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When it comes to treating someone you love, there is no greater gift than spending quality time together so we’ve put together some ideas for Hampshire days out sure to bring maxi-mum smiles this Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day this year is on Sunday 19 March 2023 – if you are looking for inspiration and ideas, read on for top ways to spoil your mum, grandma or even the whole family this Mother’s Day.
Dine right into Mother’s Day
Find the way to mum’s heart with a special Mother’s Day meal together. From fine dining restaurants to cosy countryside pubs, there are eateries in Hampshire to suit every taste with many cooking up special Mother’s Day menus.
Admire the blankets of daffodils at the special Mother's Day Lunch at Chawton House or tuck into a Mother’s Day Sunday roast at a Hampshire pub like The Peat Spade near Stockbridge.
See our guide to the restaurants in Hampshire
View our guide to the pubs in Hampshire
Indulge in an afternoon tea
Tea and cake always make for a perfect combination and afternoon tea is an indulgent treat perfect for an occasion like Mother’s Day. Hampshire hotels, restaurants, cafes and even attractions offer some superb afternoon tea experiences.
Lainston House near Winchester is combining food and floristry on Saturday 18 March with a special Mother’s Day wreath making and afternoon tea.
In the New Forest, Chewton Glen has a special Mother’s Day afternoon tea on the menu; and near Hook, West Green House Gardens has a Mother’s Day afternoon tea in its flower-filled greenhouse.
Or why not combine afternoon tea with some pampering. The Bell Inn New Forest has a brand new pamper package including a choice of one 30-minute treatment followed by an afternoon tea or a light lunch with a glass of prosecco.
And for the ultimate high tea, head to the top of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth for the Mother’s Day High Tea experience.
See the best places to go for afternoon tea in Hampshire here
Step into spring gardens
Mother’s Day falls on the eve of the spring equinox in 2023 so what better way to celebrate Mothering Sunday and the first day of spring than with a visit to a blooming gorgeous garden in Hampshire.
Exbury Gardens is sure to burst into glorious spring colour when it reopens on 18 March 2023 just in time for Mother’s Day weekend and entry is half price for mums on Mother’s Day.
Daffodils will be in full bloom for Mother’s Day in March and some of the best gardens to spot these, as well as the emergence of other spring flowers, are Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Mottisfont near Romsey, Gilbert White’s House & Gardens in Selborne, Hinton Ampner near Winchester, and The Vyne near Basingstoke.
Find out more about gardens in Hampshire
10 glorious gardens in Hampshire
Raise a glass or two
Hampshire’s chalky terrain yields some of England’s – and the world’s – very best sparkling wine and the county’s vineyards are stunning places to visit, learn about, and taste, the region’s beautiful bubbles.
England’s oldest vineyard, Hambledon Vineyard, has a Mother’s Day pop up lunch experience as well as a Mother’s Day high tea, and Quob Park in Wickham is hosting a special Mother’s Day lunch on 19 March.
Discover vineyards in Hampshire
Show them a great time
Enjoy a show together at one of Hampshire’s theatres and entertainment venues.
Catch the enchanting performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton from 14 – 18 March; have a laugh with Michael McIntyre at The Anvil in Basingstoke on Friday 17 March; go back to the 80s at the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth with 80s Live! on Saturday 18 March; and on Sunday 19 March there’s a National Theatre Live cinema screening of Othello at Theatre Royal in Winchester.
Read our guide to Arts & Entertainment in Hampshire
Shop till you drop
Step into spring fashion with a shopping trip together. Seek out the outlet bargains at Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays; browse the big brands at Westquay Southampton or Festival Place in Basingstoke; or mooch around the independent shops of Winchester or Southsea.
Find out more about shopping in Hampshire
Mother’s Day walks in Hampshire
For a wholesome and free Mother’s Day activity then a Mothering Sunday stroll could be just the thing. Hampshire has plenty of walks for all experiences and ages to enjoy, why not try one of these Hampshire wanders:
For forest surroundings – Tall Tree Walk in the New Forest
For sweeping views – The South Downs Way
For following literary footsteps – Jane Austen Circular Walk, Chawton
For sea air – The Solent Way
For a riverside amble – The Test Way
On Saturday 18 March, Jane Austen's House is hosting a special Mother’s Day Chawton village walk focusing on mothers in Jane Austen’s life and writings.
