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: 165

, currently showing 41 to 60.

  1. Andover

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    Type:

    Towns & Villages

    Andover

    Explore the rich heritage of the Hampshire market town of Andover in the Test Valley at the Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age.

  2. Old Thorns Championship Golf Course

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    Type:

    Special Interest

    Liphook

    Old Thorns magnificent championship golf course ranges across the rolling hills of the Hampshire countryside and offers fantastic views at every turn.

  3. Portsmouth

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    Type:

    Cities

    Clarence Esplanade, Portsmouth

    With a rich maritime and naval history, Portsmouth's fortunes have long been intimately tied to the sea. Even today, many of Portsmouth's most stunning features and most popular attractions are found near the harbour.

  4. Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age

    Type

    Type:

    Museums & Galleries

    Andover

    Housed in a Georgian town house built in the 1750s, Andover Museum tells the story of the town and its surrounding area from prehistoric times to the present day.

  5. Fleet

    Type

    Type:

    Towns & Villages

    Fleet is situated in the north-east corner of Hampshire, near the M3 motorway and surrounded by small thriving towns and many parishes of unspoiled villages and pretty hamlets.

  6. St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery

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    Type:

    Museums & Galleries

    Lymington

    St. Barbe Museum explores the unique history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast. Take a journey and discover the people, places and events that have made the New Forest coast unique with our up-to-date interactive museum displays. Experience some…

  7. SeaCity Museum

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    Type:

    Museum

    Southampton

    Based at the heart of Southampton, SeaCity Museum tells the story of the people of the city, their fascinating lives and historic connections with Titanic and the sea. Visit SeaCity Museum and Southampton to discover how they bring maritime history…

  8. Winchester City Museum

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    Type:

    Museums & Galleries

    Winchester

    Located in the heart of the historic city of Winchester, City Museum tells the story of England's ancient capital, the seat of Alfred the Great. From its origins as an Iron Age trading centre to Anglo-Saxon glory, the last journey of Jane Austen to…

  9. Hampshire Cultural Trust

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    Museum

    WINCHESTER

    Hampshire Cultural Trust was established as an independent charity in 2014 to promote Hampshire as a county that offers outstanding cultural experiences to both its residents and visitors.

  10. The Emsworth Business Association

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    Type:

    Shopping Centre

    Emsworth

    Tucked away in the south east corner of Hampshire on the shore of Chichester Harbour, Emsworth is a quiet and attractive, yet vibrant and dynamic town, where residents wouldn’t live anywhere else and visitors can be sure of a friendly welcome…

  11. Wightlink Ferries

    Type

    Type:

    Boat

    Portsmouth

    Wightlink is the largest ferry operator to the Isle of Wight, operating round the clock, 365 days a year, and offering a choice of three routes across the Solent.

    Car ferries operate between Portsmouth and Fishbourne on the east of the Island.…

  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. O2 Guildhall Southampton

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    Type:

    Venue Provider

    Southampton

    O2 Guildhall Southampton is the South's largest multipurpose entertainment venue. Hosting some of the biggest names in music from Pink Floyd & David Bowie in the 70's to present day bands such as Hard Fi, Manic Street Preachers and The Killers. With…

  14. The 1642 Living History Village

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    Type:

    Museum

    Gosport

    A representational Hampshire village set in the year 1642. Timber and thatched buildings, occupants dressed and speak in 17thC style.

  15. Eastney Engine Houses

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    Type:

    Museum

    Eastney, Southsea

    Visit the impressive Victorian buildings, which showcase the marvels of Victorian engineering. Get up close to some impressive machines – some of which date back to 1887 – and have been restored to their original condition.

  16. Quob Park Estate

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    Type:

    Hotel Spa

    Fareham

    Experience the ultimate wine-tasting journey with our advanced Enomatic and Podbar wine-tasting machines.
    At every Quob Park location, our wine-tasting machines provide access to a universe of exquisite wines, with over 150 varietals available to…

  17. Fareham

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    Town

    Fareham

    The market town of Fareham lies halfway between the larger cities of Southampton and Portsmouth.

  18. Selborne

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    Towns & Villages

    The attractive village of Selborne is famous for its association with the 18th Century literary naturalist Gilbert White.

  19. Bombay Sapphire

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    Type:

    Distillery

    Whitchurch

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

  20. St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Alresford

    St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke