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Special events, celebrations, anniversaries, and new openings…2023 is already shaping up to be a sensational year in Hampshire.
From the opening of a new immersive experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to a jam-packed calendar of events and festivals, read on for our guide to the hottest things to do and places to go in Hampshire during 2023.
Dive the Mary Rose
Portsmouth’s award-winning Mary Rose at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will have its biggest expansion since the purpose-built museum opened in 2013 with a new 4D immersive theatre experience, ‘1982 – Dive the Mary Rose’, opening in spring 2023.
‘1982 – Dive the Mary Rose’ will showcase the untold story of the finding, excavation, and recovery of Henry VIII’s favourite ship. Unseen footage will be brought to life through the smells, sounds, and movement from the raising, with visitors given 3D glasses and CGI used to optimise the experience.
Find out more about the Mary Rose
New cookery classes at Chewton Glen Hotel
Hot off the 2023 press, Chewton Glen’s renowned cookery school will be introducing an exciting new cookery school programme with brand-new Chef Tutor, Gerard Molloy.
New classes at the New Forest luxury hotel will include Supper Club, Fermenting, Pickling and Preserving, and Korean Bibimbap making.
Find out more about Chewton Glen
Exciting events
2023 is shaping up to be a bumper year for the events calendar, with popular events returning for the new year and plenty of fresh happenings to look forward to.
New for 2023, there will be different displays flying into The Hawk Conservancy Trust in Easter 2023 and The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu will be adding to its popular Simply series of events for car fans with a new Tesla event – Simply Tesla – in October 2023.
Find out what’s on in Hampshire in 2023
Festival fever
A whole new year of festivals and fun awaits in Hampshire with headline music acts and a tasty looking menu of food events planned for 2023.
From the artistic Winchester Hat Fair to the delicious Hampshire Food Festival, the county’s festivals offer exciting escapism and a fun opportunity to enjoy the vibrancy of Hampshire culture.
Brand new for 2023 is Party In The Park – a huge pride event coming to Southampton's Palmerston Park in June. And also in June, Broadlands will also host Grammy Award® winning performer Lionel Richie with a spectacular open-air concert.
For music fans, Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival returns in August with Jamiroquai and The Vaccines confirmed, and CarFest South welcomes Texas and Ricky Wilson. Also taking place in August, Boomtown brings a theatrical world of imagination and creativity to the county.
With many tickets already on sale, and early bird offers up for grabs – fill up that 2023 calendar with some fun with our ultimate guide to festivals in Hampshire.
Take a look at the top festivals to attend in Hampshire here.
Special Hampshire anniversaries
Some of our very own attractions here in Hampshire will be celebrating some special anniversaries in 2023.
Paultons Park celebrates its 40th Anniversary in May with special events to mark the occasion soon to be confirmed.
Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower will be 18 years old on 18th October 2023 and on The Watercress Line it will be 50 years since British Railways closed the railway line in February 1973.
Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre will be celebrating 5 years since opening with big events for 2023 including the brand-new Turf Games Winter Festival in February.
The National Trust’s Mottisfont near Romsey will be marking the centenary of Norman Thelwell in 2023 in various ways including a feature film inspired by his classic ponies and a ‘100 years of Norman Thelwell’ exhibition from 21 January – 7 May.
Gilbert White’s House & Gardens is celebrating its 30th edition of the Unusual Plants Fair 17th-18th June 2023 with the biggest and most intriguing Unusual Plants Fair they have had yet, with a wondrous array of quirky and out of the ordinary plants.
Coronation of King Charles III
On Saturday 6 May 2023 King Charles III will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort at his coronation at Westminster Abbey in London.
An additional bank holiday across the UK will be on Monday 8 May 2023 to mark the occasion will special celebrations likely to be planned across the country and the county.
Watch this space for what’s happening in Hampshire for King Charles III's coronation.
We hope that the events that we have mentioned above will go ahead this year, but please check opening and ticket information directly with the business or attraction before you travel.
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