See our guide to walking and hiking in Hampshire
Mother's Day Paddle to the Pub with New Forest Activities
For an unforgettable Mother’s Day experience, hop aboard a canoe on the Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities’ Mother's Day Paddle to the Pub.
The expedition includes a gentle guided tour through the idyllic Beaulieu River Nature Reserve, ending at the Master Builder's pub to enjoy a glass of bubbly by the riverside.
Find out more about the Mother's Day Paddle to the Pub with New Forest Activities
….and relax
For some Mother’s Day pampering a visit to a Hampshire spa could be the perfect way to relax.
Try Lime Wood , Careys Manor Sen Spa and Chewton Glen in the New Forest; the Eforea Spa at The Hilton at The Ageas Bowl or the luxury spa at Southampton Harbour Hotel in Southampton; or the Four Seasons in Dogmersfield Park, north Hampshire.
Find out more about spas in Hampshire
If you’re visiting Hampshire in March, why not stay a little longer and extend Mother’s Day to a Mother’s Day weekend or week. Take a look at our huge range of accommodation. Hampshire has something for all budgets including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering properties, and cosy traditional holiday cottages.
See what events are on in Hampshire this Mother’s Day
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Related
Relax in the historic surrounding of Chawton House's Old Kitchen this Mother's Day and treat your Mum to a delicious two-course lunch.
he Peat Spade Inn sits in a picture postcard setting in the beautiful village of Longstock in the heart of Hampshire.
A charming 17th century William and Mary country house standing elegantly in 63 acres of Hampshire parkland. Delicate archways and loggias frame the picture perfect entrance and a small amble reveals a beautiful 12th century chapel ruin.
An English Original, Chewton Glen is a luxury country house hotel and spa set in 130 acres of Hampshire countryside on the edge of the New Forest National Park, and just a few minutes' walk from the sea.
Always the most wonderful way to say thank you to Mother is to bring her to a garden in early spring when the daffodils and tiny bulbs carpet the ground.
More than 100 years in the making, Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway is a spectacular collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, contemporary and formal gardens, in a unique riverside location. Exbury also boasts a narrow-gauge steam railway that travels through the gardens, plus a play area, fantastic restaurant and much more!
The magnificent Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is world famous for its arboretum and gardens – set over 180 acres of rolling Hampshire countryside; this garden is stunning whatever the season.
Ancient trees, babbling brooks and rolling lawns frame Mottisfont's 18th-century house with a medieval priory at its heart. There’s space to run, jump and play, and always something for families to do, with activity trails in school holidays and a special family exhibition every summer.
Located in Selborne, a stunning corner of the South Downs National Park, Gilbert White’s 17th century home is now a museum open to visitors. Museum highlights include, the original manuscript of ‘The Natural History of Selborne’, White’s 18th century floral embroidered bed covers and White’s taxidermy hawfinch.
Best known for its fine garden, Hinton Ampner is an elegant country house with an outstanding collection of furniture, paintings and objets d'art.
The Vyne is a warm red-bricked Tudor mansion built in the 16th century for Lord Sandys, Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain, which later passed into the hands of the Chute family, who cared for the house and estate for over 300 years. It was remodelled to its present configuration in the mid-17th century.
The award winning vineyard in the South Downs National Park, Hambledon is open for tours throughout the year.
Quob Park offers a range of tours, tastings and events, and through its wine merchant brand, Great Cellar, offers a Wine Club membership with significant discounts and priority access for all offerings, including wine, food boxes, vintage bar box hire, Wine & Pairings experiences and luxury stays.
The largest Theatre in the south, The Mayflower offers spectacular touring musicals - many direct from the West End - plus opera, ballet and comedy.
With some of the finest acoustics in the country, The Anvil has firmly established itself as one of the South's leading venues for high quality live music.
