The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Basingstoke, England

Galleon Marine offer Rowboats, Sit on Kayaks and Open Canoes that can be rented by the hour to enjoy and explore the Basingstoke Canal. We also have a picnic garden and small kiosk that sells, ice cream, hot and cold drinks and snacks. Our Self Drive Narrowboats can be rented for short breaks and week holidays for groups of 2 to 8 people. We are open from March to October.

Jane Austen Tours. Exclusive one day guided tour of where Jane Austen spent her first twenty five years. See the places where she danced, fell in love and the quiet valley where she wrote her first three novels. Trace the people she mentions in her letters in ancient village churches, lunch in a country inn and visit the house where she spent her last eight years, the Jane Austen House Museum at Chawton. Other Hampshire tours offered. A brilliant day out of London.

Exciting Escapes are thrilled to bring the global phenomenon that is Escape Rooms to Basingstoke. Working together in a small group of 2-7 people, your challenge is to solve puzzles and mysteries together while the clock ticks down. Each room has a story that you play a part in, and each presents its own unique challenges for a truly entertaining experience. Will you accept the challenge?

Glitch VR is Basingstoke's first virtual reality gaming arcade. Come and try out the latest in virtual reality and PC gaming with the newest headsets and latest VR games.

Please note the rooftop walkway is now closed. As a £5.4m roof project draws to a close, young adventurers can enjoy a number of family trails through the grounds of this former Tudor palace. Amble past a six-hundred-year-old oak tree, tiptoe inside a 17th century summerhouse and stride across our north lawn. Out in Morgaston Woods, intrepid explorers can try their hand at den building, orienteering and geocaching. The ancient woodlands reveal traces of history if you know where to look. See if you can spot the remains of medieval fish ponds and a Second World War munitions storage site. For a chance to glimpse wetland wildlife, you can visit the purpose-built bird hide. Inside the house, visitors of all ages can be transported back to 1535 when Henry VIII visited with Anne Boleyn. Head to the chapel to hear a Tudor mass soundscape or venture into the Saloon to discover a Victorian owner who replaced The Vyne’s roof from 1842.

Immerse yourself in the past at Milestones, Hampshire’s museum of living history. Explore the museum’s streets, shops and buildings to discover how people used to live, buy a ration of sweets from our 1940s sweet shop, view our unique collection of vintage vehicles and have a go in our penny arcade! Your trip to Hampshire past will take you as far back as the age of the Victorians, with cobbled streets, a replica Victorian school room – complete with chalkboard and teacher’s desk – and even a working printing press. Throughout the year, we run a programme of fun, family-friendly events and exhibitions – keep an eye on our Events for more details. From a working pub to a play space for under fives, costumed characters, interactive displays and more, there is so much for everyone to enjoy at Milestones!

The Anvil is one of Hampshire’s largest entertainment venues and offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages including stand-up comedy, theatre, ballet & opera, classical music, pop concerts and pantomime. This year we’ve welcomed top class performers including Lee Evans, Boy George and Billy Ocean and also had the pleasure of hosting one-off events such as the last UK concert appearance of the great pianist Alfred Brendel.