Albion Guide
Menu
Map

Areas

Protected landscapesCountry estatesNature reservesCountry parksCoastlineIslands

Routes

TrailsWaterways

Natural spots

Hills & peaksLakes & lochsWaterfallsBeaches & swimmingViewpointsCavesSSSIs

Historic places

Castles & strongholdsAbbeys & prioriesAncient stonesRoman sitesBattlefieldsChalk figuresNational Trust

Villages & landmarks

Villages & townsPubs & restaurantsChurchesHouses & gardensFarms, vineyards & producersWindmillsLighthousesOther sightsAttractionsFolliesOutdoor saunas

Near you

By townBy countyBy station
Saved
Photo of the South Downs, a National Park in south east England.

South DownsPhoto Andras Stefuca / Pexels

Places to explore near Basingstoke

Grown from a Hampshire market town into a busy commercial centre ringed by chalk downland, Basingstoke sits where the clay of the Thames basin meets the downs. The ruins of Basing House, slighted in the Civil War, lie just east, and the Basingstoke Canal begins its old course towards the Surrey heaths. North rise the downs of Watership Down, the rabbit country of Richard Adams' novel, while west the chalk streams gather into the River Test, followed south by the Test Way.

97 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 1 is a national icon.

Open the map here

Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of the North Wessex Downs, a National Landscape in England.Highlight

North Wessex Downs

National Landscape near Hungerford

Rolling chalk downland above the Vale of the White Horse, threaded by one of Britain's oldest roads

4.2 km NW

Photo of The Vyne, a house & garden near Basingstoke, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

The Vyne

House & garden near Basingstoke

Tudor mansion mirrored in its lake.

4.5 km N

Photo of Odiham, a village in Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Odiham

Village

Historic high street, canal and King John's castle ruin.

10 km E · Hampshire

Photo of The Mutton at Hazeley Heath, a gastropub in Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

The Mutton at Hazeley Heath

Gastropub near Hazeley Heath

A restored heathland country pub in north Hampshire named a regional winner in 2024.

13 km NE

Photo of Marle at Heckfield Place, a restaurant in Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Marle at Heckfield Place

Restaurant · With rooms near Heckfield

Georgian country-house hotel with a biodynamic home farm supplying its restaurants.

13.1 km NE

Photo of the Kennet & Avon Canal, an 87-mile canal running from Reading to Bristol, England.Highlight

Kennet & Avon Canal

Canal

The broad-beam crossing of southern England — river, canal and river again from Bristol's Avon to the Thames at Reading, over the chalk by the Caen Hill flight.

14.5 km N · spans 5 counties

Photo: Watership Down, a viewpoint near Kingsclere in the North Wessex Downs, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Watership Down

Viewpoint near Kingsclere

Ridge of Richard Adams's novel, on the Wayfarer's Walk.

14.8 km W

Photo of the South Downs, a National Park in south east England.Iconic

South Downs

National Park near Fittleworth

A chalk ridge rolling from Winchester to the sea cliffs at Beachy Head.

16 km SE

Photo of Chawton, a village in the South Downs, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Chawton

Village

Jane Austen's House in a picture-perfect estate village.

16.4 km SE · Hampshire

Photo of The Grange, Northington, a Grade II* registered house & garden near New Alresford, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

The Grange, Northington

House & garden near New Alresford

One of England's boldest Greek Revival houses, with a portico modelled on the Parthenon.

17.9 km SW

Photo of Whitchurch Silk Mill, a visitor attraction in Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Whitchurch Silk Mill

Attraction near Whitchurch

Georgian watermill still weaving silk on Victorian looms.

18 km W

Photo of Bucklebury Common, a visitor attraction in the North Wessex Downs, Berkshire, south east England.Highlight

Bucklebury Common

Attraction near Bucklebury

Ancient wooded common of oak and heath crossed by an avenue of old trees, one of the largest commons in the county.

19.8 km NW

Photo of Englefield House Garden, a Grade II registered house & garden near Pangbourne, Berkshire, south east England.Highlight

Englefield House Garden

House & garden near Pangbourne

A terraced 1850s garden of stone staircases below an Elizabethan house.

20 km N

Photo of New Alresford, a village in Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

New Alresford

Village

Georgian colour-washed streets; watercress and the steam line.

20.1 km S · Hampshire

Photo of Highclere Castle, a Grade I registered house & garden near Kingsclere in the North Wessex Downs, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Highclere Castle

House & garden near Kingsclere

Charles Barry's 1840s house, screen home of Downton Abbey, with Tutankhamun finds below.

