Brockenhurst among England's best chocolate box villages
It was among a selection of spots curated by Independent Cottages, which was aiming to find the most beautiful villages in the country.
They compared many places against a list of criteria to come to their conclusions, which were:
The number of historic buildings, showing the architectural heritage that gives each village its character
The oldest recorded existence of the village, demonstrating its depth of history
Whether each village is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), recognising its natural surroundings and protection status
How many people search for the village online, indicating public interest and recognition
How many TikTok posts feature each village, showing how visually appealing they are
Introducing the list, they wrote: "There are lots of things that make England special: castles, stately homes and national parks. But what makes it especially charming is the hundreds of little chocolate box villages scattered across the countryside.
"Thatched cottages lining cobblestone streets, church bells marking the time and quaint pubs with roaring fires welcoming locals and travellers alike, just as they have for centuries."
The full list of England's best chocolate box villages can be found on the Independent Cottages website here.
What makes Brockenhurst one of England's top chocolate box villages?
In terms of how it stacked up against other chocolate box villages, Brockenhurst is said to date back to 3300 BC and has 64 listed buildings.
While it is not located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it has had 672 TikTok posts made about it.
Brockenhurst can be found in the heart of the New Forest and is one of the largest villages in the area.
As shared by the New Forest website, Leaders Estate Agent describes it as having 'bundles of charm and history'.
Ponies, deer and donkeys are known to roam the streets, and there are plenty of "warm and inviting pubs" to step into for a pint or a bite to eat.
An intriguing feature of the village is the Watersplash, which is a meeting point of two of the area's streams: the North and South Weirs.
These eventually lead on to the Lymington River, and you sometimes can find animals drinking from this watering hole.
If you're into cycling and walking, there are numerous options that people can begin from the village, including the South Taste Trail.
One of the most searched things about Brockenhurst is The Pig, which is a hotel and restaurant on the outskirts of the village.
The establishment's website says it has "all the ingredients for a truly laid-back stay".
Recommended reading:
This includes food sourced from the site's own kitchen garden and "homely drawing rooms" which are "perfect for sinking into after a day's exploring".
It adds: "Step beyond the grounds and you're straight into the rambling tracks and ancient woodland of the New Forest.
"And don't be surprised if you bump into a couple of our resident Saddleback pigs while you're here!"
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