Ten miles north of Bournemouth and the New Forest's main market town, Ringwood stands on the River Avon, with its architecture being a mixture of thatched cottages and Georgian town houses. The eleventh century name of Ringwood was Rincevede" which seems to have meant a ford or "wade" (vede) over a river or watercourse (rine).

Monmouth House near the Market Place is said to have lodged James, Duke of Monmouth after the battle of Sedgemoor. A weekly market is held on Wednesdays in the Market Place and the town celebrated the 750th anniversary of the Market Charter in 1976. Ringwood now has its own modern shopping center.

To the south of Ringwood at Crow is the New Forest Owl Sanctuary, dedicated to rehabilitating sick and wounded birds and releasing them back to the wild. To the North is The New Forest Water Park, where you can Water-ski, jet ski or have fun on an inflatable banana. There is also Moors Valley Country Park, which has a Forest Play trail, miniature steam railway, golf course, woodland walks and lakes.