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Summer is in full swing, the school holidays start at the end of the month, and jubilant July brings an abundance of festival fun, exciting events, and outdoor adventures.
Here are our top picks of what’s on and things to do in Hampshire this July.
Catch an outdoor movie at The Vyne
Midsummer is the perfect time to enjoy all things alfresco, and The Vyne’s season of outdoor cinema this July is the perfect excuse to roll out the picnic blanket and enjoy a movie under the summer night sky.
Outdoor cinema at The Vyne includes showings of Pride & Prejudice on 16 July 2026, Gruffalo and Stickman on 17 July 2026 (sold out), EPiC | Elvis Presley in Concert on 17 July 2026, Mamma Mia! on 19 July 2026, and Andrea Bocelli on 19 July 2026. There’s also Outdoor theatre: As You Like It on 12 July 2026.
Play Wild at Winchester Science Centre
On 18 July 2026, the Winchester Science Centre is launching Play Wild, an exciting new outdoor play area featuring three interactive, chalk-landscape-themed zones that are included in general admission: Dino Dig where fossils can be unearthed and there’s a giant mosasaur model to climb, The Chalk Stream where children can learn about the local ecosystem in flowing water, and Dormouse Den where kids can climb, crawl, and hide in a natural woodland habitat.
Enjoy a Hampshire family day out for less with the Great British Summer Savings scheme
The UK Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme means a temporary VAT cut this summer on a range of tourism and leisure activities, designed to lower the cost of family days out during the school summer holidays.
From country parks and stunning gardens to family-friendly experiences and outdoor adventures, discover where you can enjoy a memorable Hampshire day out for less this summer with our round-up of Hampshire Attractions Passing on the Summer VAT Saving.
Walk amongst purple fields of lavender
With a smell as reminiscent of summer as its deep purple hues – a visit to a lavender field makes for a beautiful summer outing, and Hampshire has one of the most stunning in the UK.
The Lavender Fields at Hartley Park Farm are nestled in the heart of the east Hampshire countryside near Alton, established by fourth-generation farmers with a love for their local landscape.
To see the lavender in its full splendour, visit in July, August, or early September, and don’t forget to stop by the onsite Lavender Farm Shop to savour that lovely perfume with some local lavender produce.
Get dressed up, Regency style, at Jane Austen's House
Join Jane Austen’s House for their popular Dress Up Day on 18 July 2026. Step out in Regency finery to pose, picnic, or promenade at Jane Austen's House and their pretty cottage garden. If you don't have a Regency outfit of your own, there'll be lots available for you to try on.
Catch some cricket action at Utilita Bowl
Following hot on the heels of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the cricket action continues at the Utilita Bowl throughout July with a Hants v Lancashire and Hants v Kent Spitfire Double Header on 5 July 2026, a Hants v The Blaze and Hants v Middlesex Double Header on 8 July 2026, England Men v India on 11 July 2026, Southern Brave v Welsh Fire on 22 July 2026, Southern Brave v MI London on 27 July 2026, and Southern Brave v Birmingham Phoenix on 30 July 2026.
See some iconic sailing from a historic fort
11 July 2026 is a great day to visit Hurst Castle when the iconic Round the Island Race will see over 1400 boats sail right in front of the castle’s unbeatable vantage point looking across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
There’s no need to book, simply catch the ferry from Keyhaven across to Hurst Castle and enjoy the view, but don’t forget to explore the historic fortress while you’re there!
There’s also a Tudor-Tastic Weekend at Hurst Castle on 4 and 5 July 2026, celebrating the 16th century history of Henry VIII’s coastal fortress.
Witness SailGP’s Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth
There’s more sailing action as SailGP’s Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix returns to Portsmouth from 25 to 26 July 2026.
After making its debut in 2025, the SailGP Championship is back on Southsea Common with 13 national teams set to battle for victory on the Solent.
Visitors can enjoy spectacular grandstand views of the flying F50 catamarans and Après-Sail entertainment provided by Jess Glynne and Craig David.
Tuck into Foodies Festival, Winchester’s Gastro-Glasto
The nation’s top chefs and music artists are combined at the Foodies Festival in Winchester from 17 to 19 July 2026 – a delectable celebration of cooking, tasty food, delicious drinks, and live music known as Gastro-Glastonbury.
MasterChef Champions, Michelin-starred and top local chefs will be cooking up their signature summer recipes in the Chefs Theatre and the Great British Bake Off stars will be demonstrating how to make show-stopping cakes in The Cake & Bake Theatre.
Gareth Gates, Boyzlife, and Symphonic Ibiza and Blue will be bringing the music, and there will be plenty of street food and drinks to sample whilst the kids join in the fun at The Kids Cookery Theatre.
