It is a fishing village, but the trade has been in decline for a period of years and its main draw now is tourism, especially sailing.

Keyhaven draws visitors through its outstanding natural beauty, from the views over the Solent to the abundance of open farm land.

The name "Keyhaven" means ‘Harbour where cows are shipped’; OE cū (genitive cȳ) + hæfen.

[2] The lands of Bath Abbey were held by them until the time of the Dissolution, but in the 17th century it seems that the two manors were merged, and in 1802 the estate was purchased by Sir John D'Oyly.

[3] In the 1930s a proposal was made to run a car ferry between Keyhaven and Fort Victoria on the Isle of Wight.