THERE is certainly not a lack of things to do in Hampshire, with several areas of natural beauty, sites rich in history and diverse eateries to grab a bite, the area has got lots to offer.
With an abundance of fun places to visit in the county, we have narrowed it down to 10 top spots you need to visit in Hampshire at least once.
Whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular, here are our 10 places you must visit in the county.
Marwell Zoo
Marwell Zoo is a 140-acre zoo situated in Colden Common near Winchester. It is owned and run by the registered charity Marwell Wildlife. The zoo is home to 1,208 animals of 149 species including meerkats, flamingoes, tortoises and Humboldt penguins, amongst many more.
The park includes several themed areas, such as penguin cove, the lemur loop, and an Australian brush walk.
The family attraction also includes five children's playgrounds, various food kiosks, two indoor picnic lodges, and Bushtucker Bites, as well as picnic areas on Marwell Hall lawn and various other areas across the zoo. There is a hotel adjacent to the park.
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England that includes New Forest National Park, and is known for its heathland, forest trails and native ponies.
In the southeast, the National Motor Museum houses F1 race cars and vintage motorbikes. Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway is home to exotic trees, plus colourful rhododendrons and azaleas. Owls, otters and wolves are among the residents of New Forest Wildlife Park.
Whitchurch Silk Mill
Whitchurch Silk Mill is a 19th century water mill that weaves English silk fabrics using 19th century machinery. The mill is open to the public and is one of Hampshire's hidden gems.
Whether you're machine-mad, an admirer of silk fabrics, a child learning about the Victorians, or just looking for a delightful day out in Hampshire, Whitchurch Silk Mill has something for you.
From the original mill wheel and Victorian machinery, fabulous fabrics on the looms, to a shop to indulge in silk products from the mill, plus peaceful setting by the River Test, with tearoom for lunch and refreshments, it promises to be a great day out for all.
Spinnaker Tower
The Spinnaker Tower is a 170-metre, or 560 feet, landmark observation tower in Portsmouth which opened in 2005. It is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Portsmouth Harbour, which was supported by a National Lottery grant.
The tower's design was chosen by Portsmouth residents from a selection of three different designs in a 1998 public poll. It has three viewing platforms one on top of the other at heights of 100m, 105m and 110m.
Paultons Park
Paultons is the UK’s number 1 family theme park rated on Google, with more than 70 exciting rides and attractions, set within 140 acres of beautiful parkland on the edge of the New Forest National Park.
Paultons is also home of the UK's only Peppa Pig World with nine fun Peppa-themed rides, great for a day out with the kids.
Enjoy roller coasters, thrill rides, family rides, indoor and outdoor play areas, water splash parks, entertainment and an astonishing collection of animals.
Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is a Grade I listed country house built in 1679 and largely renovated in the 1840s, with a park designed in the 18th century.
Highclere Castle has been used as a filming location for several films and television series, including 1990s comedy series Jeeves and Wooster, and achieved international fame as the main location for the ITV historical drama series Downton Abbey, and subsequent films based on the series.
The house, Egyptian exhibition, and gardens are open to the public for self-guided tours during the summer months and at other times during the rest of the year, such as Christmas and Easter.
Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Bombay Sapphire is a brand of gin that is distilled by the Bombay Spirits Company, a subsidiary company of Bacardi, at Laverstoke Mill in the village of Laverstoke, near Overton.
The Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill opened to the public on October 1 2014.
Visitors can take part in an experience where you see how the spirit is made, travelling through botanical gardens before making their way to the bar and trying the delicious gin.
Beaulieu National Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum is a museum in the village of Beaulieu, set in the heart of the New Forest.
Today, in addition to around 285 vehicles manufactured since the late-19th century, the museum has a collection of motoring books, journals, photographs, films, and automobilia of the world and is affiliated to the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust.
The "On Screen Cars" exhibit has a display of TV and film cars including Del Boy's Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Mr Bean’s lime green Mini and Doctor Who's Bessie.
The National Motor Museum is one of several attractions on Lord Montagu's Beaulieu estate which are marketed jointly as "Beaulieu". One admission ticket includes the following attractions:
- Beaulieu Abbey
- National Motor Museum
- Beaulieu Palace House
- World of Top Gear
- Secret Army Exhibition – an exhibit about the Special Operations Executive (SOE) training at Beaulieu during World War II
- Gardens
- National Motor Museum Monorail
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway
Exbury Gardens is a 200-acre woodland garden with large collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, and is often considered the finest garden of its type in the United Kingdom.
The gardens are rated Grade II* on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Features include the Hydrangea Walk, the Rock Garden, Iris Garden, the Sundial Garden, Centenary Garden and Camellia Walk.
The infrastructure includes a water tower, three large concrete-lined ponds, and 22 miles of underground piping.
Exbury Gardens is now open to the public for most of the year, with high seasons in the spring for the flowering shrubs and the autumn for the autumn colour.
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral is among the largest of its kind in northern Europe. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Winchester and is the mother church for the ancient Diocese of Winchester.
The cathedral as it stands today was built from 1079 to 1532 and is dedicated to numerous saints, most notably Swithun of Winchester. It has a very long and very wide nave in the Perpendicular Gothic style, an Early English retrochoir, and Norman transepts and tower.
With an overall length of 558 feet, it is the longest medieval cathedral in the world, and only surpassed by the more recent churches of St Peter's Basilica in Rome, Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City and the Basilica of Our Lady in Aparecida.
A major tourist attraction, the cathedral attracted 365,000 visitors in 2019, an increase of 12,000 from 2018.
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