The Best Hampshire Attractions & Activities

Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire, is the charming cottage where the author lived and wrote her famous novels. Today it’s a museum with personal items, manuscripts, and exhibits that bring her life and literary world vividly to life.

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire showcases over 250 vehicles, from early motoring pioneers to Formula 1 cars. Set within the Beaulieu estate, it combines automotive history with the abbey, gardens, and palace house.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a maritime heritage site home to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, and the Mary Rose. With museums, exhibitions, and harbour tours, it showcases Britain’s naval history in an immersive waterfront setting.

Winchester Cathedral is one of Europe’s largest, famed for its stunning Gothic architecture, medieval carvings and Jane Austen’s resting place. Visitors can explore its vast nave, crypt, historic library and serene grounds steeped in history.

over 70 exciting rides and attractions, set within 140 acres of beautiful parkland on the edge of the New Forest National Park

little changed since completion in 1583 - wide variety of paintings - tapestries - porcelain - 17th century needlework - rare James I carpet - period furniture - tea barn

a lovely 18th Century house with an unusual drawing room pained by Rex Whistler, a permanent 20th Century art collection and magnificent gardens

housing one of the finest collections of fully restored motorcycles in the world, including factory racers and exotic prototypes

visit these beautiful gardens featuring a raised lily pool leading into a walled garden

Buckler’s Hard, on the Beaulieu River in the New Forest, is a historic shipbuilding village where Royal Navy vessels were built in the 18th century. Today it offers a museum, riverside walks, and insight into maritime heritage.

Chawton House, once home to Jane Austen’s brother, is a historic manor housing a unique library of women’s writing. Visitors can explore the atmospheric rooms, tranquil gardens and literary exhibitions in this Hampshire setting.

Exbury Gardens in Hampshire is a renowned 200-acre woodland garden, famous for its vibrant rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. Set by the Beaulieu River, it offers scenic walks, a miniature steam railway, and seasonal displays of colour.

Hinton Ampner, a graceful National Trust property in Hampshire, features a Georgian-style country house, elegant interiors and stunning formal gardens. Surrounded by parkland and woodland, it offers sweeping views across the South Downs.

Marwell Zoo in Hampshire is a 140-acre wildlife park home to hundreds of exotic and endangered species, from giraffes and tigers to snow leopards. With spacious enclosures, conservation focus, and family activities, it’s a leading UK zoo.

The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth displays Henry VIII’s warship, raised from the Solent after over 400 years. Showcasing the preserved hull and thousands of Tudor artefacts, it offers a fascinating glimpse into 16th-century naval life and history.

The Watercress Line, also known as the Mid Hants Railway, is a preserved heritage steam railway running 10 miles between Alresford and Alton in Hampshire. It offers nostalgic rides, vintage stations, and links to the region’s history of watercress farming

New Forest Wildlife Park in Hampshire is home to native and endangered species, including otters, wolves, bison, and wild boar. Set in woodland, it offers spacious enclosures, conservation focus, and family-friendly trails through nature.

Palace House in Beaulieu, Hampshire, is a grand country house and former abbey gatehouse. Surrounded by beautiful grounds and the Beaulieu River, it features historic interiors, family treasures, and is part of the wider Beaulieu attraction.

Palace House at Beaulieu in Hampshire is a former medieval abbey gatehouse transformed into a grand family home. Still lived in by the Montagu family, it features Victorian interiors, treasured collections, and beautiful riverside gardens.

The Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth is a 170-metre landmark shaped like a sail, offering panoramic views across the Solent, Isle of Wight, and city. With glass floor panels and sky-high experiences, it’s a highlight of the waterfront skyline.

The D-Day Story in Portsmouth is a museum dedicated to the Normandy landings of 1944. Featuring personal accounts, artefacts, and the 83-metre Overlord Embroidery, it tells the story of courage, planning, and sacrifice behind D-Day.

The Vyne, a Tudor mansion near Basingstoke, is a National Trust property with grand state rooms, a chapel and a rich collection of art and furniture. Its landscaped gardens, lake and woodland walks offer a peaceful historic escape.

consisting mainly of buildings surrounding a moat. The Great Hall is a three story building & Dower House is furnished as a 19C farmhouse

replica village shops - steam-powered farm machinery - tractors - barn machinery - agricultural tools - maze - adventure playground - shop - tea barn

Aldershot Military Museum explores the town’s role as the “Home of the British Army.” Housed in Victorian barracks, it features historic vehicles, uniforms, weapons and interactive displays, bringing Britain’s military heritage vividly to life.

Andover Museum explores the town’s history from prehistoric times to today. Exhibits include archaeology, local industries and community life, while the adjoining Museum of the Iron Age brings ancient hillforts and Iron Age culture vividly to life.

Basing House in Hampshire was once the country’s grandest Tudor mansion, later destroyed in the Civil War. Visitors can explore its earthworks, ruins, museum and gardens, uncovering stories of wealth, power and dramatic downfall.

The Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum in Portsmouth preserves the modest home where the author was born in 1812. It displays rare editions, manuscripts, and personal items, offering insight into the early life of the literary great.

Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth is a waterfront outlet shopping centre with over 90 stores, restaurants, bars, and a cinema. Overlooked by the Spinnaker Tower, it combines designer bargains with vibrant dining and harbour views.