Basingstoke is a town in Hampshire. It has been around as a market town since the Domesday Book, but was developed as a 'new town', one of several constructed in the 1950s to accommodate overspill population from London. Throughout the 70s and 80s it was often considered a joke 'dull' town with nothing to offer and had very little to entertain any visitors unless they were into trainspotting or roundabouts (it is alleged that Basingstoke has the highest number of roundabouts per head population of any UK town - but it's probably no longer true!).
21st century redevelopment of the town centre has seen the growth of a huge shopping area, lots of restaurants and new cinemas and theatre. Basingstoke - it seems - has grown up!
- Basing House, Redbridge Lane, Old Basing (1 mile east of Basingstoke, +44 1256 467294. Open Apr-Sep W-Su 2PM-6PM. Once a major Tudor palace and castle rivalling Hampton Court, Basing House was destroyed in a civil war siege. Now an attractive set of ruins, with an explanatory exhibition. Car parking is very difficult in Old Basing village; instead follow the signs to Basing House car park and get the bonus of a very attractive walk along the crystal clear River Loddon to the house. Alternatively bus line 8 runs once an hour from Basingstoke bus station stopping outside Basing House main entrance. £1-2.
- Silchester Roman Town, Silchester (5 miles north of Basingstoke. Known to the Romans as Calleva Atrebatum, Silchester was abandoned after the Roman era which means that much of the archeology remains. All that is left on the surface now are a complete ring of city walls, the amphitheatre and a little mediaeval church. Away from the rivers that have dictated the area demographics, Silchester is about as isolated a place as you will find in south-east England; on a spring weekday you are likely to find yourself sharing the ruins only with cows. Open every day sunrise-sunset. Free.
- Milestones Museum, Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, +44 1256 477766. Open Tu-F 10AM-5PM; Sa-Su 11AM-5PM; M closed. A living history museum, with reconstructed street scenes and buildings from the Victorian era. £3.50-6.50.
- The Vyne, Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, RG24 9HL (6 miles north of Basingstoke, +44 1256 883858. a 16th-century country house, built for Lord Sandys, King Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain. It retains its Tudor chapel, with stained glass. The classical portico on the north front was added in 1654 by Inigo Jones's pupil John Webb.
- Steventon, Steventon Manor, Steventon, Hampshire RG25 3BE (7 miles (11 km) south west of Basingstoke. The birthplace of Jane Austen. It is possible to visit the parish church where Jane's father was rector, but the house where she lived has been demolished.
- Wote Street Willy, Wote Street, town centre. The largest statue of a penis on public display in Britain. The image of a mother and child is carved into the side of the sculpture, and its phallic appearance was apparently overlooked by planners until its erection.
- L'Arc Sculpture, Alençon Link, town centre. Marvel at the similarities between this sculpture and the Iran-Iraq war monument in Baghdad
- Viables Roundabout. Home to Britain's shortest piece of gauge railway track.
- Crockford Lane Roundabout. Displays a ribbon of around 100 red steel human silhouettes.
- Mike Reddaway's Ancestral Home.
Basing House, Redbridge Lane, Old Basing (1 mile east of Basingstoke, +44 1256 467294. Open Apr-Sep W-Su 2PM-6PM. Once a major Tudor palace and castle rivalling Hampton Court, Basing House was destroyed in a civil war siege. Now an attractive set of ruins, with an explanatory exhibition. Car parking is very difficult in Old Basing village; instead follow the signs to Basing House car park and get the bonus of a very attractive walk along the crystal clear River Loddon to the house. Alternatively bus line 8 runs once an hour from Basingstoke bus station stopping outside Basing House main entrance. £1-2.
Silchester Roman Town, Silchester (5 miles north of Basingstoke. Known to the Romans as Calleva Atrebatum, Silchester was abandoned after the Roman era which means that much of the archeology remains. All that is left on the surface now are a complete ring of city walls, the amphitheatre and a little mediaeval church. Away from the rivers that have dictated the area demographics, Silchester is about as isolated a place as you will find in south-east England; on a spring weekday you are likely to find yourself sharing the ruins only with cows. Open every day sunrise-sunset. Free.
Milestones Museum, Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, +44 1256 477766. Open Tu-F 10AM-5PM; Sa-Su 11AM-5PM; M closed. A living history museum, with reconstructed street scenes and buildings from the Victorian era. £3.50-6.50.
The Vyne, Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, RG24 9HL (6 miles north of Basingstoke, +44 1256 883858. a 16th-century country house, built for Lord Sandys, King Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain. It retains its Tudor chapel, with stained glass. The classical portico on the north front was added in 1654 by Inigo Jones's pupil John Webb.
Steventon, Steventon Manor, Steventon, Hampshire RG25 3BE (7 miles (11 km) south west of Basingstoke. The birthplace of Jane Austen. It is possible to visit the parish church where Jane's father was rector, but the house where she lived has been demolished.
Wote Street Willy, Wote Street, town centre. The largest statue of a penis on public display in Britain. The image of a mother and child is carved into the side of the sculpture, and its phallic appearance was apparently overlooked by planners until its erection.
L'Arc Sculpture, Alençon Link, town centre. Marvel at the similarities between this sculpture and the Iran-Iraq war monument in [[Baghdad]]
Viables Roundabout. Home to Britain's shortest piece of gauge railway track.
Crockford Lane Roundabout. Displays a ribbon of around 100 red steel human silhouettes.
Mike Reddaway's Ancestral Home.
- Fyffes Banana Ripening Factory, Winklebury. The largest Banana Ripening Factory in Europe.
- Conference South Football at The Camrose, Western Way.
- Basingstoke Blues Club, 20 Churchill Way, RG21 7QU. Listen to live Quality Blues Bands once a month.
Fyffes Banana Ripening Factory, Winklebury. The largest Banana Ripening Factory in Europe.
Conference South Football at The Camrose, Western Way.
Basingstoke Blues Club, 20 Churchill Way, RG21 7QU. Listen to live Quality Blues Bands once a month.
The Basingstoke area has many restaurants of different types and costs and it clearly isn't possible to list them all here.
- The Millstone Pub, Bartons Lane, Lychpit (adjacent to Basing House car park, +44 1256 331153. This pub, by the delightful River Loddon, used to be a fantastic authentic rustic pub. It has now been 'renovated' so lost some of its character. It does bar food, and has a good range of real ales. A good place to eat before or after visiting Basing House (see 'See'). £6-10.
- Station Kebabs, Railway Station. Kebab van. Burger sauce available.
The Millstone Pub, Bartons Lane, Lychpit (adjacent to Basing House car park, +44 1256 331153. This pub, by the delightful River Loddon, used to be a fantastic authentic rustic pub. It has now been 'renovated' so lost some of its character. It does bar food, and has a good range of real ales. A good place to eat before or after visiting Basing House (see 'See'). £6-10.
Station Kebabs, Railway Station. Kebab van. Burger sauce available.
- Michael Meredith's House.
Michael Meredith's House.
Basingstoke's area code (for landline numbers) is 01256 when dialed from within the UK or +44 1256 from outside the UK.
- Farnborough, birthplace of flying in the United Kingdom.
- Winchester, a nearby ancient cathedral city with lots to see.
[[Farnborough]], birthplace of flying in the United Kingdom.
[[Winchester (England)|Winchester]], a nearby ancient cathedral city with lots to see.