Summary
Situated in a valley at the origin of the River Loddon, Basingstoke became Hampshire’s most significant settlement during its rapid expansion in the 1960s and 70s.
This town, however, dates back further, having been granted a royal charter in 1622. Renowned monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I frequented the nearby Tudor residences, Basing House and the Vyne, both of which are accessible to visitors, albeit in varying conditions of preservation.
The surrounding countryside offers an abundance of activities, including hikes in the North Wessex Downs, visits to the Bombay Sapphire gin distillery, and explorations of a Georgian silk mill renowned for producing exquisite fabrics.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Basingstoke:
1. Milestones Museum
The primary attraction at Basingstoke’s Leisure Park is an interactive museum located within a spacious hangar-like structure completed in 2000. The museum features a meticulously recreated street scene that reflects Hampshire and Basingstoke during the 19th and mid-20th centuries.
Exhibits include a Victorian pub, a terraced residence, an ironmonger’s shop, and a railway station, in addition to a 1930s-1940s townscape with shops like a record store, toy store, and sweets shop.
Visitors can admire historic vehicles on the cobblestone streets, including an electric tram from Portsmouth, a Taskers of Andover traction engine, and a steam locomotive from the Avonside Engine Company.
Actors in period attire enhance the experience by sharing captivating stories and historical insights.
2. The Vyne
This magnificent 16th-century residence is located just north of the town.
The original Tudor house underwent expansions, adopting an early classical portico in the 17th century and a Palladian extension in the 18th century.
Guests can appreciate the intricately crafted linen-fold paneling in the Oak Gallery, as well as the stained glass and five-century-old majolica tiles in the Tudor chapel, complemented by audio of a Tudor-style mass to enrich the ambiance.
There are Murano glass pieces, tapestries, paintings, and exquisite period furniture on display, alongside narratives featuring notable visitors such as Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, and Jane Austen.
Do not overlook the Ring of Silvianus, a 4th-century Roman ring believed to have inspired elements in J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”
The grounds are enveloped in ancient woodlands, featuring a wetland area where common redshanks and swans establish their nests.
3. Basing House
Situated in the village of Old Basing, to the east of the contemporary town, lies one of Tudor England’s largest and most affluent palaces.
Basing House was erected for William Paulet, who served as treasurer to Edward VI, Queen Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I resided here during their respective reigns.
William’s successor, John Paulet, was a supporter of Charles I during the English Civil War, and Basing House was ultimately destroyed by fire following a siege in 1645. The bricks salvaged from the house were repurposed for local residences, yet the surviving ruins merit exploration, with enhancements made through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund in recent years.
Visitors can observe brick arches, doorways, cellars, bread ovens, and a vaulted tunnel.
The Great Barn, which still exhibits damage from the battle, has been restored and now features an audio-visual presentation along with exhibitions discussing the house’s history.
4. Eastrop Park
Located near Basingstoke’s railway station, Eastrop Park consistently receives the Green Flag Award, which is the highest honor for public parks in the UK. The River Loddon winds through the park, which includes a balancing pond situated within a wildlife area.
Visitors may be fortunate enough to spot a kingfisher hunting along the banks.
During the summer months, children enjoy the paddling pool, and pedal boats are available for hire. The Boathouse Cafe offers delightful cakes and beverages.
A crazy golf course is also operational during the warmer months, while the Basingstoke Concert Band performs concerts under a performance canopy adjacent to the boating lake.
5. Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery
Located in the Market Place within the Old Town Hall, the Willis Museum is distinguished by a bronze statue of Jane Austen unveiled in 1817, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the author’s passing.
The collection amassed at the Willis Museum originated from local clockmaker George Willis, featuring an array of intriguing artifacts.
Notable items in the collection include a hair from the mane of Copenhagen, the horse of the 1st Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo, a preserved Victorian wedding cake from a local shop display, pottery fragments from the nearby Roman settlement of Silchester, and a piece of rare 18th-century Delftware with tin-glazing.
Inaugurated in 2008, the Sainsbury Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions showcasing painting, photography, fashion, and popular culture.
6. The Anvil
A prominent performing arts center in the region, The Anvil opened its doors in 1994 and, true to its name, is designed in the shape of a giant anvil.
The 1,400-seat auditorium is acclaimed for possessing some of the finest acoustics in Europe, offering a densely packed calendar filled with opera, classical music, dance performances, touring bands, shows, and well-known comedians.
Among the artists scheduled for performances included Rufus Wainwright in June 2018, along with Gary Numan, Phill Jupitus, the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Sarah Millican, and Jason Manford later that summer.
7. War Memorial Park
A brief walk from the Willis Museum leads you to a Green Flag-winning park, which features mature woodlands, an aviary, a bandstand, and various sports facilities.
War Memorial Park was acquired through public subscriptions post-World War I to establish a memorial for Basingstoke.
Previously, this area served as the grounds for the Georgian estate known as Goldings, with the park arranged during the 1780s.
Numerous leaflets about the park’s offerings are available for download from the town’s website.
Particularly informative is the tree trail, which identifies historic tree species such as hornbeam, larch, oak, plane, ash, sycamore, Austrian pine, yew, and lime, all of which have been present since the days of the Goldings estate.
