# Burley (England)

Burley is a village of 1,400 people (2011) in the New Forest. It has ancient origins and is now somewhat tourist-orientated. Burley has a long connection with witches; in the late 1950s, Sybil Leek, a self-styled white witch, lived in the village. The village now has a new age presence, and several shops sell paranormal paraphernalia such as tarot decks and incense candles.

## Understand

Burley sits towards the western edge of the New Forest, 4 miles (6 km) south-east of the town of Ringwood The village is fairly scattered, and apart from the village centre, there is Burley Street to the north; Bisterne Close to the east; and the Mill Lawn area to the north-east. The village still practises the old tradition of commoning, allowing animals to graze on the open Forest, and ponies and cattle roam freely around the village.
The village is surrounded by the open heathland of the New Forest, containing a complex of woodland, heathland and acid grassland, shrub and valley bog, supporting a richness and diversity of wildlife. Burley is twinned with Beurlay in southwestern France. Burley Fire Station is thought to be the only fire station in the country with a cattle grid at the entrance.

### Visitor information

* Visitor information for Burley

## Get in
### By car

The village is 2½ miles (4 km) south of the A31 expressway, and 10 miles (16 km) from the end of the M27 motorway. The nearest town is Ringwood, 5½ miles (9 km) to the north-west.

### By bus

Burley is part of the New Forest Tour bus route.

## See

* 50.8348-1.719151 Castle Hill. site of Iron age hillfort (updated Oct 2016)
* 50.7967-1.72182 All Saints' Church, Thorney Hill, Thorney Hill. All Saints' Church is an active Church of England church. It was built in 1905–06 and has been a Grade I listed building since 1985. A World War I memorial in the churchyard is also Grade II listed. (updated Dec 2020)
* 50.787819-1.70613 New Forest Airfields World War II Memorial, Holmsley South. (updated Dec 2020)

## Do

* 50.826628-1.7016691 Forest Leisure Cycling, Village Centre, The Cross, BH24 4AB, ☏ +44 1425 403584. 9AM-5PM. Hire a bicycle for a day. (updated Aug 2018)
* Burley Golf Club can be found to the southeast of the village.

## Buy

Burley has many small shops selling apparel, souvenirs and locally made fudge. Burley has a post office, newsagents, butcher's shop, village stores, tea rooms, a hippy/festival clothing shop, antique shops, art galleries and gift shops, pubs and a large cycle shop and cycle hire centre.
* 50.826859-1.7019911 Burley Mall, The Mall, BH24 4AB. A collection of souvenir shops and a cafe. (updated Aug 2018)
* 50.826772-1.7020612 Witchcraft, The Cross, BH24 4AB. (updated Aug 2018)
* 50.826454-1.7011793 Coven of Witches, The Cross, BH24 4AA, ☏ +44 1425 402449. 10AM-5PM. (updated Aug 2018)
* 50.8266-1.70174 New Forest Cycling, Village Centre, The Cross, Burley, Ringwood BH24 4AB, ☏ +44 1425 403584. (updated Jan 2021)

## Eat

Burley itself has a few pubs and cafés.
* 50.827417-1.7030461 The Old Farmhouse, Ringwood Rd, BH24 4AB, ☏ +44 1425 402218. 9AM-4PM. (updated Aug 2018)

## Drink

* 50.826272-1.7022391 Burley Inn, The Cross, BH24 4AB, ☏ +44 1425 403448. (updated Aug 2018)
* 50.826731-1.7011212 Queen's Head, 99 Chapel Ln, BH24 4AA, ☏ +44 1425 403423. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM. (updated Aug 2018)

## Sleep

* 50.826144-1.6736881 Twin Cottage, Bisterne Close, BH24 4BA, ☏ +44 7515 887725. If you are interested in a little independence and space, consider renting a cottage. Twin Cottage, in the heart of the New Forest, is a beautifully furnished two bedroom cottage with a fully equipped kitchen, wireless internet and is great for children.
* 50.827159-1.7036142 New Forest Cottage Holidays, 5 Garden Rd, BH24 4EA, ☏ +44 7710 854348. Located within walking distance of Burley Village Center, " Three beautiful self catering cottages in the heart of the New Forest in the lovely village of Burley. Our high quality, pet friendly accommodation has 2&3 bedrooms (2-8 adults/children + Baby). Group bookings available.
* 50.830288-1.7011053 Burley Manor, 1 Ringwood Rd, Burley BH24 4BS, ☏ +44 1425 403522. Pleasant hotel in Victorian New Forest mansion, great dining. No children under 13. B&B double £110. (updated Aug 2020)

## Go next

* Other towns within the New Forest such as Ringwood and Lyndhurst.
* Visit the seaside in Dorset such as at Bournemouth and Christchurch.