20.2 km W

Photo of Farnham, a village in Surrey, south east England.Highlight

Farnham

Village

Georgian market town on the Wey, its Castle Street of red-brick and hung-tile houses climbing to a Norman castle keep above the North Downs.

20.9 km E · Surrey

Photo along the North Downs Way, a 153-mile National Trail running from Farnham to Dover, south east England.Highlight

North Downs Way

National Trail

Pilgrim country: orchards, vineyards and chalk downs between Farnham and the white cliffs of Dover.

21.3 km E · Kent & Surrey

Photo of Selborne, a village in the South Downs, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Selborne

Village

Gilbert White's village below its hanger and zig-zag.

21.4 km SE · Hampshire

Photo of Gilbert White's House & Gardens, a Grade II* registered house & garden near Selborne, Hampshire, south east England.Highlight

Gilbert White's House & Gardens

House & garden near Selborne

The 18th-century home of naturalist Gilbert White, its garden restored to his own design.

21.5 km SE

Photo of the Surrey Hills, a National Landscape in Surrey, south east England.Highlight

Surrey Hills

National Landscape near Coldharbour

Wooded ridges and heathy commons an hour from London, with gentle hills and paths made for an easy day out

22.6 km E

Photo along the Thames Path, a 185-mile National Trail running from Kemble to London, England.Highlight

Thames Path

National Trail

The river from its Cotswold trickle to the Thames Barrier — the gentlest long walk in Britain.

22.8 km N · spans 7 counties

Photo of the River Thames, a 135-mile river navigation running from Cricklade to Teddington, England.Highlight

River Thames

River navigation

The non-tidal Thames — 45 locks of managed river between Cricklade's meadows and the tideway at Teddington.

22.9 km N · spans 7 counties

Highlight

Thames Lido

Lido near Reading

Reading's Edwardian ladies' swimming bath of 1902, restored in 2017 as a heated lido with a spa and restaurant.

23.2 km N

Photo of the Chilterns, a National Landscape in England.Highlight

Chilterns

National Landscape near The Lee

Beech woods and chalk downland within easy reach of London, laced with old ridge paths and grazing red kites

23.8 km N

Photo of Waverley Abbey, a ruined monastery near Tilford, Surrey, south east England.Highlight

Waverley Abbey

Monastery · Abbey near Tilford

England's first Cistercian abbey, riverside ruins.

24.1 km E

Photo of Donnington Castle, a ruined castle near Newbury, Berkshire, south east England.Highlight

Donnington Castle

Castle near Newbury

Twin-towered medieval gatehouse on a hill.

24.3 km NW

Photo of Frensham Little Pond, a Lake near Tilford, Surrey, south east England.Highlight

Frensham Little Pond

Lake near Tilford

Quieter of the two Frensham ponds, ringed by reed and heath with a boardwalk trail through the surrounding common.

24.5 km SE

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo of the Basingstoke Canal, a 32-mile canal running from West Byfleet to Greywell, south east England.

Basingstoke Canal

Canal

A heathland canal through Surrey and Hampshire's military country, restored over four decades and rich in dragonflies.

4.8 km E · Hampshire & Surrey

Photo of Pamber Priory, a church near Pamber End, Hampshire, south east England.

Pamber Priory

Church near Pamber End

Surviving Norman crossing and chancel of a priory.

6.5 km NW

Photo of Butter Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Greywell, Hampshire, south east England.

Butter Wood

SSSI near Greywell

A Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire.

6.7 km E

Photo along the Wayfarer's Walk, a 70-mile long-distance path running from Inkpen Beacon to Emsworth, south east England.

Wayfarer's Walk

Long-distance path

Combe Gibbet to Emsworth harbour across Watership Down and the Hampshire chalk — high downland one end, saltmarsh the other.

6.8 km SW · Hampshire & Berkshire

Photo of Hook Common and Bartley Heath, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near North Warnborough, Hampshire, south east England.

Hook Common and Bartley Heath

SSSI near North Warnborough

A Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire.

7.4 km E

Photo of Pamber Forest and Silchester Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near Kingsclere, Hampshire, south east England.

Pamber Forest and Silchester Common

SSSI near Kingsclere

A Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire.

7.8 km N

Greywell

Village

Canal tunnel and a prize-winning pretty village.

8 km E · Hampshire

Photo of Warnborough Green, a Site of Special Scientific Interest near North Warnborough, Hampshire, south east England.

Warnborough Green

SSSI near North Warnborough

A small Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire.

9 km E

Photo of North Warnborough, a village in Hampshire, south east England.

North Warnborough

Village

Canal, thatch and Odiham Castle.

9.5 km E · Hampshire

Everything else within 25 km (61) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.