Buckler's Hard welcomes visitors for first time since March

Buckler's Hard, which produced some of the ships that fought at the Battle of Trafalgar, includes a maritime museum, a shipwright's cottage and a tiny chapel.

A pop-up café will be open for visitors to purchase light refreshments until the Captain’s Cabin Tea Room reopens on July 22.

Visitors can picnic on a green beside the river but are asked to comply with the New Forest Code by not using barbecues and ensuring they take their rubbish home. The toilets are open and will be regularly cleaned.

Buckler's Hard is part of the Beaulieu Estate, which also includes Palace House, the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey and the National Motor Museum.

An estate spokesperson said Buckler's Hard had introduced a raft of measures aimed at preserving the safety of staff and visitors.

They added: "The attraction has been awarded the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard from Visit Britain, which means they are following Covid-19 safety guidelines and have processes in place to ensure social distancing and cleanliness.

"In support of this, Buckler’s Hard has developed a Visitor Safety Promise to reassure visitors of the steps it is taking to help them feel safe during their day out."

The attraction will be open only from Wednesday to Sunday each week until July 22, when it will return to normal.

The spokesperson added: "Visitors are asked to purchase their admission tickets online before arrival to facilitate a quick entry to the attraction, and in accordance with government guidance, to record contact details.

"River cruise tickets will be sold as passengers go aboard the boat."