill, but it's a better idea to drive up the track to the centre.
There's no admission charge, but standard 'Pay and Display' car park charges do apply.

You can see this area in more detail by opening this PDF map of the south-west corner of the National Park (approx. 30 sec download time on 1Mbps connection).
The Reptile Centre grid reference is: 269072 [How do I read a map?]

(A larger scale map of the whole National Park can be found on the area maps page).

Return from New Forest Reptile Centre page to main New Forest attractions page.