By Alaric 
Did you know that you can visit a real Hundred Acre Wood from Winnie the Pooh?
A. A. Milne used the Ashdown Forest in England to inspire his much-loved children’s stories starring Pooh Bear and his friends.
It’s a magical day out that’s perfect for all ages and you can visit Piglet’s House, Owl’s House and Winnie the Pooh’s House.
There is also a chance to play Poohsticks on the famous Poohsticks Bridge!
Afterwards, make sure to visit Pooh Corner for a Winnie the Pooh-themed afternoon tea.
As a lifelong fan, I had to visit the whimsical place where it all began and I had such a wholesome day in Pooh Country.
Here is how to visit the real Hundred Acre Wood and things to do there!
What is the Hundred Acre Wood?
The Hundred Acre Wood is a fictional land and lush forest home to Winnie the Pooh and his friends.
It’s mentioned in the popular children’s stories by A. A. Milne and is the main setting for stories with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga and Roo.
Most people believe that the wood is only an invention in Christopher Robin’s imagination.
But, fans of the silly old bear will be happy to know that the 100 Aker Wood is based on a real place in England.
Is there a real Hundred Acre Wood?
Yes, the Hundred Acre Wood is real and based on the Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown.
A. A. Milne lived on the edge of the Ashdown Forest at Cotchford Farm and often visited for walks with Christopher Robin Milne.
This enchanted place inspired him and he used the area to write one of the world’s most loved children’s stories.
Can you visit the Hundred Acre Wood?
Yes, today visitors of all ages can visit the Ashdown Forest to follow in Pooh’s footsteps and meet some of his friends.
You can follow a Winnie the Pooh Trail to visit highlights like Piglet’s House, Owl’s House and Pooh’s House.
On the way, you can stop at the famous Poohsticks Bridge to play a fun game of Poohsticks.
After you can visit Pooh Corner, a Winnie the Pooh café, that serves up an enchanting cream tea and has a gift shop and Poohseum.
It’s a magical day out for all the family. I had such a lovely time here and would recommend it to anyone.
How to visit the real Hundred Acre Wood
The real Hundred Acre Wood is in the Ashdown Forest or ‘Pooh Country’ in the South East of England.
You can find all the Winnie the Pooh attractions near Hartfield Village.
It makes a great day trip from London and is close to popular attractions such as Hever Castle.
It’s most convenient to drive as public transport is very limited in this area.
You can get a bus to Hartfield from Royal Tunbridge Wells but I recommend planning your journey in advance. Traveline is a great resource.
Pooh Car Park
The closest car park to Pooh Sticks Bridge is Pooh Car Park just beyond the village of Hartfield.
From this car park, the walk to the bridge is only around 1 kilometre or half a mile and should take you no more than 15 minutes.
The only downside is that it’s small with limited spaces so I recommend visiting earlier to guarantee a space.
By the time I left around 11 am people were double parking and there was a bit of a queue!
At the time of writing, this car park is currently free of charge. But, this may change.
I would always double-check the parking rules and charges before leaving your car to avoid a fine!
If Pooh Car Park is full, Piglet Car Park is very close by but this is chargeable.
An Enchanted Place
As soon as you’ve parked up you can enter the Ashdown Forest on a well-marked trail.
It’s easy to see how this enchanted place inspired A. A. Milne to create the Hundred Acre Wood.
It’s an oasis from the world outside as it’s so peaceful and green. It was lovely to breathe some fresh air!
The walk through the forest is very easy. It’s just one path to follow to visit all of the Winnie the Pooh attractions.
Here are all the things to find in the real 100 Aker Wood.
Visit Piglet’s House
The first house that you will find after about 5 minutes of walking is Piglet’s House.
It’s very easy to miss as it’s a tiny door at the bottom of a tree and over a little dyke from the main path.
I knew that the doors would be small but I wasn’t expecting them to be that tiny! It made it even more charming and reminded me of fairy doors.
This trench can be muddy so watch your step when you cross over. You can then get a closer look at Piglet’s House.
On my visit, this door didn’t open which was a shame. Especially after I nearly slipped in the mud.
But, I have seen other people open this door to find a little Piglet figurine in there. How cute!
If you look up, there is a balcony further up in the tree where a little Piglet teddy can be seen.
Find Owl’s House
Owl’s House is located just above Piglet’s House on the trail so it’s easy to find.
It’s up high in the trees though, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
You’ll find the door with Owl’s visitor signs nailed on which were inspired by the ones written by Christopher Robin;
“PLES RING IF AN RNSER IS REQIRD”
“PLEZ CNOKE IF AN RNSR IS NOT REQID”
If you look very closely, you may spot a familiar furry tail. In the book, Owl stumbles upon what he feels is an amazing rope doorbell.
He takes it home for his front door. But, Pooh later realises that the ‘rope’ is Eeyore’s tail. That’s why it can be seen hanging on the door frame!