8. Whitchurch Silk Mill
A brief train journey westward from Basingstoke leads to a heritage attraction appealing to enthusiasts of beautiful textiles and industrial machinery alike.
The Whitchurch Silk Mill, operational since 1800, is a historic watermill on Frog Island, continuing over a millennium of milling activity in this area.
As the oldest silk mill in the country utilizing its original structure, the Whitchurch Silk Mill is equipped with 19th-century looms powered by a 1.68m breastshot waterwheel, still operational nearly 220 years after the mill’s inception.
A gift shop offers locally produced fabrics, and a tea room awaits visitors seeking a satisfying finish to their excursion.
9. Stratfield Saye House
In 1817, this 17th-century Mannerist estate was acquired by the nation to establish a stately home for Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, in gratitude for his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo.
Stratfield Saye has remained the residence of the Dukes of Wellington since that time.
The stables house the Wellington Exhibition, displaying various personal items belonging to Arthur Wellesley, including his funeral carriage crafted from repurposed French cannons from Waterloo.
The grounds also feature a commemorative column honoring the 1st Duke, erected in 1863. An interior tour of the house reveals the Entrance Hall, which showcases genuine Roman mosaics sourced from nearby Silchester, along with the Gallery furnished with luxurious items acquired by the 1st Duke in Paris in 1817.
10. Watership Down
En route to the Whitchurch Silk Mill lies a chalk hill within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Watership Down served as inspiration for Richard Adams’ 1972 novel and the animated film from 1978, depicting rabbits’ hazardous journey to a new burrow.
This hill represents the destination Richard Adams envisioned for his characters.
Like many hills in this region of England, it was once crowned by an Iron Age fort.
Watership Down still features terraced formations (lynchets) and mounds indicating human habitation from approximately 2,500 years ago.
One can commence a walk on the gentle southern slope and traverse or cycle across the ridge, enjoying views westward toward Ladle Hill and Beacon Hill, both adorned with remnants of Iron Age hillforts.
11. Odiham Castle
Constructed during his 17-year reign at the onset of the 13th century, King John erected just three fortifications, one of which is Odiham Castle.
Its strategic location is midway between royal residences in Winchester and Windsor.
It is speculated that King John departed from Odiham on the day he signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede, and the castle was besieged by the French a year later in 1216 during the First Barons’ War.
Throughout the 13th century, Odiham Castle served as a meeting place for Parliament, and in the 14th century, King David II of Scotland was imprisoned here for 11 years before eventually returning north.
While Odiham Castle has remained unused since the early 17th century, two stories of the octagonal keep endure, accompanied by informative signage.
12. Silchester Roman Walls
Located along the border of Hampshire and Berkshire, a short distance north of Basingstoke, lie the remnants of the Roman city of Calleva Atrebatum.
Upon the Romans’ arrival in the 1st century AD, an Iron Age oppidum existed, which was subsequently enclosed by polygonal walls.
The complete circuit of walls invites visitors for a walk, and one can stand in the earthwork depression that marks the former location of Calleva Atrebatum’s amphitheater.
A natural spring, which once supplied water to the city’s baths, is still present, and just inside the eastern perimeter stands the Church of St. Mary.
Dating back to the 1100s, it may have been constructed atop a Roman temple, utilizing repurposed Roman stone.
Noteworthy features include the Perpendicular rood screen and a 14th-century ogee-arched recess housing a tomb effigy of a woman clad in a wimple.
13. Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Located less than ten miles from Basingstoke, the Bombay Sapphire gin brand recently relocated its distillery to the Laverstoke Mill, a historic Georgian paper mill.
This facility merits a visit, both for its listed 18th-century mill structures and the stunning greenhouses crafted by Heatherwick Studio to cultivate the gin’s botanicals.
During the tour, participants receive insider knowledge about the ten botanicals that comprise the gin, including juniper berries, liquorice, lemon peel, almond, coriander, and angelica.
Additionally, visitors will learn about the intricacies of “vapour-infusion distillation” at the Dakin Still House and can enjoy a customized cocktail at the Mill Bar as part of the experience.
14. Basingstoke Leisure Park
While the Milestones Museum is a key attraction at Basingstoke Leisure Park, located one mile west of the town center, there are other notable reasons to visit.
The Aquadrome offers an affordable family outing in the summer, featuring a child-centered lagoon area with three waterslides, alongside adrenaline-pumping attractions like Skizone, an indoor ski slope, and iFLY, an indoor skydiving facility.
Additionally, Planet Ice boasts a full-sized ice skating rink, and the Basingstoke Golf Centre features a 22-bay driving range and a nine-hole par 3 course designed to accommodate children and novice players.
15. Crabtree Plantation
In the southeastern area of Basingstoke, bordered by the M3, lies a nature reserve that was once part of the parkland for the Hackwood Estate.
Evidence of its historical significance is visible at the main entrance, marked by an impressive Neoclassical gateway, the Bolton Arch, featuring Doric columns.
The Crabtree Plantation comprises grasslands interspersed with oak, sycamore, ash, and horse chestnut woodland.
This habitat is crucial for the endangered white letter hairstreak butterfly, and visitors can obtain a guided walking leaflet from the council’s website, detailing where to observe this species during the summer months.
