What Is Living In Ringwood Like? A Guide To Ringwood
Last Updated November 2022
Ringwood is a historic market town on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. Ringwood benefits from being a ‘rural’ type town but within easy access of everything you need such as bigger shops and employment opportunities in Southampton, the New Forest and beaches along the Hampshire and Dorset coast.
It takes under two hours to reach London via the M3 from Ringwood but just over 30 minutes to reach the city of Southampton via the A31. We cover everything you will need to know in this comprehensive guide about living and working in Ringwood.
Is Ringwood a Nice Place to Live?
Ringwood attracts lots of families for its family-friendly neighbourhood town feeling and plenty of good schools within the area, lots of outdoor social clubs and many independent shops and cafes! However, this all comes at a price as you can tell from the average property stats mention that Ringwood is often named one of Britain’s most expensive towns.
What County is Ringwood in?
Ringwood is based in the county of Hampshire and is the Western Gateway to the New Forest.
Due to Ringwood’s location, the locals enjoy the benefits of being in such close proximity to both the New Forest and the coast with beaches such as Bournemouth in Dorset and coastal towns such as Lymington with both being within a 30-minute drive away as well as Southampton if you commute to work or need some retail therapy.
Population of Ringwood
In the 2021 census it was recorded that 14,366 people were living in Ringwood. This is just a small increase of 423 people from the previous census 10 years prior in 2011. If you want to live close by but want a busier area to be in, why not look at our area guide for Eastleigh or Farnborough?
What Is the Demographic Of Ringwood?
In Ringwood the biggest demographic is white females between 50-59 years old. As of 2021, there were 52.1% of females and around 1,876 50–59-year-olds in Ringwood., and the ethnicity of the population are 96.8% white.
Is Ringwood a Safe Place to Live?
Ringwood is policed by Hampshire Constabulary and records a low amount of crime over the past few months. The most recent data available is for September 2022 where just 240 crimes were reported. Over the year the most amount of crime reported was in May 2022 with 279 reports, the least amount of crime happened in February 2022 with just 205 reports. Looking at previous reports, the crime rate seems to have gradually increased this year compared to last year.
Average House Prices in Ringwood
The average house cost over the past year for Ringwood is around £557,358. The following shows the average property cost in Ringwood:
Detached
The current average sold price for detached houses in Ringwood is £753,760.
Semi-Detached
The current average sold price for semi-detached houses in Ringwood is £396,936.
Terraced
The current average sold price for terraced houses in Ringwood is £333,269.
Flat
The current average sold price for flats in Ringwood is £216,106.
Renting in Ringwood
The following shows how much a rental property costs in 2022 Ringwood:
Flat – £825
House – £3,270
Average Property Rental Cost Per Room (PCM):
1 bed – £794
2 beds – £1,038
3 beds – £1,538
Travelling in Ringwood
There is surprisingly no train stations in Ringwood but you can get around by bus should you need to. As well as local buses, you can also catch the National Express coach from Ringwood that will take you directly to places such as London and Bournemouth and further afield when catching adjoining coaches.
Education in Ringwood
There are a handful of good primary and secondary schools in Ringwood as well as a college and some secondary schools offer post 16 education. In terms of higher education there are two universities close by in Bournemouth. Bournemouth University which cover a whole range of courses and Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) which of course covers all things in the arts such as acting, illustration and photography.
Eating and Drinking in Ringwood
The top three restaurants in Ringwood according to Tripadvisor reviews are:
- The Cellar – a European wine bar with charcuterie boards!
- The London Tavern – a great British pub!
- Friday’s Bar and Tapas – a small plate international restaurant!
Shopping in Ringwood
The Furlong is the place to go if you are looking to do some shopping in Ringwood. Here you will find clothing stores such as Crew, Fatface and Joules, beauty shops such as Callula Beauty and Love to b, Waterstones, Specsavers, Cafes, a Waitrose and more! If you’re looking for a day trips worth of retail therapy head to Southampton’s Westquay Shopping Centre where you’ll find plenty more shops just a stone’s throw away from your doorstep. Why not check out our Guide to Southampton for more information!
Places to stay in Ringwood
The top three rated hotels in Ringwood on Tripadvisor are:
- Petherton Cottage
- High Corner Inn
- The Burley Inn Hotel
Top 10 Things to do in Ringwood
- Ringwood Brewery
- Moors Valley Country Park
- Liberty’s Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre
- Burley Manor Riding Stables
- Avon Heath Country Park
- Blashford Lakes
- Ringwood Meeting House and History Centre
- The Furlong Shopping Centre
- Ringwood Health and Leisure
- Hockey’s Farm Shop
Need a Locksmith in Ringwood?
When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for an Ringwood Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek® Locksmiths Ringwood provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site.
There are many other things you need to consider when moving home in Ringwood so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once you’re in consider improving the security of your home in Ringwood further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!
View our Keytek® Locksmiths Ringwood page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 01425 205233!
Jessica Davies
Jessica brings over six years of specialised expertise to Keytek's comprehensive UK location guides, combining meticulous research with genuine local insight. As the architect behind Keytek’s area profiles, she delivers essential intelligence on house prices, crime statistics, schools, and community character—everything you need to know about the city or town. Armed with a photography degree from the University of Brighton and an exhibited portfolio, Jessica approaches each location asking, "What would it be like to live here?" This perspective transforms dry statistics into lived experience, revealing not just what places cost, but what they truly offer. Since 2019, Jessica has partnered with Keytek®'s security professionals, weaving real-world safety expertise into every guide. Her work addresses practical realities: Is this neighbourhood genuinely safe? What security considerations matter? How does local infrastructure support daily life? From bustling cities to quiet villages, Jessica's field research uncovers authentic local character. Her commitment to accuracy and on-the-ground investigation has established her as a trusted voice—helping people navigate different locations across the UK and home security with complete confidence.