Basingstoke
The town of Basingstoke is located in the county of Hampshire in the South of England. It is a town with a rich heritage that can be traced back to before Roman times. Despite its ancient heritage it is also a very modern town with much to appeal to visitors. It is home to what is considered to be one of the best music venues in the south of England; the Anvil, which also offers a wide ranging arts and entertainment program. Basingstoke is host to an annual music festival know as Basingstoke Live, and is also the site for kite and balloon festivals which offer plenty of colourful fun and entertainment for all the family. There are plenty of activities that the whole family can enjoy, from having fun in the swimming poll or skating rink, to spending an afternoon in the cinema should the weather be poor, plus many more activates which can be found in the excellent Leisure Park.
Places to Visit
Take a walk through an authentic 1930’s street at the Milestones museum and take a look inside all of the period shops and businesses. Explore the period houses and see what life was life was like in times past. Pay a visit to Whitechurch Silk Mill and learn about how textiles have played an important part in the life of this town, from the early days of wool and silk through to modern fabrics such as Burberry gabardine. Today the mill produces high quality fabrics, which are used for costumes for many period television dramas.
Get out and about and enjoy the wonderful countryside which surrounds the town. Close by you will find Stratfield Save House which offers a look into the life and times of the Great Duke of Wellington, or visit The Vyne, home of the Lord Chamberlain of Henry VIII and later a venue for grand balls attended by novelist Jane Austen. Basing House has links to the English Civil War and Highclere Castle is filled with artefacts from ancient Egypt collected by Lord Carnarvon who discovered the lost tomb of Tutankhamen. Explore the region’s Iron Age and Roman heritage at Calleve Atrebatum or visit the ancient Roman walls at Roman Silchester.
Things to See and Do
Basingstoke is the perfect place for a short break, somewhere to unwind and relax for a while. Festival Place is the place to go to indulge in a little retail therapy and is the major shopping centre for much of the county. Filled with small boutiques, large big name stores, tempting eateries and more, it is the place to head if you love to shop. You will find plenty of art galleries, museums and entertainment venues which offer everything from classical music to comedy shows. One popular attraction is the indoor skydiving facility; Airkix. This is one of only three indoor skydiving facilities in the country. Take a tour of the Andwell Brewing Company, a family run brewery making delicious handcrafted ales. The brewery is located outside of Basingstoke on the way to Hook.
