Basingstoke 3-Day Itinerary

A small museum covering local history, archaeology, and decorative arts, with a changing programme of temporary exhibitions.

💡 The museum's 'History of Basingstoke' room has a brilliant audio guide narrated by local schoolchildren. Don't miss the free craft workshops on Saturday mornings.

A Norman-era church with a striking spire, medieval wall paintings, and a quiet graveyard in the town centre.

💡 Look for the 13th-century effigy of a knight in the south aisle. The church is usually open for self-guided visits, but check for services.

The Jolly Farmer · ££

Bounty Inn · ££

A large public park with formal gardens, a lake, children's play area, and a skate park.

💡 The bandstand hosts free live music on Sunday afternoons from June to August. Bring a blanket and picnic.

Medieval parish church with a Saxon stone carving, a 13th-century font, and a tranquil green churchyard in the town centre.

🕐 Daily 09:00-17:00 (Winter closes at dusk)

💡 Look for the old stocks and whipping post outside the churchyard gate. The interior is simplest but the carving is genuinely old.

A medieval parish church in the centre with a 13th-century tower and Victorian stained glass. The war memorial chapel has carved names of local casualties from both world wars.

🕐 09:00-16:00 Monday-Friday, 10:00-15:00 Saturday, 08:00-12:00 Sunday

💡 Look for the brass rubbing stall at the back — you can make a rubbing of the medieval knight effigy for 50p, and it makes a cheap souvenir. The church is usually quiet mid-morning on weekdays.

A 60-acre park with a large lake, play areas, skate park, and tennis courts. Good for a picnic or a walk with views of the town centre.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Feed the ducks from the designated area only, and avoid the playground on weekends when it gets crowded. Free parking behind the leisure centre.

King of Wessex

Hare & Hounds

A large public park with a lake, boating lake, playground, and sports facilities. The boating season runs from Easter to September, with rowboats and pedalos av

💡 Feed the ducks from the small shop at the boathouse — they sell approved duck food for 50p. Avoid bread, which harms them.

Large public park with a boating lake, tennis courts, skate park, and plenty of grass for picnics. Also has a well-kept rose garden.

💡 The café by the lake does a decent £3.50 cream tea. Bring bread for the ducks, but skip the coarse white loaf – they prefer peas or oats.

A large public park with a boating lake, a walled garden, tennis courts, and a skate park. The lake has a good population of swans and ducks, and there’s a chil

💡 Bring bread or bird seed for the ducks — the lake birds are used to being fed, and you can get close to them from the wooden jetty. The café by the lake does a decent bacon bap for £3.50.

A 32-mile waterway with flat towpaths ideal for walking, cycling, or canal boat watching. Free access along most sections.

💡 Start at the canal centre near the leisure park. The stretch toward Odiham has the most wildlife, including kingfishers.

The Soldiers Return

The Spice Restaurant