Basingstoke: Museums, culture and park trails

Basingstoke offers a mix of cultural and green highlights to help you plan your trip: museums, cultural venues and trails through parks. The Willis Museum explores the history of Basingstoke and Deane, while Eastrop Park offers its own connection to the landscape with the River Loddon, a balancing pond and a wildlife area. There are also concerts, art activities and self-guided trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Basingstoke, it helps to decide first which of these activities you want to shape your stay.

Museums and history in Basingstoke

The Willis Museum explores the history of Basingstoke and Deane, from its archaeological heritage to the present day. Its archaeology gallery gives this broad scope a specific timeframe: it covers the Borough’s early history, from the Stone Age to the Saxon period. This means you can focus your visit either on the region’s long development or specifically on its early periods. Admission is free, and no advance booking is required. Check visitor information before you travel.

Milestones Museum is located in the centre of Basingstoke Leisure Park and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:45. Be sure to check these opening hours again before travelling. The museums have different focuses: at Milestones Museum, the specific opening hours matter, while the Willis Museum explores the history of Basingstoke and Deane and its archaeological heritage.

Parks and trails

Eastrop Park brings together the River Loddon, a balancing pond and a wildlife area: the river flows through the park and feeds the pond there. There is also specific information to help plan your routes: National Cycle Network Route 23 runs through Eastrop Park; the Basingstoke Canal Heritage footpath leads from Festival Place through the park. Route 23 is identified as part of the National Cycle Network, while the Heritage footpath is described by its starting point and route.

The War Memorial Park offers three self-guided walks and a Tree Trail. The parks therefore offer different experiences: in Eastrop Park, the river, pond and named routes shape your visit, while the War Memorial Park offers specific self-guided walks and the Tree Trail.

Cultural programme and art activities

Anvil Arts operates three cultural venues in Basingstoke. The Anvil is a concert hall with a programme of classical music, jazz, country, folk and popular music. The programme of individual performances changes, so check dates and ticket information for your travel dates. The Haymarket is also one of the three venues. Anvil Arts provides visitor information for The Anvil, The Haymarket and The Forge on ticket booking, getting there and access facilities.

Visitors can take part in a range of art activities at Proteus Creation Space. If you plan to visit, check the current programme. As well as museum visits and concerts, hands-on art activities are another possible focus when planning your trip.

Find hotels to suit your itinerary

If you want to spend more time outdoors, you can include the trails and park activities in your daily plans. For a specific hotel, check its location, facilities and booking conditions directly on the relevant listing.

Discover more destinations: Hythe, East Tisted, Barton on Sea, Hound, North Waltham, Emsworth, Brockenhurst, Liphook.

For the broader travel overview: Hampshire.