to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
.jpg "Victorious Festival")
Sandy toes, fabulous festivals, balmy evenings, and outdoor fun – it feels like summer! Read on for beach bucketloads of ideas and inspiration for how to enjoy those warm summer days and nights here in Hampshire.
1. Dance the day and night away at a summer festival like Victorious bringing music headliners Richard Ashcroft and Kasabian to the Southsea seafront over the August bank holiday weekend.
2. SUP and sip with a paddleboard to the pub outing.
3. Witness the cricket action of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 as the Hampshire Bowl hosts six international matches in June.
4. Wriggle sand between your toes with a day out at the beach.
5. Have a Regency summer with a visit to Jane Austen's House in the pretty Hampshire village of Chawton.
6. Join the Portsmouth100 celebrations as it marks 100 years of city status with special events including a BBC Radio 3 show live from Portsmouth Guildhall in June, and a Pride of Portsmouth Lion Trail from July to September.
7. Get your skates on to Westquay Southampton and try out the pop-up rollerskating rink in August.
8. Brave the new land of Valgard: Realm of the Vikings at Paultons Park.
9. Have a sweet day out with a spot of strawberry picking.
10. Roll out your blanket at a picturesque outdoor picnic spot like beside the Beaulieu River at Buckler’s Hard.
11. Walk the Hampshire section of the new King Charles III England Coast Path – the world’s longest managed coastal path running for 2,700 miles around the coast of England.
12. Savour the flavour at a Hampshire food festival or event like the Winchester Foodies Festival in July.
13. Cool down in a canoe with an expedition on the tranquil Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities.
14. Witness the exhilarating action of SailGP’s fast and furious racing at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth in July.
15. Raise a glass during English Wine Week at the Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest or visit a Hampshire vineyard to learn about and taste the county’s award-winning sparkling wine.
16. See one of England's most iconic cathedrals in full bloom at Wild! Festival of flowers and nature at Winchester Cathedral in September.
17. See in the summer solstice sunrise from the highest point in Hampshire in the South Downs National Park with the Summer Solstice Dusk-till-Dawn Walk at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
18. Wave your Union Jack flags along to classical English summer music with the real Downton Abbey as the backdrop at the Highclere Castle Battle Proms Picnic Concert.
19. Have a Hampshire summer holiday between the coast and countryside with New Forest Cottages.
20. Take your bucket and bait to one of the best places to go crabbing in Hampshire for a claw-some day out.
21. Pedal into longer evenings with a beautiful bike ride – try the Little Switzerland Cycle Route near Winchester, the Test Valley Circular, or the South Downs Way National Trail.
22. Splish and splosh at outdoor swimming pools and splash parks, like the newly renovated Hilsea Lido.
23. Pick up some tasty treats from a city bakery and have a picnic with Winchester Cathedral as your magnificent backdrop.
24. Enjoy an alfresco show with the outdoor theatre and cinema events at The Vyne.
25. Feel the need for speed with Thruxton Circuit’s racing events including the new Steeleford Supercar Circuit in June and Bennetts British Superbikes Championship 30th Anniversary in August.
26. Sleep under a starlit sky at one of Hampshire’s campsites or glamping sites.
27. Explore some of Hampshire’s glorious gardens in their summer prime, like Exbury and Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.
28. Have a Day out with Thomas and take a ride on a steam train through the lush green fields beside The Watercress Line.
29. Book a summer stay at Hampshire’s newest luxury hotel on the banks of the Lymington River, THE NICI New Forest, complete with sea view bedrooms, rejuvenating spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and two restaurants.
30. Pass the popcorn and catch a movie under the stars at an outdoor cinema screening.
31. Take a trip to Hayling Island: cycle or walk the Hayling Billy Coastal Path or sit on the Blue Flag beach with an ice cream.
32. Visit a vibrant sunflower field and take the perfect Instagram pic amongst the lofty blooms.
33. Be surrounded by botanical beauty at one of Hampshire’s fairytale flower fields.
34. See the exclusive vehicles of Beaulieu Supercar Weekend in August and visit the National Motor Museum to see its world-famous collection of cars.
35. Eat alfresco at one of the county’s pub gardens or best places to eat or drink outdoors in Hampshire.
.jpg)
36. Take the coastal walk along Hurst Spit to visit Hurst Castle and enjoy the scenic ferry ride back to Keyhaven.
37. Delight in your favourite scoop at one of Hampshire’s top ice cream spots.
38. Create cooling cocktails and discover the botanicals behind the gin at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery.
39. Try some contrast therapy and visit one of Hampshire’s wild saunas, complemented by a dip in a Hampshire lake, coastal waters, or a plunge pool.
40. Make a splash and take to the water to try out some watersports in Hampshire.
41. Sizzle your sausages in stunning surroundings by hiring a BBQ at Queen Elizabeth, Lepe, or Royal Victoria Country Park.
42. Stay chilled as the summer hots up one of the coolest places to stay with a pool in Hampshire.
43. Plan a city break in Southampton, Portsmouth, or Winchester and enjoy culture, history, and alfresco eating.
44. Soak up the county’s coastline at a waterside country park – try Lepe, River Hamble Country Park, or Royal Victoria Country Park.
45. Take on an inflatable obstacle water course at the New Forest Water Park or Lymington Seawater Baths.
46. Have a summer holiday at a Hampshire holiday park like Sandy Balls Holiday Village in the New Forest or Mill Rythe Holiday Village on Hayling Island.
47. Go to the Southampton Boat Show in September and step aboard some of the UK’s most exclusive yachts and motorboats.
48. Seek shade in the woodland of the New Forest National Park and meet the resident ponies grazing amongst the late summer purple heather.
49. Go butterfly spotting at the St Catherine's Hill Nature Reserve and walk to the top for showstopping views of Winchester.
50. Have a traditional seaside day out in Southsea – amble along the promenade, stroll down the South Parade Pier, or have a picnic on Southsea Common.
Start planning your summer in Hampshire
See what events are on in Hampshire this summer
Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest news, events and offers
