Hampshire Attractions
Well known as a popular holiday area, the county of Hampshire has many tourist attractions. The New Forest National Park lies within the borders, as does a large area of the South Downs, which is also scheduled to become a National Park. Hampshire has a long maritime history with two of England’s largest ports lying on its coast.
A well known maritime attraction is Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home to three famous warships. Admiral Lord Nelson’s, the HMS Victory, Henry VIII’s favourite warship the Mary Rose which sank in 1545 and the very first iron hulled armoured battleship HMS Warrior of 1860. Other attractions include The Royal Naval Museum, with a new exhibition ‘Dreadnoughts – The Ships & the Men who Built, Lived and Fought in Them’ and Action Stations which provides interactive displays and simulators on the modern day Royal Navy.
Combining the charm of an ancient Abbey, the grace of a classical stately home and the celebrated National Motor Museum set in the heart of the magnificent New Forest, Beaulieu is one of Hampshire’s top major attractions. This world-famous museum has over 250 vintage, veteran and classic cars from some of the earliest examples of motoring to legendary World Record Breakers like Bluebird and Golden Arrow. There are cars from every motoring era including ‘TV Star’ cars such as Mr Bean’s Mini and Del Boy’s Reliant Regal. 2008 is Beaulieu’s centenary year, celebrating the birth of Bond creator, Ian Fleming. In the popular James Bond Exhibition there are several new exhibits including the Aston Martin Volante from the film The Living Daylights and the Ford driven by Daniel Craig in his first Bond role in Casino Royale. There is a magnificent selection of memorabilia including Jaw’s shirt from The Spy Who Loved Me and Odd Job’s bowler hat as seen in the movie Goldfinger.
Voted ‘Visitor Attraction of the Year’ by Tourism South East, Blue Reef Aquarium is part of an exciting new generation of sea life attractions designed to inspire deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Located in Southsea in Portsmouth, the aquarium is situated on Clarence Esplanade between the two piers overlooking the splendid Solent. A huge ocean tank in the heart of the aquarium houses an underwater walkthrough tunnel which offers incredible close encounters with the stunning beauty of an exotic coral reef, home to hundreds of colourful fish. One of the UK’s leading aquariums, the aim of Blue Reef is to highlight some of the natural wonders of the underwater world as well as explaining why it is so vitally important to look after them.
A popular attraction near to Winchester is Marwell Zoological Park set in a hundred acres of beautiful Hampshire countryside. At the heart of wildlife conservation, Marwell is home to over 250 species of animals, from tiny ants to the tallest giraffe and considered the perfect attraction for families of all ages. Open daily from 10am there is easy access from the M3 and M27 along with free parking.
Located in Basingstoke is the legendary Milestones Living History Museum. Set in the Leisure Park it is a popular attraction for people of all ages. The museum is home to more than 20,000 objects, from tin openers to vintage vehicles, all of which were either made or used in Hampshire. It is here that the visitor can step back in time and gain insight as to what life might have been like in the past. Along with costumed characters, interpreter presentations and a year-round events and exhibitions programme, there is always something new to see and do for all the family. Milestones has a range of visitor facilities, including café, Edwardian-style pub and well-stocked gift shop and is managed by Hampshire Museums Service in partnership with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
