New Forest is a push in two hours on a standard day and there's plenty of lovely bits of countryside etc far nearer - uncleglen mentions many, I'd add the Chilterns, Epping Forest, Leeds Castle, even that place near Sevenokas that everyone's always banging on aout (Edenbridge?), all far nearer than the New Forest, that's a weekend imo not a day break, What about Brighton, Cantebury if you want cities or Broadstairs for a sandy Beech.