Explore Hampshire

Winchester's central location makes it ideal as a touring base for exploring the rest of Hampshire. At just under an hour by train from London Waterloo or an hour's drive via the M3, it makes a quick escape for city dwellers keen to get out of London.

Discover ancient forests, rolling green hills and modern cities as well as the Solent coastline, the UK's premier destination for sailing.

New Forest

One of Britain's most recently designated National Parks, the 'New' Forest is actually almost ten centuries old. It was created in 1079 as a hunting area for William the Conqueror. See the famous New Forest ponies roam freely, enjoy a bike ride or stroll by a cool river.

Southampton

Southampton is a vibrant, modern city which offers a warm welcome to visitors from all over the world. West Quay shopping centre is one of the south's biggest retail destinations, where John Lewis is now joined by a much anticipated IKEA store.

Portsmouth

The UK's only island city, this maritime destination is great for shopping, waterside living and has fascinating places to visit including the Historic Dockyard, home to HMS Victory.

Hampshire's countryside

From the picturesque villages of the Test Valley in the west to the magnificent chalk hills of the South Downs National Park in the east, Hampshire's Countryside is well worth exploring.

The miles of cycle paths, walking trails, bridleways and nature reserves will delight lovers of wildlife and the great outdoors, while the famous chalk streams of the River Test are a draw to fishermen worldwide.

The North Wessex Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty, encompass the famous Watership Down (setting of the book by Richard Adams) while the unspoilt Meon Valley has many places to visit and great pubs where you can sample local food and produce.

Jane Austen's Hampshire

Hampshire was the inspiration for many of Jane Austen's novels. From her home in Steventon, near Basingstoke, she wrote the first drafts of Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and went shopping in Andover, Alton and Alresford.

She attended dances at The Vyne, near Basingstoke, and finished several of her famous novels at her home in Chawton, which now houses an excellent museum dedicated to the Austens. Jane's last resting place can be seen in Winchester Cathedral.

Find out more about the author's life in Hampshire by visiting our Jane Austen website. 

 Book Accommodation Online