Your stay — Red Lion
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Basingstoke.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: London Street United Reformed Church (59 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: All Saints' Church (393 m · ~5 min walk)
- Place of worship: Basingstoke Spiritualist Church (462 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Saint Mary's Church (478 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Festival Place — 422 m · ~5 min walk
Aromatic Garden — 523 m · ~7 min walk
Willis Museum — 189 m · ~2 min walk
The Haymarket — 206 m · ~3 min walk
War Memorial Park Play Area — 633 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
NatWest — 135 m · ~2 min walk
Superdrug — 564 m · ~7 min walk
BNC Gurkha Grocery — 485 m · ~6 min walk
Basingstoke Bus Station — 549 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use cash machines (ATMs) for the best rates; avoid currency exchange desks at airports and train stations as they charge poor rates and fees.
Contactless cards and mobile payments (Apple Pay/Google Pay) are widely accepted in shops, pubs, and restaurants; cash is still needed for some market stalls and small takeaways.
Tipping is not mandatory: round up the bill in pubs/bars; leave 10-15% for good service in restaurants if no service charge added; taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips but a few pounds is appreciated.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from budget coffee chains or supermarket cafés costs around £1.50-£2.
A sandwich or meal deal from a supermarket (like a pre-packed sandwich, crisps, and drink) costs about £3-£4.
A main course at a pub or casual chain restaurant (e.g., a burger or curry) ranges from £10-£14.
Basingstoke has no dedicated street food area; look for fast-food outlets or kebab/pizza takeaway shops in the town centre for £5-£7 meals.
Discount supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl are common; also Iceland for frozen foods; larger options include Asda and Sainsbury's.
High-street chains (Primark, New Look, and supermarkets like Tesco/Asda) dominate for affordable clothing; Basingstoke's shopping centre – Festival Place – has these brands.
A Stagecoach bus day ticket costs around £4.50-£5 for unlimited local travel; cheapest from airport is by National Express coach to Basingstoke bus station (approx £15-£20 one-way from Heathrow/Gatwick).
Use supermarket meal deals for lunch to save; buy a daily or weekly bus pass rather than single fares; evening meals are cheaper at pub chains before 7pm (early-bird offers).
Good to know — Basingstoke
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
BasingstokeFor non-emergency police, call 101. For health advice, NHS 111. For local council emergencies (e.g., flooding), Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council out-of-hours: 01256 844844.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Basingstoke, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Red Lion
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · NatWest — 135 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Superdrug — 564 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →→
💡 There's no tram in Basingstoke. For local trips, use the bus network or walk—central Basingstoke is compact.
Basingstoke Station → Premier Inn Basingstoke Town Centre (Wote Street stop)
💡 The Premier Inn is a 10-minute walk from the station—skip the bus unless you have heavy luggage, as the walk is flat and straightforward through Festival Place shopping centre.
Heathrow Central Bus Station (Terminals 2&3) → Basingstoke Bus Station
💡 Board at Terminal 5 if you're arriving there; the coach stops directly outside and saves a 10-minute shuttle ride to the central bus station.
Heathrow Central Bus Station → Basingstoke Bus Station
💡 Cheaper than the train but slower. Alight at Basingstoke Bus Station, then walk 5 minutes to the hotel. Check National Express app for live departures.
Basingstoke train station → Crowne Plaza Basingstoke (Alencon Link stop)
💡 Buy a dayrider ticket (£4) if you plan multiple local trips. The bus drops you right outside the hotel entrance.
Heathrow Airport (via Reading) → Basingstoke Station
💡 Use the Heathrow Express to Paddington, then connect to Reading and change for Basingstoke—buy an off-peak day return on Trainline to save £8-12.
London Waterloo → Basingstoke Station
💡 Buy tickets in advance via Trainline for the best price. From Basingstoke station, it’s a 10-minute walk or a £5 taxi ride to the Crowne Plaza.
Heathrow Airport (LHR) → Crowne Plaza Basingstoke
💡 Book a fixed-price transfer in advance to avoid surge pricing. The Crowne Plaza’s car park is free for guests, so driving yourself is also practical.
Heathrow Airport → Premier Inn Basingstoke Town Centre
💡 Book with a local firm like Aquacars or West Berks Cars a day ahead; fares drop by £10-15 compared to hailing at the rank.
Basingstoke Railway Station → London Waterloo
💡 Buy an off-peak return if your trip is flexible—it can halve the cost. The station is a 10-minute walk from Premier Inn.
Basingstoke Station (Stop A) → Hampshire Centre Court Hotel (Stop 'Festival Place')
💡 Buy a day rider for £4.50 if you're doing multiple trips. The bus stops right outside the shopping centre, a 2-min walk to the hotel.
Basingstoke Bus Station → Premier Inn (Basingstoke Centre)
💡 Get the Stagecoach app for mobile tickets; the driver won't give change. Alight at 'Fairfields Road' stop—the hotel is 2 minutes' walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is check-in at Red Lion?
Check-in at Red Lion is from null. Check-out is by null.
Where can I eat cheaply near Red Lion?
A sandwich or meal deal from a supermarket (like a pre-packed sandwich, crisps, and drink) costs about £3-£4.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Red Lion?
A Stagecoach bus day ticket costs around £4.50-£5 for unlimited local travel; cheapest from airport is by National Express coach to Basingstoke bus station (approx £15-£20 one-way from Heathrow/Gatwick).
Top Attractions in Basingstoke
💡 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.
💡 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.
💡 Climb the tower on the first Saturday of the month (small donation requested) for a panoramic view of Basingstoke. Best at dawn or late afternoon.
💡 The roof terrace gives a great view of the town's Victorian market square. Free temporary exhibitions change every six weeks.
💡 The bandstand hosts free live music on Sunday afternoons from June to August. Bring a blanket and picnic.
💡 Look for the old stocks and whipping post outside the churchyard gate. The interior is simplest but the carving is genuinely old.
💡 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.
💡 Feed the ducks from the designated area only, and avoid the playground on weekends when it gets crowded. Free parking behind the leisure centre.