Are you a newbie to Basingstoke Festival? Or maybe you’ve caught the odd performance when you’ve been in town shopping in the past. We’ve put together a guide so you can make the most this year’s festival – maybe spend the day or even a weekend soaking up the entertainment.

What is Basingstoke Festival?

Heard of it but not sure what it is? Basingstoke Festival showcases national arts and cultural organisations alongside a number of local artists. You’ll find outdoor art performances in theatre, dance, circus, acrobatics and much more in a number of locations across the borough. The festival starts on Friday 21 June with a celebratory opening parade through Basingstoke town centre and down to the amphitheatre outside Festival Place where internationally acclaimed dance company, Motionhouse Dance Theatre will perform HENGE. The evening will also include a performance from festival favourites, Fit Up Productions. The Festival runs to Sunday 7 July with free outdoor arts across the three weekends taking place in the town centre and across Basingstoke and Deane. 

For the first time, BSL interpreters will be present on each Saturday of the festival to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy the outstanding performances on offer.

The Basingstoke Festival team work hard to schedule performances so you can take in more than one during your visit. Occasionally rain may hinder this so keep an eye on the social media pages for updates. Visit the Basingstoke Festival website to see what’s programmed.

This year’s must see acts

During the first weekend, catch Timeless presented by Joli Vyann. You’ll find a huge seven metre rotating hourglass which four performers will dance, leap, gracefully balance and throw themselves with acrobatic prowess around, on and inside of it.

On the second weekend the festival welcomes TEABREAK. You can catch this act in the town centre on Saturday and then at Whitchurch Silk Mill (ticket for entry will be required) on Sunday. You’ll get to enjoy a free, freshly made brew in this heart-warming show by Trigger. Still your cup, gently glide through an audio journey of tea and how it’s found itself into our tea pots. For something a bit different, help Orchestra of Objects put together a playground of sound. No matter your age or musical experience, explore making sounds and melodies with these uniquely invented musical instruments.

On the third weekend you’ll find giant slinkies working their way around the Top of the Town and Eastrop Park. You can also catch SPLAT! A physical comedy about art and creativity.

Getting here

Basingstoke is conveniently located just off junctions 6 and 7 of the M3 and also accessible via the A339 from Newbury and Oxford and A33 from Reading. If you are travelling by train, you can direct trains from London Waterloo, Winchester, Reading, Oxford, Southampton and Portsmouth.  The train and bus stations are walking distance to the town centre ready to enjoy the festival.

For more information on getting to and around Basingstoke and Deane, visit our guide to getting around.  AccessAble has produced an accessibility guide for arriving at Basingstoke train and bus stations.

You’ll find some of the acts are outside of the town centre in Overton, Whitchurch and Tadley. You can take the train to Overton and Whitchurch from Basingstoke train station or all are accessible by car.

Whilst you are here

Whether you are on your own or bringing the family you may be wondering, where can I park? Where can I eat? Or where can I find a toilet?! So we’ll try and answer these for you to help you out!

Basingstoke town centre

There are a number of car parks in Basingstoke town centre. If you are enjoying performances at The Top of the Town the closest car parks include Joices Yard, Central Car Park and Castons Yard. You will find disabled parking bays in all of these.  If you have an electric vehicle then Feathers Yard is dedicated to electric vehicle parking only.  Details of other electric charging places can be found here. 

In need of toilets or baby change facilities? You’ll find plenty in Festival Place. Take a look at the centre map for details.  You can find details of disabled toilets here and there are changing facilities near Basingstoke Discovery Centre.

Festival Place is home to more than 20 mouth-watering eateries including Five Guys, Pizza Express and The Cosy Club. Festival Street Kitchen offers delicious food if you want to take something away and eat in the outdoors. You’ll find some wonderful independent restaurants and coffee shops at the Top of the Town including Gabardine, Willows Coffee House and the Tea Bar. If you want to pick up food to takeaway and have a picnic you will find Sainsburys and Tesco in the town centre and Waitrose at Basing View.

Whitchurch

For performances in Whitchurch you can park in Winchester Road, Church Street and Bell Street car parks. These are all free but have varying time restrictions so make sure you take a look and find the best car park for you! You’ll find electric chargers in the Bell Street Car Park and also The Gill Nethercott Centre. If you are attending the performance at the Silk Mill you’ll find two parking spaces reserved for disabled visitors within the Mill forecourt. A valid Blue Badge must be displayed.

There are public toilets in Bell Street Car Park and also in the Silk Mill if you are attending a performance there.

For a bite to eat check out the Silk Mill’s Riverside Café and Kudos Coffee!

Overton

In Overton there are two free car parks – one in London Road accessed opposite the White Hart Hotel and one on Overton Hill. To charge an electric vehicle park in London Road car park where you will find a charger that will charge two vehicles at a time. There are lots of independent shops in Overton so spend time wandering and enjoying a bite to eat.

Other things to do while you are here

If you have some spare time in Basingstoke town centre between enjoying performances why not take in a bit of shopping? You can find Festival Place, The Malls and The Top of Town all walking distance from each other.

Or if you’d rather enjoy the outdoors take a stroll in Glebe Gardens or War Memorial Park both within walking distance of the town centre. Eastrop Park has lots for the kids including a play park, paddling pool and boating lake.

If you want to make a weekend of it you’ll find plenty of places to visit. Just outside of the town centre is Basingstoke Leisure Park where you’ll find a swimming pool, bowling alley, cinema and indoor skydiving. If you are a culture vulture then make sure you visit The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery which is free. The Vyne and Sandham Memorial Chapel are both National Trust properties.

Stay

If you are looking for a place to stay take a look at the hotels and bed & breakfasts in the area.

Be prepared

Basingstoke Festival is an outdoor arts festival and you can never predict the weather so you may need something for all seasons! Don’t forget your sunnies, hats and suntan lotion and an umbrella.

May 2024

Basingstoke Festival Notes

Basingstoke Festival is working in partnership with Village Hotel Basingstoke.

Basingstoke Festival is a partner in Without Walls, a network of organisations bringing innovative outdoor arts to towns and cities across England. Find out more on withoutwalls.uk.com.

For more information on Basingstoke Festival visit www.basingstokefestival.co.uk or follow @BasingstokeFestival on Facebook and @BstokeFestival on X and Instagram.