Around Alton

The historical market town of Alton is situated in the north east of Hampshire and provides an ideal place in the country to set as base camp for exploring the wonders of Winchester, historical ships in Portsmouth and, should you so desire, the non stop vibrancy of London.

There are a many attractions and local events going on through out the year around Alton and we feel that the Alton Grange Hotel is excellently suited to be a home from home while exploring the Heart of Hampshire.

And Alton Towers is only 177 miles north of Alton...

Jane Austen’s House - Chawton

Jane Austen needs no introduction, she is one of the worlds most famous authors and the writer of such classics as Emma and Sense and Sensibility.

The Jane Austen Museum is housed in Austen’s 17th century Chawton home. The house is listed an the National Archives as a building of historic interest and is open to the public.

Chawton Village is just 3mins by car or 20min walk from the Alton Grange Hotel.

www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk

Watercress Line - Alton

The Watercress Rail Line, run by the Mid-Hants Railway – is beautiful section of track that runs from Alton to Arlesford, some 10miles away.

Throughout the spring and summer months they run authentic Steam Trains through some of the most stunning and breathtaking scenery in Hampshire. On school holidays and Bank Holidays you can normally find Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends being operated and is a great day out for the younger rail enthusiasts.

www.watercressline.co.uk

Blackmoor Golf Club

One of Hampshire’s Premier Golf Courses.

Never played Blackmoor Golf Course then you are missing a treat. The course situated deep in the Hampshire countryside features heather-lined fairways and classic pear-shaped greens which are noted for their consistent quality throughout the year. The course rated in the top ten in Hampshire is truly a joy to play.

Visitors are welcome during week days and although we do not operate a tee booking system, you are welcome to call ahead to find the best time to play. We look forward to welcoming you to Blackmoor.

www.blackmoorgolf.co.uk

Curtis Museum – Alton

One of the finest local history collections in Hampshire, exploring 100 million years of history Displays include prehistoric tools, Roman pottery reconstruction, Saxon burials, the Battle of Alton 1643, the notorious tale of Sweet Fanny Adams and Hop picking and brewing.

www.hants.gov.uk/curtis-museum

Gilbert White’s House & Oates Museum – Selborne

The Reverend Gilbert White (1720-1793), author of the world-famous Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne was, with the help of a friend and correspondent Daines Barrington, the founding father of modern natural history recording. He was a pioneer in his appreciation of the interdependence of animals and plants in nature and, depending on his acute powers of observation, his accurate descriptions of the individual species he studied intensely. The Oates Museum commemorates the Oates family and their exploits, in particular Captain Lawrence Oates who accompanied Scott to the South Pole in 1911, and his uncle Frank Oates a remarkable Victorian explorer.

View the House and Museum, go for a walk around the delightful gardens and through the Park to see the follies, take tea in the Parlour and shop in the old billiard room. Time and energy permitting, walk up the famous Gilbert White's Zigzag through the hanging beech woods, return and tour the grounds. Or just sit and look at one of the most delightful views in the South of England.

www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk

Go Ape – Alice Holt

Located just 10mins from the Alton Grange Hotel is an exciting and fun filled outdoor adventure park. There is something for the whole family at Alice Holt. Cool adventure playgrounds, great bike trails and a terrific Go Ape course, all an arrows flight from where they filmed the opening scenes of the Gladiator.

www.goape.co.uk/days-out-in/surrey/alice-holt/the-course

Birdworld – Farnham

Situated just 20mins north of the hotel is the ornithological wonder that is Birdworld. 26 acres of beautiful parkland and landscaped gardens are the perfect setting for the birds from around the world. The forest backdrop sets off beautiful gardens, giving interest all the year round to everyone who likes to come to a garden and gather ideas or just to sit and admire their surroundings.

The gardens are constantly being kept up-to-date with selected areas chosen for re-landscaping such as our willow structure in woodland walk, but many mature trees create the finer structure. The topiary garden, shrub and herbaceous borders, herb beds, cottage gardens and lawns, bulbs and colourful containers all help to provide a complementary setting for the birds.

www.birdworld.co.uk

Winchester Cathedral – Winchester

Winchester Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Winchester, which is part of the Church of England. The Cathedral has its origins in the 7th century, when a Christian Church was first built on this site. Since then, it has played a fundamental part in the life of this ancient City and a significant role in the history of our nation.

www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk

South Downs National Park

Covering an area over 1600 square kilometers, the South Downs National Park is the tenth National Park to be designated in England, offering an area of protected countryside that everyone can visit and enjoy. The famous South Downs Way, loved by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, stretches the entire 160 km length of the Park from Winchester in Hampshire to the white chalk cliffs of Beachy Head, near Eastbourne.

www.southdownsonline.org

Historical Dockyards – Portsmouth

Visit the world famous historic ships at the home of the Royal Navy. Go aboard HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and see the Mary Rose Museum for the best day out in the South of England. Portsmouth Harbour’s leading attraction also includes the Royal Naval Museum, Action Stations and Harbour Tours with the newest addition to Portsmouth’s landscape, the Spinnaker Tower that soars to a height of 170 metres and offers three viewing platforms with the most exciting views across the south coast, particularly the Historic Dockyard.

www.historicdockyard.co.uk

The Great Hall and Round Table

The Great Hall in Winchester Castle (roughly a 20 minute drive from the hotel) was the first and finest of all 13th century halls. It is hugely popular for it's greatest symbol of medieval mythology, "The Round Table of King Arthur".

Hidden Hampshire Tours

People do not often have opportunity to appreciate the countryside. Business visits are often rushed, with little time to appreciate the country visited, or visitors are herded around the sights on a busy itinerary with scheduled stops that offer the usual tourist shopping experiences.

Hidden Hampshire Tours Ltd will take you on a mini-safari. You travel with a guide who treats you as an individual, explains the landscape, and the people who work in it.