Pooh Sticks Bridge
From here, you can follow the path for around five more minutes to find the famous Pooh Sticks Bridge.
The original name was Posingford Bridge and it was first constructed in 1907.
It’s thought that A. A. Milne and his son first played a game of Poohsticks here.
In ‘The House at Pooh Corner’, the silly old bear created this famous game by accident.
One day, he drops a fir cone into the river and notices it reappear on the other side of the bridge. Then, he shows all his friends how to play!
After the bridge fell into decay in the 1970s, there was a national outcry to save it. So, it was reconstructed in 1979.
There were even donations made by Disney to have the bridge rebuilt as it became so popular with visitors!
Christopher Robin Milne was there to reopen the bridge and it was officially renamed Poohsticks Bridge.
Today, it’s a magical place over a charming stream where you can play your very own game of Poohsticks. It’s a fun game for all ages.
How to play Poohsticks
Poohsticks is a game I have been playing since I was a child and it’s very easy to do;
- All the players must have a large stick that can float in water
- Make sure to check which way the water is flowing under the bridge
- Standing on the side of the bridge against the water current
- All players then drop their sticks into the water at the same height and watch them float under the bridge
- Cross over the bridge and the first player’s stick to float out the other side wins!
Unfortunately, on my visit, there were hardly any sticks near the bridge at all.
So, I had to make do with twigs which were less than ideal as they were barely seen and sometimes sank straight down lol.
You’re not allowed to damage any trees to get your sticks. So, I recommend collecting a few in advance or bringing your own on the day.
Winnie the Pooh’s House
Just beyond the Pooh Sticks Bridge, you can walk one minute to Winnie the Pooh’s house.
It’s an adorable little hut that was designed to look like Pooh’s House in the original sketches.
There is even a sign with Mr. Sanders on there;
“Once upon a time, a very long time ago now, about last Friday, Winnie-the-Pooh lived in a forest all by himself under the name of Sanders. “What does ‘under the name’ mean?” asked Christopher Robin. “It means he had the name over the door in gold letters and lived under it.” – A. A. Milne.
You can also find a mailbox for Pooh where lots of people leave letters and some pots of ‘Hunny’ outside.
If you open the door, you’ll find a teddy of the silly old bear inside with lots of honey pots!
Pooh was a little sticky and dirty on my visit. But, I was amazed that the teddies were in such good condition considering they’re kept outside.
I brought my Winnie the Pooh toy along that I’ve had on my bed since I was small.
I loved bringing Pooh back home and taking a few photos of him there! It was so wholesome.
The Pooh Walk
After visiting the most popular attractions, you can head back to the car park the way you came or extend your walk.
The Pooh Walk is a scenic loop that can take you to even more Winnie the Pooh places such as;
- The North Pole
- The Enchanted Place
- Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place
- The Heffalump Trap
- Roo’s Sandy Pit
It’s a magical trail for all ages and makes a great day out in the Ashdown Forest.
If you want a map of all the Winnie the Pooh attractions in the Hundred Acre Wood, you can buy one in Pooh Corner for £1.
Visit Pooh Corner next
After your whimsical journey through the Hundred Acre Wood, you must visit Pooh Corner.
It’s a Winnie the Pooh Café in Hartfield Village which is located in the historic Sackville Cottage from 1703.
Christopher Robin Milne visited a few times and mentions the cottage in his book The Enchanted Place.
The entire place is filled with sketches, photos, toys and ‘Pooh-fernalia’.
There is even a large gift shop and ‘Poohseum’ which tells you the full story of A. A. Milne, the books, Disney and more. It contains hundreds of items.
The best part is the chance to indulge in a Winnie the Pooh cream tea. I particularly loved their Pooh Toast.
It makes the perfect addition to a day out in Pooh Country and you can’t miss it.
Is the Hundred Acre Wood worth visiting?
Yes, I had the most magical time at the real Hundred Acre Wood and am planning a trip to go back already.
It brought back so many childhood memories and I loved bringing my teddy along.
It’s an enchanting day out for all the family and a treat for fans of Winnie the Pooh and his friends.
Make sure to add the real Hundred Acre Wood in England to your literary bucket list!
My top tips for your visit
- Arrive early for a guaranteed space in Pooh Car Park and fewer crowds! It’s open all hours but an earlier start means a less stressful visit.
- In wet weather, bring wellies or waterproofs. It gets quite mucky due to footfall.
- Always stick to the public footpaths, it’s private land and pedestrians are only permitted to use designated walking paths.
- Bring your cuddly toy if you have one. People of all ages do it and it’s so sweet to take photos of Pooh and his friends in their houses!
Read more of my South East England guides
The best things to do in Rye
Visiting the magical Mermaid Street in Rye
Ouse Valley Viaduct
How to spend one day in Brighton
The prettiest street in Canterbury
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