Romsey

Romsey is a picturesque market town in Hampshire, England.

• Romsey Abbey.
• King John's House & Tudor Cottage.
• Broadlands. The estate of Lord Mountbatten is open to the public at different times throughout the week/year and more interestingly hosts concerts from, usually, popular music stars, like Earth, Wind & Fire, Phil Collins, Madness etc. When sunny, the estate is fantastic. It has a vast series of almost open fields, with stands of ancient trees and red deer roaming more or less freely. As a venue for an open-air concert it is about as good as they come.
• Walking tour of poetic quips and quotes. Plenty of towns in England have these nowadays, the Romsey version takes you on a particularly scenic meander along the banks of the Test a short way and through the town's modestly interesting historic streets, Bell street and parts of the High street especially still look and feel suitably ancient. Streets around the back of the Abbey are also on the route and they, with the abbey, lend a genuinely impressive air.

Hillier's Arboretum, and Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens are nearby. A free minibus service links the town centre, and Romsey and Mottisfont & Dunbridge railway stations, to these attractions on summer Sundays and Bank Holidays.

• Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, SO51 0QA. Daily, Apr–Oct: 10AM–6PM; Nov–Mar 10AM–5PM. Last entry 1 hour before closing. A garden and arboretum known for hosting over 40,000 trees and shrubs, including oaks, camelliae, magnoliae and rhododendrons. Adults: £10.40; concessions: £9.50; children (5–16 years): £2.40; under 5 years: free.
• Mottisfont, near Romsey, SO51 0LP (5 miles north of Romsey, +44 1794 340757.

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, SO51 0QA. Daily, Apr–Oct: 10AM–6PM; Nov–Mar 10AM–5PM. Last entry 1 hour before closing. A garden and arboretum known for hosting over 40,000 trees and shrubs, including oaks, camelliae, magnoliae and rhododendrons. Adults: £10.40; concessions: £9.50; children (5–16 years): £2.40; under 5 years: free.

Mottisfont, near Romsey, SO51 0LP (5 miles north of Romsey, +44 1794 340757.

Romsey Abbey.

King John's House & Tudor Cottage.

Broadlands. The estate of Lord Mountbatten is open to the public at different times throughout the week/year and more interestingly hosts concerts from, usually, popular music stars, like Earth, Wind & Fire, Phil Collins, Madness etc. When sunny, the estate is fantastic. It has a vast series of almost open fields, with stands of ancient trees and red deer roaming more or less freely. As a venue for an open-air concert it is about as good as they come.

• Romsey Rapids. Swim at the Romsey Rapids.
• Plaza Theatre. A dozen or more plays a year show here courtesy of the local theatre group, RAODS. Energetic performances from a cast of surprisingly talented amateur dramatists that generally sell out; a wide variety of playwrights are represented too.
• Fish the River Test, one of the most renowned trout rivers in the world. You will, however, need to obtain a permit beforehand.
• Drink in one of the famously numerous pubs; in the 16th to 18th centuries Romsey held the record from the most pubs per square mile, around 18 per sq mile, which were all supported by a population of 4000 including children. Whilst the number of pubs has gone down, the population has gone up so one might find that the pubs are a bit cramped at times. The number of pubs has gone down and the population up, but there are still some highly venerable pubs in the area, and places like the Duke's Head a few hundred metres North of the town proper which has been the site of an ale house since the 11th century.

Romsey Rapids. Swim at the Romsey Rapids.

Plaza Theatre. A dozen or more plays a year show here courtesy of the local theatre group, RAODS. Energetic performances from a cast of surprisingly talented amateur dramatists that generally sell out; a wide variety of playwrights are represented too.

Walk down the high street to experience high streets like they were in pre-recession Britain.

• Bradbeers, 14–20 Bell St, SO51 8ZE, +44 1794 515555. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su closed. Romsey's own department store.

Bradbeers, 14–20 Bell St, SO51 8ZE, +44 1794 515555. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su closed. Romsey's own department store.

• There are many places to eat in romsey ranging from cafés to pubs to restaurants. Some places that are good to eat at are
• La Parisienne.
• The White Horse.
• Miss Moody's Tearoom. The tearoom has five tables, each fitting four people. It has excellent service and food/drink.

La Parisienne.

The White Horse.

Miss Moody's Tearoom. The tearoom has five tables, each fitting four people. It has excellent service and food/drink.

The multitude of pubs and cafés in Romsey mean that you won't need to walk very far to find a new one. Examples of good cafés are Caffé Nero, Asante, Miss Moody's tearoom and Bradbeers's cafés.

• The New Forest National Park, with its extensive woodlands and heathlands, picturesque villages, and freely roaming livestock, is located a short drive west from the town.