Basingstoke has a station on the main line from London to Southampton. Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner from anywhere in the UK. It takes around forty minutes to get to Basingstoke from London Waterloo station. The station is situated at the edge of the town center and is only a minute's walk from the shops.

Alternatively the town is conveniently situated for the M3 motorway (US English: freeway) also from London to Southampton and is about one hours drive from both. The A33 links the town with Reading and the M4.

Basing House, Silchester Roman Town, Milestones Museum, Wote Street Willy, L'Arc Sculpture

Basing House Once a major Tudor palace and castle rivalling Hampton Court, Basing House was destroyed in a civil war siege. Now an attractive set of ruins, with an explanatory exhibition. Car parking is very difficult in Old Basing village; instead follow the signs to Basing House car park and get the bonus of a very attractive walk along the crystal clear River Loddon to the house. Alternatively bus line 8 runs once an hour from Basingstoke bus station stopping outside Basing House main entrance.

 

Silchester Roman Town Known to the Romans as Calleva Atrebatum, Silchester was abandoned after the Roman era which means that much of the archeology remains. All that is left on the surface now are a complete ring of city walls, the amphitheater and an little medieval church. Away from the rivers that have dictated the area demographics, Silchester is about as isolated a place as you will find in south-east England; on a spring weekday you are likely to find yourself sharing the ruins only with cows. Open every day sunrise-sunset.

 

Milestones Museum A living history museum, with reconstructed street scenes and buildings from the Victorian era. Open Tu-F 10am-5pm; Sa-Su 11am-5pm; M closed.

 

Wote Street Willy, Wote Street, town centre. The largest statue of a penis on public display in Britain. The image of a mother and child is carved into the side of the sculpture, and its phallic appearance was apparently overlooked by planners until its erection (pun intended).

L'Arc Sculpture, Alencon Link, Town Centre. Marvel at the similarities between this sculpture and the Iran-Iraq war monument in Baghdad

January - March
October - December

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