Places to visit in Hampshire

One of the stars of TV’s Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle in Hampshire provided the backdrop for four series of the show and two hit films (so far!). Alongside tours of its many lavish rooms, including those used as the state rooms from the Downton Abbey movie, explore gardens dating back to the 13th century and 1,000 acres of pristine country parkland.

Walk in the footsteps of a literary legend at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, where she lived and wrote her six novels. This charming cottage is now a museum chock-full of artefacts that once belonged to the author. See the teeny desk where she wrote her books, her personal letters and even cherished pieces of jewellery.

Winchester is where myth and history meet. Marvel at King Henry VIII’s specially made Round Table from Arthurian legend at the Great Hall, before walking down the steep hill to Winchester Cathedral. Here you can visit the final resting place of Jane Austen and learn about the Norman cathedral’s treasures, which include the 12th-century Winchester Bible.

Spend a night in the award-winning Wykeham Arms, which is flanked by both Winchester Cathedral and the famous 14th century college. Here you can expect to sleep in Egyptian cotton bedsheets, snuggle down in fluffy bathrobes and enjoy the complimentary mini bar. Its central location means that you are within a few minutes’ walking distance of the city’s main attractions.

Set in a 600-year-old former rectory, this much-loved Winchester restaurant is owned and run by a group of friends. The menu features classic seasonal dishes like pigeon breast with pickled mushrooms and chalk stream salmon tartare, all locally sourced. If you have room for dessert, treat yourself to the Chesil Cheese board, which comes with homemade chutney and, figs.

Start your day exploring God’s House Tower in the Old Town to take in sweeping views of the city from its rooftop. Originally built to defend the port from French invaders, it’s now a collaborative art and museum space, with exhibitions changing regularly.

Tuck into braised lamb shank, spicy crab cakes or seafood linguine at this Galician eatery on Oxford Street while watching the world go by. If you want, you can order from the starter and side menus to create your own tapas meal. The bistro-style tables and whitewashed floors lend an authentically continental feel to the surroundings.

Think of a place to stay without the anonymous feel that often comes with hotel stays. Now add a dash of home comforts including king-sized beds, fitted kitchens, lots of relaxing or working space and views over the harbour or nearby Queens Park, and you have a home away from home. You can even bring your pets provided you give notice beforehand, and order takeaway if you fancy staying in.

Southampton is synonymous as being the departure point for the Titanic’s maiden (and tragically, only) voyage – at SeaCity Museum you can learn about the impact that the ship’s sinking had on the population of Southampton, and its legacy. The exhibition also displays artefacts like objects retrieved from the wreck, and poignant recorded memories of the passengers that survived.

Treat yourself to dinner at one of Southampton’s best restaurants. Think low, scrubbed rustic tables, cosy sofas and toasty log burners during chillier nights. Like all PIGs, the restaurant sources produce from its kitchen gardens as well as local businesses in surrounding areas, so you can expect Isle of Wight garlic, Dorset cheese and Poole Bay fish on your plate.

Prep for a busy day of sightseeing with breakfast at Hotwalls Studios in Portsmouth’s Old Town. The area is home to lots of studios, independent shops, and The Canteen – a great shout for breakfast. It sources ingredients locally and you can find treats like freshly made waffles and the breakfast stack, piled high with truffled mushrooms, potato rostis and juicy sausages. Looking for something lighter? Tuck into fresh granola or a streaky bacon bap on plaited bread.

Enjoy 360-degree views of the Solent (to 23 miles away on clear days) from the top of the “Sail of the Solent” landmark tower. A high-speed lift takes you up to the viewing decks, where you can step onto the transparent glass Sky Walk for an exhilarating feeling of walking on air, 1, 100 metres above the harbour – one of the most exciting things to do in Hampshire.

Visit the iconic Mary Rose, England’s flagship for 30 years of intermittent wars with France. The wreck was finally recovered from the Solent in 1982 and restored sympathetically to keep her from deteriorating further. You can even experience a 4D reconstruction of the original 1971 dive and see over 19,000 Tudor-era artefacts that give a unique insight into life onboard.

This is a restaurant with around 200 years of history; it was previously a pub called The Shipwright during Nelson’s naval career, and later a hotel that was badly damaged during Second World War bombing raids. Now you can enjoy tasty freshly baked pizzas in airy, relaxed surroundings during the week, and on Sundays, a piping hot roast dinner with turkey and confit pork belly.

One of the top things to do in Hampshire, return to Royal Historic Dockyards and hop onto the waterbus for a short ride to Gosport. Board HMS Alliance, a Second World War-era submarine and get a real sense of how submarine life. Afterward, learn about the deadly and silent-running Polaris submarines and see the Royal Navy’s first-ever model, HMS Holland 1.