Five things to do in Basingstoke and Deane this festive season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and there’s plenty of festive fun and seasonal magic in Basingstoke and Deane this Christmas. Take a look at our top picks.
1.Visit a Christmas market or fayre
A must for everyone wanting to get in the festive spirit is a trip to a Christmas market, a great opportunity to buy local and find a unique gift for someone special.
- The Yuletide Market at The Malls Shopping Centre runs from Friday 15 November to Tuesday 31 December. A traditional market, perfect for gift shopping. You’ll also find festive walkabouts and workshops taking place on set dates throughout November and December.
- The majestic Tudor Barn at Basing House will be decorated for a wonderfully festive shopping experience at the Basing House Christmas Fayre on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November. Browse over 30 stalls offering locally made crafts, produce and gifting ideas. There will also be fun for all the family with children’s entertainment, live music and festive refreshments. Tickets cost £3.50 per person, under 5s go free and booking is essential.
- Milestones decorated period streets and a giant Christmas tree will give you a warm welcome at Milestones Christmas market. The annual market runs from Saturday 30 November to Sunday 1 December, find unique seasonal gifts and treats, children’s entertainment, live music and festive refreshments. They have a great gift shop too. Tickets cost £6.50 a person, under 5s go free.
- Get ready to embrace the festive spirit at Silchester Farm on Saturday 14 December. Grab last minute gifts from a variety of local suppliers offering homeware, food and drink, handcrafted trinkets, and an array of festive goodies. It’s a fun day out for all the family, so head along to get cosy, sip mulled wine and make memories. Tickets are free, but pre-booking is required.
Image: Milestones Museum
2. See Santa
There are lots of opportunities to see the main man himself in the lead up to Christmas Day.
- Join Four Kingdoms on a Magical Christmas Adventure to the North Pole. From toys to teddies, snowballs and sleighs, immerse yourself in a seasonal extravaganza; take lots of fantastic photos and you’ll head away laden with goodies and filled with Christmas cheer. Immerse yourself in a seasonal extravaganza. Pre-book tickets from Saturday 23 November to Tuesday 24 December.
- Meet Father Christmas in his magical Milestones grotto tucked within the heart of Milestones' charming, decorated indoor streets from Saturday 30 November to Tuesday 24 December. Tickets cost £17.50 per child and £7.50 for the accompanying adults. Tickets include an opportunity to meet Father Christmas and a special gift for children. Maximum of five people per group.
- Visit Santa’s grotto in Festival Place for a truly magical Christmas experience for all the family from Saturday 2 November to Tuesday 24 December. Tickets are £6.00 per child, with a £1.50 online booking fee per transaction.
- Enjoy a magical morning at Silchester Farm. Feast on delicious festive dishes in the cosy Cow Shed, before wandering through the Kitchen Garden where Father Christmas will be waiting to hear everyone’s Christmas wishes. Breakfast with Santa takes place on Saturday 7 December.
- Meet Father Christmas and Mother Christmas by the Christmas tree at The Malls Shopping Centre on Saturday 7 December. Don’t forget to take along your all-important Christmas letters. This is a free activity.
- Santa and his elf will be in the Magical Grotto at the Millers Ark Santa Special Open Days on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 and Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December. Book online in advance, farm entry £13, Santa grotto visit £8. Under 10's only for grotto presents. Pre-booking required.
- Enjoy a delicious breakfast with Santa before the The Christmas Elf Inspector show at Proteus Creation Space. The fun begins in the festive surroundings, where you will meet some of the characters from the show and spend some special time chatting with Father Christmas himself. This unique and personalised memory-making experience for your family is available on a handful of dates so advice is to book early!
3. Festive events to make it a memorable Christmas
Whether you’re looking to kick off Christmas in style, bring in the festive season with a party or to enjoy yummy food, you’ll find somewhere in Basingstoke and Deane to make some fantastic festive memories:
- Kick off the festive season at Festive Friday. Love Basingstoke will be spreading Christmas cheer in Basingstoke town centre on Friday 15 November from 5pm to 8pm. A fabulous festive evening with free children’s activities, festive walkabouts, a Christmas market with local stallholders, music and much more! This is a free event.
- Celebrate the Christmas season with a Christmas movie night at Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Choose from one of four classic screenings running each Sunday from 1 to 22 December. Tickets include a complementary arrival cocktail, popcorn and sweets to enjoy with the film.
