Experience the nostalgic sights, sounds and smells of steam through ten miles of beautiful Hampshire countryside on the Watercress Line and discover the Kings Cross footbridge from the Harry Potter films. Follow the Old Alresford spy treasure trail for kids. Or tackle the treetop challenges and Segway adventures at Go Ape Moors Valley.
Challenge yourself with 190m2 of climbing on the climbing tower and challenge wall, and 150m2 of bouldering at Golden Gecko Climbing. Or meet giraffes, tigers, leopards, meerkats and penguins, discover five adventure playgrounds and hear daily talks at Marwell Zoo. Exit through the gift shop.
Visit Paulton’s, the UK’s number one family theme park, with over 70 exciting rides and attractions in 140 acres of beautiful parkland, and home to Peppa Pig World. Book a 120-minute trek with the friendly alpacas of Hensting. Or climb into a massive guitar or see the stars in the planetarium at Winchester Science Centre.
Walk or cycle the forest paths at Bere. Scatter the pins at Hollywood Bowl in Eastleigh. Get down to the coast to see the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth or see the south coast’s most spectacular view from the Spinnaker Tower. Or take a hovercraft ride to the Isle of Wight’s beautiful beaches.
Alresford is the perfect place for a potter. It’s a quaint Georgian town full of colour-washed houses. Walk the river bank, dip in and out of specialist independent shops and refuel in old-fashioned pubs, smart bistros and traditional tea rooms. Or visit the café and take home a bag of beans from the Moon Roast Coffee Roastery.
Enjoy a discovery experience or a cocktail masterclass at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Blast clay birds from the sky at Chalky Hill Clay Shooting. Visit one of the major summer opera festivals in Europe at Grange Park. Or discover a fine medieval cathedral with over 1000 years of history at Winchester.
Play one of the most challenging courses in the south of England at Alresford Golf Club. Keep on top of your workout game at Station Mill Fitness. Walk or ride the riverbanks, footpaths and bridleways of the Candover Valley. Or tackle over 750 miles of off-road cycling, including the Ox Drove trail through rolling hills and woodlands.
Go back in history to grand homes such as Stansted Park or the intimate surroundings of Jane Austen’s home at Chawton. Visit Highclere Castle and Gardens, where Downton Abbey is filmed. Or how about the National Motoring Museum at Beaulieu, with displays of classic cars, sporting motors, modern rally cars and F1 racers?