National Theatre Live cinema screening Othello by William Shakespeare. An extraordinary new production of Shakespeare's most enduring tragedy, directed by Clint Dyer with a cast that includes Giles Terera (Hamilton), Rosy McEwen (The Alienist) and Paul Hilton (The Inheritance).
Gunwharf Quays is the UK’s only waterfront outlet shopping destination. Located on Portsmouth’s historic waterfront, you can shop at over 90 famous brands including Coach, North Face, The White Company, Hugo Boss and Nike; grab a bite to eat in a choice of over 30 restaurants, bars and cafes; and watch the boats go by as you take in the stunning marina location.
Westquay is the premier shopping and leisure destination on the South Coast, conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from Southampton Central train station in the heart of Southampton city centre. Boasting over 80 stores including big brand names such as Lego, The White Company, Zara, John Lewis & Partners and Marks & Spencer it makes for the perfect shopping destination.
Good shopping is guaranteed at Festival Place, a vibrant 1.1m sq ft shopping centre in the centre of Basingstoke, just off the M3. The ideal destination for easy, everyday shopping, Festival Place is also somewhere to visit for special occasions and fun family days out.
Visit England’s ancient capital and you will savour a wealth of history, from the 900-year-old cathedral and Arthurian round table to the many fine medieval buildings explore Winchester’s rich heritage.
The Tall Trees is a easy 1.5 mile walk created by the Forestry Commission, at Blackwater in the heart of the New Forest National Park. Walk amongst the huge conifer trees which were planted in 1859.
The South Downs way is situated in Hampshire’s second National Park the South Downs. The route begins in Winchester and stretches 100 miles to Eastbourne. Along the route are unspoilt views of countryside, small hamlet villages and the English channel. The South Downs Way is a hilly but rewarding route for walkers and mountain bikers. Lonely Planet has even included the South Downs Way in it’s 1000 Ultimate Adventures book.
A 4.5-mile circular walk in the heart of Jane Austen country. Start at Jane Austen's House in Chawton and follow in her footsteps across fields and through the village of Farringdon. Jane was inspired by this beautiful countryside to write and revise all her novels.
The Solent Way is one of the most picturesque walks in Hampshire, taking in views of the Hampshire countryside, Solent and Isle of Wight. The route is 60 miles and is broken into 8 sections and stretches from Milford on Sea to Emsworth which is at the top of Chichester Harbour. The Solent Way is great to walk all year round, from the summer where you can see the sunset on the Solent or in the colder months when the seas are even more lively.
The Test Way is a 44-mile long distance walking route that will take you from its dramatic start, high on the chalk downs at Inkpen, to follow much of the course of the River Test to Eling where its tidal waters flow into Southampton Water. Without doubt, the Test is one of Hampshire’s finest chalk streams, world famous for its superb trout fishing.
Treat Mum to the Mother of all gifts this Mother's Day; a wonderful paddle to the pub on the Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities.
Lime Wood, a boutique country house hotel, is set in the heart of the New Forest National Park, 1.5 miles from the small town of Lyndhurst and just an hour and a half drive from London.
Beyond the New Forest heathlands and into the pretty village of Brockenhurst, lies Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa. This former hunting lodge and manor house is rich in history and provides the perfect destination for a relaxing retreat.
An English Original, Chewton Glen is a luxury country house hotel and spa set in 130 acres of Hampshire countryside on the edge of the New Forest National Park, and just a few minutes' walk from the sea.
Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl is the stunning, modern hotel located at the home of Hampshire Cricket in Southampton, Hampshire. The striking property exudes a sense of occasion, boasting spectacular views across the iconic Utilita Bowl cricket, concert and events stadium and Boundary Lakes, the venue’s 18-hole golf course.
Southampton’s only 5-star hotel, offering 119 luxury rooms including 10 suites, an award-winning restaurant, a luxury spa with state-of-the-art gym, a destination rooftop bar, and stunning contemporary interiors throughout.
This Georgian manor house, set in 500 acres of rolling grounds and English Heritage listed gardens, offers the upmost in luxury and relaxation, just an hour from London.