- With sparkling trees and quirky displays in The Vyne’s house and gardens, lose yourself in Lewis Carroll’s dreamlike chlildren’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Take part in a trail to join Alice on a quest. Enjoy nonsensical fun challenges and activities before collecting your prize. Refuel with a steaming hot chocolate, coffee or something a little stronger in the cosy Brewhouse tea-room.
- Round up your friends or colleagues and raise a toast to the season at Silchester Farm, nestled in the Hampshire countryside, with stunning views and beautiful interiors. Menus crafted with locally sourced ingredients create the ultimate festive feasts for tables of four to 30 guests on set dates throughout December. Make a night of it by indulging in a one or two night stay in a Pyggy or country house, for an ultimate Christmas retreat.
- Celebrate Christmas at Oakley Hall Hotel. Encompassed in 315 acres of breathtaking north Hampshire countryside, Oakley Hall is the perfect setting for your Christmas celebrations. Dance the night away at a Christmas party night, indulge in a delicious Christmas dinner designed by talented chefs or plan a stay to let the Oakley Hall family take care of yours over the Christmas break.
Image: Silchester Farm
4. Take in a show
Escape the everyday by taking in a show this Christmas.
- Martin Dodd for UK Productions and Anvil Arts proudly present this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. The fabulous family pantomime at The Anvil promises a laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, top musical hits, fantastic costumes and exciting special effects to keep audiences both young and old entertained! Book tickets from Thursday 12 December to Sunday 5 January. Ticket prices vary depending on dates, ranging from £28.50 to £34.50.
- ScratchBuilt Productions in association with Proteus present The Christmas Elf Inspector a brand new magical and immersive theatre experience for all ages. Travel on a theatrical adventure, following the story around enchantingly themed rooms, where you will meet funny, colourful characters, interact with the story and take part in hands-on activities. Showings from Saturday 7 December to Saturday 24 December. Relaxed performances available. Tickets cost £10 per person (plus booking fee)
- There's something irresistibly Christmassy about the sound of brass instruments, their warm tones blending together like a choir of carol singers. Join the Philharmonia Orchestra Brass Ensemble at The Haymarket for a programme ranging from serene Advent pieces to the merriest melodies of the season. Tickets £31. Under 25s and f/t students £12 (includes £4 booking fee)
- Based on the book by John Hay and Garry Parsons, The Owl Who Came for Christmas comes to The Haymarket Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Sunday 8 December. Join Rosie the Owl on her enchanting adventures as she finds herself nestled amidst the branches of a family's new Christmas tree. This show promises to delight audiences of all ages, with toe-tapping songs, captivating puppetry, and plenty of opportunities for audience participation. Tickets: £19. Under 16s £17 (includes £4 booking fee)
- Have a Jolly Dolly Christmas as The Tennessee Country Christmas Show returns to The Haymarket Theatre on Friday 20 December. Celebrate renditions of festive favourites in a country style, combined with some of the biggest-selling hits from the genre's superstars. Tickets cost £28 (includes £4 booking fee)
Pictured: Sleeping Beauty at Anvil Arts
5. Shop until you drop
List in hand, you’ll find all the shops you need in Festival Place, The Malls and the Top of the Town to buy your loved ones presents. If you need a break then there are plenty of refreshment options from coffee shops to tapas and bubble tea to burgers, and not forgetting mince pies!
Easily accessible from junction 6 of the M3, Festival Place has plenty of parking. Or hop on the train to Basingstoke and arrive just outside The Malls Shopping Centre. Both will have free events running to keep the kids entertained. You can take a ride on the mini train, participate in make, and take workshops and see festive walkabouts.
Outside of Basingstoke town centre, head to the village of Overton for a wide range of independent shops to tick some items off your Christmas list. Here you can also enjoy refreshments from local suppliers, from traditional sandwiches to Asian cuisine, there is something suitable for everyone’s tastes.
Looking to make a weekend of it?
Basingstoke and Deane offers a wide range of accommodation to choose from in the centre of Basingstoke or the surrounding towns and countryside retreats of Whitchurch, Overton, Oakley, Tadley and Upton Grey.
Any four-legged friends don’t need to miss out on the festive fun either, see our guide to dog-friendly stays in Basingstoke and Deane.
Image: Oakley Hall Hotel
Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.
Updated October 2024
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