Tours And Experiences Around North Hampshire

The little village of Andwell, between Basingstoke and Hook, provides a wonderful beer-drinker’s outing – to the Andwell Brewery.

The Andwell Brewing Company was established in 2008, initially in a potato shed behind Newlyns Farm in North Warnborough.  After their first brew, “Resolute”, Andwells added to their range with “Gold Muddler” and “King John”, and now offer a great selection of real ales, IPAs and lagers. In 2011 they relocated their growing business to the current peaceful setting – an old trout smoking house alongside the Lyde River, but there’s nothing fishy about it now! Further growth has seen the addition of a brewhouse shop, a bar and a café where, as well as supping the brewery’s various products, you can also enjoy a cuppa and some local cake whilst looking out across the river.

Before tasting the beautifully crafted Andwell beers, why not see what goes into making them, with a 90 minute guided tour of the brewery.  You will be able to sample the floor-malted barley, take in the sweet aroma of hops, see the fermentation process and meet the Andwell team.

Your guided tour can be booked here and the brewery can be found here. Alternatively enjoy Andwell’s products at home with free local deliveries from their online shop.

Andwell Brewery, Andwell Lane, Andwell, Hook RG27 9PA, tel 01256 761 044

Jane Austen’s statue is in the centre of Basingstoke, in the Market Place at the Top of the Town infront of the Willis Museum. It was unveiled in 2017 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her death. Born in nearby Steventon, Jane knew the Basingstoke area well, often frequenting the town for social events at the Assembly Rooms and visiting friends at The Vyne, Oakley Hall and Ashe House.

Jane’s family moved to Bath in 1800 and then in 1809 moved to a large cottage in the charming village of Chawton, about 15 miles from Basingstoke.  It was here in Chawton Cottage that Jane lived the rest of her life and wrote or finalised her six major novels.  The property is now a museum and open for you to explore.

Various events take place at the museum throughout the year: period dramas, village walks, and an exclusive “waking up the house” tour where you can join the folks who check that everything is in order before opening up for the day. This tour includes sharing of the secrets and stories of Jane’s house, plus a tea & toast breakfast. You need to be an early bird for this one – and do book before you go!

For the less mobile, there is a wealth of information, activities and fun virtual trips including an informative 360 deg virtual tour of the house, outbuildings and garden. For even more Jane Austen history the Basingstoke Heritage Society might be of interest.

You might also enjoy this interesting, non-professional virtual tour of the larger, grand old Chawton House, which was owned by Edward (one of Jane’s brothers), as well as a glimpse around Jane’s house itself.

For a huge range of Jane Austen themed products, from crockery and books to clothing and jewellery, visit the online gift shop, and the all-important tea room, Cassandra’s Cup, is directly opposite Jane Austen’s cottage. Both Jane’s mother and her sister were called Cassandra.

Back to statues, what about Mr Darcy’s statue? Well, in the film of Pride and Prejudice, Chatsworth House was used as Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s home, and they have kept Mr Darcy’s bust as a souvenir.

Jane Austen’s House can be found on Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton GU34 1SD, telephone 01420 83262

The Vyne is such a great place to visit, whatever the weather.  You’ll be captivated by the history, the exquisite grounds & gardens, the bird hide, and the wetlands and woodlands.

The Vyne is a Grade 1 listed country house, originally built in the Tudor style in the early 1500s for William Sandys, Lord Chamberlain to King Henry VIII. After the Civil War, ownership passed to the Chute family, who reduced it in size and transformed it into a more classical style, and subsequently bequeathed it to the National Trust in 1956.

During the Second World War, the house was used to accommodate schoolboys evacuated from their boarding school in Kent. In 1964 the horror mystery film The Black Torment was filmed at The Vyne; the film, described as a typical sixties horror film, depicts a lord returning to his manor with his new wife to find local suspicion that he committed several recent murders.

Take a tour around the mansion and soak up the fascinating history of this significant historical site. The house comes with it’s very own chapel too, which is still in the original Tudor style. If the weather’s good, why not also take advantage of the 13 acres of beautiful gardens, encompassing the formal stone gallery gardens with summerhouse and beautiful herbaceous borders, to the walled garden, fruit trees and the wild garden.

The Brewhouse is the name of the great little restaurant where you can get a hot drink and a slice of cake or a light lunch.  The gift shop, in a former coach house, is right opposite and is stocked with local produce as well as items common to other National Trust venues.

Visits can be booked online. If you can’t get out in person to experience this historic mansion, take a narrated virtual video tour of the Vyne house and grounds (use the circular navigation tool in the top left corner of the screen to look up, down, left & right)

The Vyne is to be found just north of Basingstoke on Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke RG24 9HL, telephone 01256 883 8858