Visit Hamphire
Catergories: ActivitiesEventsthings to do

Step outside and absorb the nourishing apricity of the winter sun, or snuggle indoors and indulge in some cosy hygge.

Embrace those frosty days and delight in all things brumal with our 50 things to do this winter in Hampshire.

1. Go for a winter wonderland wander in the tree-mendous New Forest National Park.

2. Cycle or hike along the South Downs Way.

3. Light up a dark winter’s evening with a visit to a Hampshire illuminations display or trail.

4. Gather your friends and family and head out for brunch in Southampton, Portsmouth, or Winchester.

5. Count down December with our 24 festive things to do this Christmas in Hampshire.

6. Plan your year ahead and get some fun dates in your 2024 calendar with our guide to what’s on in Hampshire.

7. Stock up on healthy and local produce for some New Year recipes with a visit to a Hampshire Farmers’ Market.

8. Gaze at the nighttime winter sky with Night Sky Live at Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium.

9. Kick off the New Year’s resolutions with our guide to challenges and adventures to take on in Hampshire during 2024.

10. Hit the sales for some New Year shopping at Westquay, Southampton; Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth; or Festival Place, Basingstoke.

Portsmouth on Ice

11. Get your skates on for some ice skating action at one of Hampshire’s ice rinks. 

12. Have an action-packed indoor day at Basingstoke Leisure Park with iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Basingstoke Aquadrome, Planet Ice, Odeon cinema, Hollywood Bowl, Basingstoke Golf Centre, and Milestones Museum all in one location.

13. Have some budget-friendly fun with a free day out or 10 things to do for £10 in Hampshire.

14. Plan an alternative break and stay at a place in Hampshire with a unique history.

15. Catch a winter swell and go surfing at Barton on Sea or Highcliffe.

16. Indulge in some winter hibernation on a Hampshire remote break.

17. Fly a kite on one of Hampshire’s beaches

18. Make time for each other with a Valentine’s Day date at one of the county’s restaurants

19. Have a fun-filled February Half Term packed with exciting events for all the family.

20. Step back in time onto the Victorian and 1930s streets of Milestones Museum, Basingstoke.

Mottisfont snowdrops - ©National Trust Images Catherine Hadler

21. Stroll by splendid snowdrops at Hampshire National Trust properties The VyneMottisfontHinton Ampner, and Uppark.

22. Admire more than 650 plants grown for their winter beauty in one of the largest winter gardens in Europe at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.

23. Sip a cosy brew at delicious places to go for a cuppa and cake in Hampshire.

24. Go Ape at Alice Holt Forest, Moors Valley Country Park, or Itchen Valley Country Park.

25. Test your cycling skills and get muddy on some seriously fun tree rides at Queen Elizabeth Country Park’s mountain bike trails.

26. Immerse yourself in Anglo-Saxon Winchester at 878 AD

27. Cook up some fresh recipes at a Hampshire cookery school.

28. Catch a match at Southampton Football Club or Portsmouth Football Club.

29. Dine outside in style whatever the weather in a jetty pod at Southampton Harbour Hotel.

30. Take to the slopes and go skiing or snowboarding at Calshot Activities Centre in Southampton or the Alpine Snowsports Centre in Aldershot.

St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester by Phillip Pearson

31. Take on the 333 steps of St Catherine’s Hill to be rewarded with stunning views of Winchester.

32. Go for a brisk coastal walk along the Solent Way.

33. Escape the winter showers with our top rainy days out in Hampshire.

34. Take out the binoculars for a spot of wildlife spotting in Hampshire.

35. Follow the Jane Austen Trail from Alton to Chawton and visit Jane Austen’s House where  the author famously wrote 6 of her novels.

36. Canter along picturesque bridleways with some horse riding in Hampshire.

37. Go for a walk along the River Hamble and catch the charming pink ferry from the quayside across to Warsash.

38. Try your hand at bushcraft with New Forest Activities

39. Cosy up in front of an open fire at a Hampshire country pub.

40. Get some fresh winter air at one of Hampshire’s Country Parks.

Mogshade Pond by Tim Rosier

41. Make the most of the shorter days and catch a late winter sunrise or early sunset.

42. Take your pooch on a dog-friendly day out.

43. Enjoy the warmth and relaxation of a hygge-inspired winter spa day.

44. Squelch in the mud with a trip to a farm at Finkley Down Farm, Sky Park Farm, Manor Farm, or Longdown Activity Farm.

45. Head to one of Hampshire’s Theatres for a traditional pantomime or a New Year show.

46. Taste and tour at a local Hampshire brewery or distillery.

47. Take to the track with a driving experience in Hampshire. 

48. Feel the invigorating sea breeze with some winter sailing on the Solent.

49. Walk the Mill Trail at Whitchurch taking in five historic mills along the scenic headwaters of the River Test.

50. Walk, cycle, or skate along Southsea’s beautiful beach promenade.


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