A red three storey brick building with white windows. It has a triangular pitch in the middle of the roof and a tower. To the right of the image is the river.

Credit Whitchurch Silk Mill

Group Travel

Basingstoke and Deane has lots to entertain everyone. From museums to historical venues, shopping to open spaces. All this and more makes it the perfect destination for groups to enjoy. If you are planning a day out with friends and family or an organised day trip, tour or holiday for a group to Basingstoke and Deane look no further for all the information you need.

Bookable attractions and activities

There are several attractions and activities for groups that can be booked in advance. You’ll find some offer discounts for larger groups.

Milestones Museum is the perfect place to visit for group outings of all ages! From cobbled streets to a seaside pier, teddy bears, vintage vehicles, an operating pub, sweet shop and more, there is so much for everyone to see, do and enjoy at Milestones, Hampshire’s museum of living history.

Take your group to Milestones to enjoy the following benefits:

discount on admission for groups of 15 people or more
pre-booked meal, cream tea or hot drink and cake at their on-site café
free entry and meal voucher for coach drivers, plus 10% shop discount.

To find out more and to book your group visit, please call 01256 639550 or email milestones.museum@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk.

Basing House is the ideal site to learn about wildlife and habitats, local history, Tudor times, the Civil War and how one site of local historical significance has developed and changed over time. Discounted prices for groups and schools are available for parties of 15 or more. Personal assistants (carers) entitled to a free ticket do not count towards the minimum number of 15 people required to form a group. To organise a group visit or school trip, please contact the venue direct.

Embark on a voyage to remember at the Knight’s Realm! An epic crazy golf adventure with an 18-hole course. Groups can visit their website and drop them an email to enquire about booking.

Whitchurch Silk Mill provides an attractive and convenient location for group visits, as a destination or as part of an itinerary for a day out in the glorious Hampshire countryside. They have a space for coach parking and a large space available for groups to enjoy pre-booked refreshments including a lunch buffet or cream tea. Enjoy a guided tour of the waterwheel and the mill building and its Victorian machinery, the beautiful garden on the banks of the River Test and visit the shop. Find out more about group visits to Whitchurch Silk Mill.

If your group is looking to take in a trip to the theatre then take a look at Anvil Arts which runs The Anvil, The Forge and The Haymarket, all in the centre of Basingstoke. Group discounts vary depending on performances and there may not be a group discount available at some shows. Groups of nine or less can book online. For bookings of 10 or more, please contact Anvil Arts directly.

Based at Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire is The Bombay Sapphire Distillery. The distillery showcases the care, skill and creativity behind every drop of Bombay Sapphire. Discover how they make their famous gin and the flavours of the botanicals used on a tour of the distillery. Take in the sights of the magnificent glasshouses and the River Test, one of the purest chalk streams in England. For bookings of 11 or more, email groups@bombaysapphire.com.

Sandham Memorial Chapel is a great place for adult groups and students of all ages to learn about the First World War, artist Stanley Spencer, art and social history in a wonderful setting. Groups are welcomed on Tuesdays when the venue is closed to the public giving your party exclusive access to the chapel, exhibition and gardens. They can accommodate smaller numbers up to coach parties of 40 guests, but all must be booked in advance.

Non-bookable attractions

Shopping can be found at Festival Place and The Malls in Basingstoke town centre. Also within easy reach are Eastrop Park and War Memorial Park which are perfect for time out, walks and picnics. If you are looking to visit one of the parks as a large group, e-mail Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council events team at events@basingstoke.gov.uk to check they are no large events taking place at the same time in these spaces.

You’ll also find plenty of walks to enjoy in the surrounding countryside, such as Beacon Hill, home to an impressive hill fort with magnificent views over the North Wessex Downs. Follow in the footsteps of Whitchurch resident and author Richard Adams as you explore the stunning north Hampshire landscape that author Richard Adams so loved to wander and where he told his tale of the rabbits of Watership Down on The Watership Down Trail.

Eastrop Park you can see the bandstand and the lake.

Golf breaks

Enjoy and relax on your golf break at Sandford Springs in their stunning luxury 39-bedroom hotel with 27-hole golf course. Free parking, Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel and preferred resident green fees. They offer a wide range of golf break packages each including four star accommodation, three-course dinner, full English breakfast and golf on the stunning course. The hotel provides guests with bright and spacious rooms elegantly furnished to the highest standards. Each room offers en-suite facilities with power showers along with luxury designer toiletries for your convenience. Bedrooms are fully air conditioned with tea and coffee facilities and flat-screen TV's. Never leave a golfer behind, one in 16 go free on all golf breaks.

A white clubhouse building sits aside a picturesque lake. The sky is blue.

Sandford Springs

Weybrook Park caters for society days with packages for a minimum of 12 players. Take a look at their website for offers on early bookings for next year.

Facilities

Please contact venues direct for details of coach or mini bus parking. If your group is visiting Basingstoke town centre the coach drop off and pick up facility on Churchill Way is still available for use by non-scheduled coaches and regular Stagecoach services. Coach parking can be found at the leisure park, to gain access you will need to contact Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 01256 844844. There are plenty of public toilet facilities, as well as disabled access toilets in Basingstoke town centre. Please note that most accessible toilets require a RADAR key.

For details on toilet facilities including disabled and changing places toilets at attractions please visit their websites directly. Some venues will also have AccessAble guides which provide lots of information including facilities available to help you plan.