Jane Austen House in Chawton, East Hampshire, home of the literary great, writer of Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park

Jane Austen House

East Hampshire

Things To Do in Hampshire

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There are so many top things to do in Hampshire, a county famous for the home of Downton Abbey at Highclere Castle, and the iconic Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.  A county where Bombay Gin is made and where Jane Austen lived, wrote and is now laid to rest.  Visit Hampshire and discover its rich with beautiful countryside, vibrant cities and towns and a diverse coastline providing dramatic views, great walks and places to enjoy tranquillity and nature.  

Hampshire is home to the New Forest National Park, which stretches across 140,000 acres of ancient woodland and unspoilt grassland. It's one of the most beautiful national parks in the UK and home to the famous New Forest ponies, with dozens of walking and cycling trails to explore.  The South Downs National Park lies at the heart of the county, with its rolling green pastures, ancient woodlands and river valleys.  It is the newest of the National Parks, stretching from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east.

Hampshire is a county full of hidden gems and new discoveries, with its clear chalk streams, thatched cottages and cosy pubs, historic buildings, fascinating interactive museums, bustling market towns and three cities.

Portsmouth, the UK's only island city with its rich maritme history, award-winning attractions, historic fortifications and busy year round events calendar.

Southampton, this South coast port city  with links to the infamous Titanic and famous Mayflower. Home to the internationally renowned Boat Show with a large shopping and cultural centre, one of contenders for City of Culture 2025.

Winchester, once the ancient capital city of the UK with its cobbled streets, historic Winchester Cathedral, links with Jane Austen and King Alfred the Great, one of England's smallest cities making it ideal to explore on foot.

East Hampshire includes the famous village of Chawton, home of Jane Austen and her brother Edward, and the ancient market town of Petersfield formally an important coaching stop between Portsmouth and London.

Find out more about the county's towns and villages including Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent, with its 24 miles of waterfront, Basingstoke the largest town in Hampshire and many more using our interactive map of Hampshire.

Things to do in Hampshire this weekend

Many of Hampshire's tourist attractions and points of interest are open all year round making it an ideal location to visit any time of the year. Find something to do today with activities listings each showing a map and opening times for your convenience. Or why not browse our events guide to find out what's on in Hampshire today or this week.

Top 10 things to do in Hampshire

From period dramas such as the hit ITV show Downton Abbey, to action movies including James Bond, Hampshire has set the scene for a wide variety of productions. Take a tour and find out more about some of the county's best known film locations.

For ideas and inspiration on where to stay, what's on and things to do in Hampshire visit the official website, Visit Hampshire.

List of things to do & places to visit for days out in Hampshire

For more information about Hampshire, including ideas for days out, attractions and events, view the list below for information on things to do and towns and villages in Hampshire. Use the 'map view' button to find something near you.

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Number of results: 163

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  1. Whitchurch

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    Towns & Villages

    Situated on the River Test and surrounded by picturesque rolling countryside, Whitchurch is Hampshire’s smallest town; it is also the first Walkers are Welcome town in North Hampshire. Early settlements here date from around 400BC, and there is also…

  2. New Milton

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    Towns & Villages

    New Milton

    New Milton is a market town in south west Hampshire situated on the edge of the New Forest.

  3. Wickham

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    Towns & Villages

    The village of Wickham in the Meon Valley is home to the second largest medieval square in England. The bustling village centre is filled with interesting buildings and a selection of tea rooms, restaurants and independent shops.

  4. Bombay Sapphire

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    Distillery

    Whitchurch

    Based at Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, just 15 miles from Winchester and 10 miles from Basingstoke, the Bombay Sapphire Distillery is in a conservation area with over 1000 years of history.

  5. Chawton

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    Towns & Villages

    Chawton

    Home of Jane Austen for the last eight years of her life, Chawton is a delightful village near Alton in Hampshire.

    You can visit Jane Austen's House, where she wrote or revised all her novels, and see the Chawton House Library where Jane's brother,…

  6. Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson

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    Historic Site

    Fareham

    Fort Nelson is a superbly restored Victorian fort overlooking Portsmouth Harbour. It is home to the Royal Armouries national artillery collection with over 350 historic guns on display.

  7. Manor Farm

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    Farm

    Southampton

    Traditional Hampshire farmstead - range of buildings, farm animals, machinery and equipment, pre-1950's farmhouse and 13thC church set for 1900 - living history site.

  8. Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium

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    Science Centre

    Morn Hill, Winchester

    Winchester Science Centre is more than a day out. It’s a chance to spark your children’s curiosity in science which could lead them on an exciting journey for life! Situated in the stunning South Downs National Park, this exciting family destination…

  9. Restaurant 1865 at The Queens Hotel, Portsmouth

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    Restaurant

    Southsea

    Restaurant 1865 really captures the grandeur of Edwardian elegance and transports you back in time with its |5ft high ceilings, elaborate plasterwork and exquisite chandeliers.

    Our casual dining restaurant is open to hotel residents and…

  10. Aldershot

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    Towns & Villages

    Princes Way, Aldershot

    Known as The Home of the British Army, Aldershot has been one of the most important military towns in the UK since 1854. It's not surprising then, that Aldershot boasts one of the best military museums outside of London.

  11. Basingstoke

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    Towns & Villages

    Basingstoke

    In Basingstoke you'll find a rich heritage dating back to Roman times and beyond and also the best that a modern town has to offer. Basingstoke has many attractions for visitors, from pavement cafes and bistros to one of the south's best shopping…

  12. Winchester Castle

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    Historic Site

    Winchester

    Winchester Castle includes The Great Hall, The Round Table and Queen Eleanor's Garden - see individual entries for more details.

  13. The Pyramids Centre

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    Leisure & Activity Centres

    Southsea, Portsmouth

    One of Portsmouth’s largest health and wellbeing centres, located just off Southsea Beach.

  14. Buriton Literary Walk Inspired by W H Hudson

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    Walking

    Petersfield

    This walk starts in the village of Buriton and explores parts of the South Downs National Park. W H Hudson was an accomplished, self taught field naturalist. His first book was published in 1885 and his twenty-third a year after his death in 1922.…

  15. Danebury Ring

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    Historic Site

    Stockbridge

    A fine example of an Iron Age hill fort and an excellent vantage point. Many finds shown in Iron Age Museum in Andover.

  16. Liss

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    Village

    Liss

    The parish of Liss consists of 3,567 acres of semi-rural countryside, and is one of the largest in East Hampshire.

  17. Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery

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    Museum

    Petersfield

    Situated at the foot of the South Downs, Petersfield Museum tells the story of Petersfield and the surrounding villages through an exciting mix of archaeology, art, historic dress, literature, photography, poetry and social history.

  18. Sparsholt

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    Towns & Villages

    Spharsholt

    Sparsholt is a village and civil parish in Hampshire and lies to the west of Winchester, and has a population of 967.

  19. Ringwood

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    Towns & Villages

    Ringwood

    The western gateway to the New Forest National Park, Ringwood is an ideal touring base. This unspoilt market town is situated on the River Avon and has plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

  20. Alver Valley Country Park

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    Country / Royal Park

    Lee-on-the-Solent

    The Alver Valley is Gosport's wildlife haven, and there's always something to see and do throughout the through the changing seasons. It’s a great place to go for a walk, with plenty of routes and different landscapes.