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Sitting in the heart of the Test Valley, with the River Test running through it, Stockbridge is a pretty town that was built upon an old drovers’ route.
Today, you’ll find plenty to do in and around Stockbridge, plus it’s a great base for exploring wider Hampshire too.
Take a look at our top 10 things to do in Stockbridge:
Explore Stockbridge’s many independent stores
Stockbridge is oozing with independent flare and here you’ll find a variety of boutiques and specialists shops here.
Whiskey lovers should be sure to pop into the Little Whiskey Shop, anyone with an eye for art should head to the Wykeham Gallery and anyone keen on fishing should check out the dedicated fishing shops too. Added to this are some specialist food and wine shops.
Walk on Stockbridge Common Marsh
A short walk from Stockbridge’s historic High Street will lead you to Stockbridge Common Marsh. Owned by the National Trust, this area is great for a walk or a picnic and offers some spectacular views over the River Test. Why not grab a coffee from nearby Kudos Coffee before walking there?
Cycle or walk The Test Way
The Test Way is a 44-mile long distance walking route which travels through Stockbridge. Walk the entire distance or take it in stages. A popular walk along it from Stockbridge is to head towards The Mayfly Pub and back. Or, follow the route south as it heads to Romsey.
A section of the Test Way follows along the disused railway track and this area is great for some off-road cycling and is very popular with families.
Enjoy brunch at Meadow
Whether you’ve burnt off energy on a walk or a cycle, or you just fancy a treat. Meadow, on Stockbridge High Street, offers a great pit stop for a brunch. There’s an outdoor area which is bike and dog-friendly and you’ll find some great brunch or lunch choices on the menu.
Fishing
Fishing is big business in Stockbridge! The gin-clear waters of the River Test make for perfect locations for fly fishing. There are several businesses who offer fly fishing tutoring including Upstream Dry Fly and Fishing Breaks.
Fine dining
If you are looking to treat yourselves to some fine dining, then be sure to make a reservation at The Greyhound on the Test (winner of many a culinary award) or at French-inspired Clos du Marquis.
Trout ‘n About Festival
A date for your diaries, is the annual Trout ‘n About Festival. Set in the heart of Stockbridge, this thriving local food festival takes place on the first Sunday of August every year and features over 100 stalls showcasing the best in local food, produce and crafts.
Longstock Park Water Gardens
Forming part of Waitrose & Partners’ Leckford Estate, Longstock Park Water Gardens is an area of tranquillity with a significant plant collection featuring 40 different species of waterlily alone.
Just a couple of miles outside of Stockbridge, you could easily combine a visit here with some of Stockbridge's other attractions.
Take a wildlife walk on Stockbridge Down
Rich in both archaeology and wildlife, Stockbridge Down offers elevated views across the Test Valley. Fourteen Scheduled Ancient Monuments can be found on this National Trust landscape, including Bronze Age burial mounds and the remains of an Iron Age hillfort.
The chalky grassland lends itself as a habitat for many species of bird and butterfly.
Houghton Lodge Garden
In the hamlet of Houghton, just a short reach from Stockbridge, is Houghton Lodge Garden. Take a stroll through the Walled Garden for the impressive espalier fruit trees, amble along the banks of the River Test and meet the garden’s resident alpacas; Tom, Dick and Harry.
A tearoom can be found by the main entrance to the gardens, making a perfect resting spot on a summer’s day. Houghton Lodge Garden also offers on-site self-catering accommodation, The Apple Rooms.
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Welcome to the Wykeham Gallery one of the country’s leading contemporary art galleries exhibiting paintings of all media, an extensive collection of bronze sculpture as well as ceramics and glass
The Test Way is a 44-mile long distance walking route that will take you from its dramatic start, high on the chalk downs at Inkpen, to follow much of the course of the River Test to Eling where its tidal waters flow into Southampton Water. Without doubt, the Test is one of Hampshire’s finest chalk streams, world famous for its superb trout fishing.
In the sleepy village of Nether Wallop is home to thatched cottages clustered alongside the crystal clear chalkstream rivers and the Mill is where Fishing Breaks is located an idyllic fishing haven.
Standing proud on the main thoroughfare of one of Hampshire’s prettiest towns famed for its fly fishing, this lovingly restored, 15th century colour-washed coaching inn is a class act.
A taste of France in the heart of the Test Valley, Clos du Marquis offers fresh, traditional French cuisine and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Trout ‘n About is a thriving local food festival which takes place in the market town of Stockbridge on the first Sunday of August every year. With over 100 stalls showcasing the very best of local food, produce and crafts, it is a family friendly event attracting thousands of visitors from all around.
Longstock Park Water Garden on the Leckford Estate opens its Water Garden during the year between April – September.
It is a family home that has been described by visitors as ‘a little piece of heaven’ with gardens, which provide colour and delight throughout the seasons. Houghton Lodge and Gardens is situated in the heart of the Test Valley and only five minutes from the local market town of Stockbridge. Built in 1793 and probably intended as a fishing lodge, Houghton Lodge is the UK's best surviving example of an 18th Century Cottage Orné.
A unique countryside retreat in Test Valley at Houghton Lodge Gardens. What was once a collection of dormant cow sheds of one of Hampshire’s most beautiful, privately owned historic houses, is now a bespoke collection of six individually designed boutique en-suite bedrooms called The Apple Rooms.
Situated in the heart of the pretty town of Stockbridge in the beautiful Test Valley, Tap Cottage is a delightful holiday home, renovated to an exceptional standard and perfectly located to explore the surrounding area with Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Avebury and Beaulieu all within easy reach.
We are a farm campsite, just a short walk to the bustling town of Stockbridge, with its many pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops. We are a ‘dark sky’ site, where you can enjoy the sunsets, and maybe see some shooting stars whilst you are toasting your marshmallows!
