5 Fun Historical Outings Around East Hampshire
Packed with history and beautiful heritage sites found in the beautiful South Downs National Park. East Hampshire is a beautiful part of rural England.
The following East Hampshire locations offer a real taste of local history on your next adventure with a senior in East Hampshire.
With its wooded hills, hidden valleys, picture-perfect villages, and peaceful market towns, you can stay active, engaged, and happy in your senior years by getting out and about in your local area. There is fun to be had reminiscing and learning together with curious elderly relatives in East Hampshire. Don’t limit your day out to the present, though – visit one of the many historical houses and gardens to complete this picture-perfect area.
Jane Austen Museum and Chawton House - Chawton
Visit Jane Austen’s house in Chawton to explore where one of the most famous and believed writers in English Literature was influenced to write and revise all her novels.
Between 1809 and 1817, Jane Austen lived in Chawton for her final eight years of life. This museum is a 17th-century house where Jane lived with her mother, sister, Cassandra, and Martha Lloyd. Here, she wrote or revised her six great novels. The home of the beloved author hosts Jane’s jewelry, letters, first editions of her novels, and the table at which she wrote her novels, the museum houses an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures. There’s a chance to walk in Jane’s footsteps as you explore the rooms where she lived and wrote in 1816.
Jane Austen’s House and the village of Chawton are just off the A31 at the A31/A32 roundabout near the town of Alton. Free parking is provided in the public car park opposite the House, beyond the pub car park. Find it here.
Gilbert White’s House - Selbourne
A beautifully restored country venue, the museum dedicated to Gilbert White is located in the attractive village of Selbourne. Gilbert White’s House, was home to the late 18th Century literary naturalist who transformed the way we look at the natural world. His lifelong love and talent for observing and recording nature influenced Charles Darwin, among many others. White is best known for his book The Natural History of Selborne.
This wonderful heritage site plays host to his historical home with rooms that have been restored following descriptions in White’s own correspondence – the Brewhouse – opened in 1765, now running as a Nano Brewery providing craft beer and lager to the local community – a very welcoming Café called White’s Café and magnificent Gardens to for you to explore.
Find it located off the high street, Parking is available at the village car park behind the Selborne Arms. To reach the House and Museum once parked, turn left on leaving the car park and walk along the High Street.
Uppark House and Garden - Petersfield
On the South Downs ridge, Uppark commands views as far south as the English Channel. Uppark is a a tranquil 17th-century house set within intimate gardens and woodland in South Harting, West Sussex, England. It is a Grade I listed building and a National Trust property. In the nearby meadow, there is plenty of space for children to play and picnic, and the gardens are gradually being restored to their original 19th-century design. Located on the grounds of Uppark is one of the country’s finest collections of 18th-century dolls’ houses.
Parking is free at Uppark, with designated accessibility parking available and there’s no need to book a ticket to see the house, just join the queue outside the front door. The house is open Thursday – Sunday and dogs are welcome in most parts of the grounds, for directions, Find it here.
Rural Life Living Museum - Farnham
A unique collection of re-located historic buildings, the Rural Life Living Museum tells the story of the countryside. Visitors can explore inside these buildings, which are complemented by the largest collection of agricultural implements and everyday objects in the world. It’s a journey of nostalgia and discovery that everyone can enjoy.
In addition to the arboretum that contains over 100 trees, the museum is set in over 10 acres of open space and woodland. The Garden Market Café serves a variety of hot and cold food and there is always tea and cake to finish off a great day out. There are sheltered areas when it rains, picnic areas for lunch, and secluded benches to take a break.
Find it located 3 miles south of Farnham, just off the A287, Midway between Frensham and Tilford villages.
Weaver Hall Museum - Alton
The Curtis Museum in Alton is home to one of the finest local history collections in Hampshire, exploring 100 million years of the region’s past.
This society was founded by William Curtis (1803–1881) after he helped establish the Alton Mechanics Institute in 1837, a society that he used to share his interest in the natural sciences with the community. Having created a museum in the Institute’s Market Street building, Curtis helped raise funds for this building, which houses, among other things, fossils that were his own. Gradually, the museum spread into every room.
You can enjoy the museum with the whole family. There are many things you can do during your visit, including viewing the Alton Buckle, the finest piece of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship in Hampshire, learning more about Alton and the surrounding area in our local studies area and shopping at the museum. Find the Curtis Museum located off Alton High Street here.
