A few hours in the New Forest-where to go?

[parachutes]

Hi, we're off to Dorset for the first week in May but are stopping in the New Forest to break the journey. Can anyone recommend a nice place to eat/rest for a while?
Ds cannot walk for too long so we're really just looking for somewhere to park the car, stretch our legs and eat etc. Have never been so am totally at a loss.

TIA

I know some nice places near Brockenhurst but if you're going on a Saturday then you want to avoid the Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst road as its gridlocked. Or it is in the sumemr anyway, guess it may be a bit better in May.

Standing Hat car park is on this road and is a nice place.

Thanks VivaLeBeaver, I'll look it up. We're going on a Friday so should hopefully be fine.

Milford on Sea. Nice very small town, but drive to the beach, carpark there right overlooking the front. Shingle beach, nice cafe, views over to the Isle of Wight.
Or Lymington, just along from Milford. Nice High Street, and at the bottom is the marina so nice place to sit and watch the boats coming and going.
Or Beaulieu. Nice, pretty village with a "green" by the tidal river to sit amongst the ponies and have a picnic.

Avon Heath country park, just past Ringwood - has a great cafe and play equipment an also some laid out walks from 1km. Also a visitor centre with activities for kids - lovely. You only pay for parking

or Lyndhurst - park at "Bolton's Bench" car park, on the left just before the town. Kids can run around and there are loads of cafes in the high street

as others have said lyndhurst and brockenhurst are nice but traffic may be awful.
barton on sea is a lovely little spot cafe, rocky beach and clifftops.

depends what day you go. You get to Avon Heath off the M27 so would avoid traffic in towns but if it's mid week, you'll be fine going to Lyndhurst or Brock

Thanks for all the replies, some great suggestions!