In Basingstoke there's a rich
history and also the best a
modern town has to offer

Enjoy the North Solent region

In Basingstoke there's a rich history and also the best a modern town has to offer.

The Anvil theatre is one of the region's leading music venues and Milestones museum allows you to walk through Victorian and 1930s street to discover what life was really like (Source: Visit Hampshire).

Basingstoke also boasts a healthy retail sector with the Festival Place shopping centre, home to all the big high-street names.

The coutryside surrounding Basingstoke is some of the most picturesque in Hampshire. In Alton, the Curtis Museum has a wonderful array of objects including the celebrated Roman cup found near Selborne and its childhood gallery has toys, children's books and dolls dating back to the 18th century.

The village of Chawton famously the home of Jane Austen is also nearby.

In the Test Valley, the market town of Andover dates back to Saxon times. Most of today's buildings are from the 18th century when it was an important stop over destination for coaches on their way to London, Southampton and Oxford.