Attractions & Museums in Hampshire

Beaulieu offers a complete day out for all interests, with a National Motor Museum, Palace House and Abbey to visit. The National Motor Museum houses 250 varieties of vehicle. The 14th century family owned Palace is still lived in by the present Lord Montagu and house various family treasures, and the ancient Abbey was founded in 1204.

Portsmouth Dockyard combines history with our modern Royal Navy. On view are historic ships that have shaped British history, museums and exhibitions.  Alternatively, jump on board for a harbour tour lasting 45 minutes, and view from the water the Destroyers, Frigates and Mine Sweepers moored in the harbour.

Burns Night: Celebrate Burns Night with a traditional Burns Night supper and Celtic entertainment aboard HMS Warrior on the 23rd January. Call 023 92778604 for more information.

Magnificent manor house built in the 16th century and a family home to this day.  The house is set in large parkland overlooking the Avon Valley on the edge of the New Forest.  A collection of paintings, furniture, needlework and porcelain is on display to visitors in the house, and the museum shows what life was like in the village with a replica of a farm worker’s cottage, blacksmith’s shop, dairy, brewery, saddler’s and cobbler’s shop, and steam powered farm machinery.

Museum tracing the story of Portsmouth, looking at how life has changed over the centuries, with a reconstruction of a 17th century bedchamber, 19th century dockyard worker’s kitchen, a Victorian parlour and a 1930s kitchen.  Regular exhibitions are held at the museum.

Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum is the house where the famous writer was born, and is now decorated in the style of 1809.  Charles Dickens only lived in Portsmouth for the first three years of his life, but returned three times.

The D-Day Museum was opened in 1984 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of D-Day, and then extended in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary.  The highlight of the museum is the Overload Embroidery commissioned as a tribute to those who took part in Operation Overload, and measures 272ft. 

Museum tracing the history of the Royal Marines, from inception in 1664 to present day.  Housed in one of the most stately Officer’s Messes, which was built in the 19th century and has magnificent ceilings, paintings and a grand staircase.  Interactive displays, medal collections and the Royal Marines band room with a collection of instruments can be found at the museum, and the grounds also display historical objects.

The Royal Navy Submarine museum gives visitors the opportunity to get onboard a submarine and see what the cramped conditions are like, and traces the history of the submarine from its beginning to present day.  HMS Alliance was commissioned in 1947 and many of ex-submariners who guide visitors around the boat served on this class of boat. Film shows, interactive displays and the opportunity to see Portsmouth Harbour through a periscope.

Museum tracing the history of naval warfare from the Battle of Trafalgar to the Gulf War; from gunpowder to modern missiles.  There is a collection of small arms, cannon, guns, shells, munitions, mines, torpedoes and  missiles. There is also an atom bomb. Hands on exhibition with interactive displays.

The City museum tells the story of Winchester from the time of being a major Roman City to today, with reconstructed Victorian and Edwardian shops, important works of art and craft, mosaics and jewellery from the Roman period, hands on activities and quizzes for children. 

The Westgate is a fortified medieval gateway and one of two surviving city gates. Inside there is a Tudor painted wooden ceiling and walls covered in graffiti dating back to the 17th century when for 150 years the gateway was a debtors’ prison.  A unique collection of weights and measures, as well as armour and a gibbet are on display. 

Sharks, sting rays, otters, seahorses, tropical fish and frogs, are just some of the displays to see at Blue Reef. Take your swimming custom, and take advantage of the giant man-made beach and the wet play area for children, with fountains, water cannons and giant showers.

The Mid-Hants railway operates the Watercress Railway Line across ten miles of scenic Hampshire countryside. As well as general rail journies, dining carriages run at certain times of years offering silver service dining. For the younger enthusiasts, Thomas the Tank and friends will be visiting for rides, races and entertainment at selected dates throughout 2008.