Basingstoke

In Basingtoke 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 cafés and bistros to one of the south's best shopping centres, Festival Place.

The Anvil, with its excellent acoustics, is one of the region's leading music venues while Anvil Arts offers an exciting and varied programme of dance, theatre, opera, and comedy. Basingstoke also plays host to the annual kite and balloon festivals and the music festival Basingstoke Live.

Alongside the Leisure Park, with its ice skating, bowling, swimming complex and cinemas, you'll find the fascinating Milestones museum. Here you can walk through Victorian and 1930s streets, explore the shops, houses and workplaces of yesteryear and discover what everyday life was like for our ancestors.

Fabrics such as wool, silk and Burberry gabardine have played an important role in Basingtoke's development and at nearby Whitchurch Silk Mill, which produces high quality silk for costume dramas and stately homes, you can find out more about this fascinating tradition.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside, with accommodation to suit all budgets and with excellent transport links, Basingstoke also has many nearby attractions. Stratfield Saye House offers an intriguing insight into the life of the Great Duke of Wellington, whose family lived there from 1817, while novelist Jane Austen attended balls at Tudor mansion The Vyne, originally home to Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain.

Basing House played a key role in the English Civil War while Highclere Castle on the Hampshire/Berkshire border houses an exhibition of ancient Egyptian treasures collected by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun.

Basingstoke's Roman and Iron Age heritage can be seen at Calleva Atrebatum, Roman Silchester, with its well-preserved defensive walls.

Shortbreak and attraction offers in North Hampshire

A 'Relax & Recharge' short break away in North Hampshire is the perfect way to unwind, de-stress and just enjoy life. Simply book one of the selected hotels and you'll receive a Relax and Recharge passport giving you special offers featuring attractions, activities and eating out.

Accommodation in Basingstoke

All our accommodation has been inspected and quality assessed by either the AA or Visit Britain, so you can be sure of a friendly professional welcome.

See an up-to-date listing of guest house and bed and breakfast accommodation and hotels in Basingstoke.

Shopping and eating out 

An array of small shops, large arcades and tempting eateries. Dominating the heart of Basingstoke is Festival Place, Hampshire's regional shopping destination.

Arts and Theatres

There are several high quality arts venues in Basingstoke, catering for all appetites and tastes - from classical music and comedy to West End plays and modern dance.

Leisure Park

The Leisure Park offers a wide range of activities including ice skating, bingo and bowls. It is home to a multiplex cinema, a bowling alley and one of the most exciting swimming facilities in the country.