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Swing into a treetop adventure with 15% off at Go Ape
Stay cool this July by swinging from the shady trees and tackling the treetop adventure courses at Go Ape - Moors Valley, Go Ape - Southampton, and Go Ape - Alice Holt.
What’s even more cool is that you can get 15% off all the Go Ape activities in Hampshire with the code V-H152627 (valid 7 days a week from 1 June 2026 until 31 May 2027) – perfect for a summer holidays activity for kids of all ages!
Swoop into a summer sunset at Hawk Conservancy Trust
Spend a special summer’s evening Sunset At The Trust at Hawk Conservancy Trust on 11 or 25 July 2026, when their feathered friends fly against a setting sun. Step inside the world of these awesome birds to watch them soar, swoop and dive over the grounds at dusk – showing off their skills before your very eyes.
Celebrate Asian culture at the Southampton Mela Festival
Celebrating modern and traditional Asian culture with performances by world-class musicians and dancers as well as a whole host of delicious and authentic food, the Southampton Mela Festival returns to Hoglands Park on 18 and 19 July 2026.
The Southampton Mela Festival is a celebration showcase of the year-round music and dance activity that Art Asia coordinates in the city. There will food stalls from local businesses across the southern region, as well as family fun activities, creative workshops, and a huge range of stalls to explore.
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Catch the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton Circuit
Gearing up for a thrilling weekend, the Thruxton Circuit welcomes the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship on 25 and 26 July 2026, with the nation's best drivers and fastest saloon cars providing two days of bumper-to-bumper motorsport action plus family-friendly entertainment, food and drink, merchandise stalls, live music and other activities to enjoy.
Have a Big History Weekend at Royal Armouries Fort Nelson
There’s a chance to experience the sights, sounds and stories of the past with the Big History Weekend at Royal Armouries Fort Nelson on 4 and 5 July 2026 with two days of interactive demonstrations, live re-enactments, and hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.
Highlights of this free event include, a Tudor falconry display, Viking and Saxon skirmishes, a Second World War dog search and rescue display, Roman story telling sessions, gun-firing, face painting, and a Time Travellers trail for all the family to enjoy.
Join a Royal Hunt with Beaulieu’s History Re-enactment Weekend
Beaulieu is also going back in time this July with A Royal Hunt: History Re-enactment Weekend on 11 and 12 July 2026, featuring live re-enactments, military displays with firing muskets and cannon fire, officers dining and the feeding of the troops and civilians, plus a live drum jam featuring music from the Civil War.
Horrible Histories also continues at Beaulieu until 31 August 2026, with children sure to devilishly delight in the terrible trail packed with disgusting details, motoring madness, and fabulously fatal fashion and foods.
July also sees the arrival of more motoring events at Beaulieu, with Swedish Takeover on 4 July 2026, Simply Land Rover on 5 July 2026, Simply Audi on 18 July 2026, and Simply Japanese on 19 July 2026.
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Savour coastal flavours at Lymington Seafood Festival
Eat and drink your way along Lymington’s pretty marina this July as the annual Lymington Seafood Festival celebrates its 10th birthday from 10 to 12 July 2026 with the ultimate summer weekend full of delicious south coast food and music.
The Chefs Demo Stage showcases the region’s best cookery, and the street food smells of scallops, lobster, seafood tacos, and surf n’ turf will be hard to resist.
New for 2026, the Drinks Stage will host a range of masterclasses, tastings and demonstrations from three leading drinks pros specialising in craft ale and beer, wine, and bubbles.
Go to The New Forest and Hampshire County Show
Showcasing the very best of all things agriculture from the New Forest and Hampshire from 28 to 30 July 2026, The New Forest and Hampshire County Show in Brockenhurst brings together livestock and equine competitors, local producers, and local businesses all topped off with lots of delicious food and drink and an exciting timetable of main ring attractions.
As well as the animals, there's countryside traditions and demonstrations, international show jumping, crafts, antiques, art, show gardens, flowers, vegetables, local produce, animals galore and show ring displays including the world-famous Heavy Horse Musical Drive.
Search for more events in Hampshire
50 things to do this summer in Hampshire
Fancy a July break? Take a look at our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages.
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Related
Fall in love all over again with the timeless romance of Pride & Prejudice on an open-air screen, set against The Vyne's stunning estate.
Step into the adventures of the Gruffalo and Stick Man on the big screen.
Experience the King of Rock 'n' Roll like never before with EPiC Elvis Presley in Concert, a powerful and electrifying cinematic concert event on a huge open-air screen.
