Historical
Walk through centuries of stories
From grand houses to hidden gems, explore centuries of local history to create your own story in Basingstoke and Deane
Discover the past at one of the museums in Basingstoke and Deane. Located at the Top of the Town, the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery contains local history from medieval times to the modern day. Throughout the year, there is a programme of touring exhibitions, as well as fun events, workshops and activities to enjoy. Don’t forget to look out for the world’s oldest wedding cake, dating to 1898!
Head back in time at Hampshire’s museum of living history, Milestones Museum. Walk the cobbled streets, explore the vintage vehicles and learn about the history of teddy bears. Experience the unique Milestones pier, have a go at the retro arcade games and try to win a prize on the claw grab machines. Take a break in the Rooftops Café or the traditional Baverstock Arms pub.
Step into the artistic legacy of Sandham Memorial Chapel and the moving stories behind Stanley Spencer murals. Follow a walk around the village "In Spencer's Footsteps" and take in some of the sights and places where he lived. Outside the front of the chapel, you can enjoy views across to Watership Down which glows in the late evening sun.
Wander through the timeless grandeur of The Vyne, National Trust. Explore the former Tudor powerhouse turned 17th century family home, set in gardens, woodlands and wetlands. Historic gems include a pre-Reformation chapel, Tudor oak gallery with 16th century wood carvings and neo-classical staircase hall. Set in a scenic landscape, you can take some time out in sprawling gardens and woodlands.
Whitchurch Silk Mill is the UK’s oldest working silk mill, a gem of industrial heritage and is the last working mill of its kind in England. Located on Frog Island in the River Test, for more than 200 years the mill has been drawing power from the gin-clear waters of the river via its waterwheel and is still weaving beautiful silk using 19th-century machinery. It was originally a throwing mill and was later used to weave silk for Burberry, producing raincoats and legal gowns. It now functions as a working museum, making silks for interiors and costume dramas. The riverside garden is particularly pleasant for coffee and home-made cakes from the mill’s café. As a memento of your day, you can buy silk produced at the mill from the gift shop.
Get outside and explore the roman remains at Silchester, some of the best-preserved roman town defences in England, and remains of the amphitheatre still stand.
Unearth the amazing stories of Basing House, the nationally important ruins and grounds of the largest private house in Tudor England, which suffered at the hands of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.
Trace literary roots in Steventon, the village where Jane Austen’s story began. Join an award-winning Jane Austen Tour with Hidden Britain Tours through the picturesque countryside. Visit the locations that inspired her life and works, walking in the very footsteps of the author, surrounded by the landscapes that shaped her writing.
Please note the inclusion of any group or business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.
Written March 2026