The ultimate ABBA and Mamma Mia experience! Watch, dance and singalong with the classic movie and then party to ABBA's greatest hits for a night full of fun, music, and magic!
Experience Andrea Bocelli's incredible celebration concert on a huge open-air screen.
In this play Shakespeare explores Love in all its guises. Four pairs of soulmates meet in the mysterious Forest of Arden. One pair leap straight into bed. Another pair are instantaneously dumbstruck by each other's beauty and pledge their undying troth. The third pair torment each other: he showers chaste love upon her which she haughtily rejects - yet secretly she enjoys the flattery. The fourth pair go further still, playfully blurring their roles and identities to such an extent that flirting becomes more pain than pleasure, and Love itself is pushed to the limit of its endurance – and beyond.
Are you ready for an action-packed family adventure? Set off on an exciting journey through the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) at Winchester Science Centre.
Step back in time and get a sense of life in Regency England by joining Jane Austen's House for their popular annual Dress Up Day! On this special Saturday, you're invited to dress up in your finest Regency outfits! If you don't have a Regency dress of your own, there'll be plenty for you to try on.
Hampshire Cricket's home since 2001, the picture-perfect Utilita Bowl has established itself as an esteemed international venue across sport and entertainment.
On Saturday 11th July, join us to watch the iconic Round the Island Race, attracting over 1,400 boats and one of the most exciting sailing events of the year! The 2026 Round the Island Race is an event like no other, and Hurst Castle offers the ultimate front-row seat. From this historic vantage point, you'll be able to watch the world's best sailors navigate the stunning waters around the Isle of Wight, with the race action unfolding right before your eyes.
Step into the world of the Tudors at Hurst Castle's Tudor-tastic Weekend on 4th & 5th July. Originally built by Henry VIII in the 1540s as part of his coastal defence programme, Hurst Castle has stood watch over the Solent for centuries, protecting the coastline and playing a key role in England's history.
Located 10 miles north of Bournemouth and 5 miles west of Ringwood, you can find us in Moors Valley Country Park. We're just off Horton Road - near to Ashley Heath and the New Forest. Go Ape Moors Valley hosts five action-packed adventures. Explore the forest on two wheels with our all-terrain Segways or test your nerve amongst the trees on one of three high ropes courses.
Northwest of Southampton, close to Eastleigh, you can find us in the heart of Itchen Valley Country Park. Our Hampshire location plays host to two of our high ropes experiences plus axe throwing. We're just off Allington Lane - close to Southampton airport. Whether you're looking for things to do nearby with the kids or a day out with friends we have adventure covered. Treetop Adventure is a one-hour experience aimed at kids and young families. Treetop Challenge is for those over 1.4 metres tall and is 2-3 hours of high wire obstacles, Tarzan Swings and ziplines. Go Ape Southampton also boasts Axe Throwing - a gripping new experience. If you're looking for action packed fun on the south coast, we're one of the best attractions around.
Just 4 miles south of Farnham, and close to Guildford, you can find us in Alice Holt Forest, Surrey. We're just off the A325 - at a place called Bucks Horn Oak. Go Ape at Alice Holt boasts three high ropes experiences. Whether you're looking for things to do nearby with the kids or a day out with friends we have adventure covered. Treetop Adventure and Treetop Adventure Plus are both a one-hour experience aimed at kids and young families. They're popular for birthday parties if you're after a unique celebration.
Sunset at the Trust The Hawk Conservancy Trust invites you to a special summer's evening with their feathered friends. Against a setting sun, you'll have the opportunity to meet a wide range of their incredible birds of prey and the dedicated team working alongside them over two flying displays.
The BTCC returns for Rounds 13, 14 and 15, bringing the nation's best drivers, fastest saloon cars and the kind of door-banging, bumper-to-bumper action that only Thruxton can deliver. Supportng the BTCC are the British F4, The MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Mini Se7en Challenge and Mini Miglia Challenge. Away from the racing action, family-friendly entertainment, food and drink options, merchandise stalls, live music and other activities to enjoy throughout the day.
History comes to life this summer as Fort Nelson invites visitors to experience the sights, sounds and stories of the past with its Big History Weekend.
This two-day event features live re-enactments including military displays with firing muskets and cannon fire, officers dining and the feeding of the troops and civilians, plus a live drum jam featuring music from the Civil War.
From 23 May to 31 August follow Rattus, the cheeky rat from Horrible Histories, on a trail around the attraction packed with dreadful discoveries, delightfully disgusting details and plenty of interactive fun. In partnership with Scholastic who publish the books written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown, this is the Vile Victorians like you've never seen them before…
