You’ll find our Squirrel Wood neighbourhood in Basingstoke a wonderful base, living in the perfect house you designed. Not only will you have your dream home, but you’ll be situated close to numerous fantastic places to visit, experience and enjoy – here’s our list of just a few of the great places on your new doorstep…
Weybrook Park Golf Club
This 18-hole golf course, driving range, practise course, bar and restaurant is set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside near Basingstoke. Open to both the public and members, Weybrook Park also boasts having had two US Open Golf Champions and one winning Ryder Cup Captain play there since its opening in 1997. The golf club also boasts the beautiful Weybrook Suite which can be hired to host special events in a stunning location.
Milestones Museum
Here you can enjoy a trip down memory lane – literally! From the Victorian cobbled streets to the 1940s sweet shop, you can explore the museum’s shops and buildings to see how people used to live. It’s sure to be popular with all the family and you can buy traditional sweets, view the unique collection of vintage vehicles and even have a go in the penny arcade.
iFly Skydiving Basingstoke
If thrill seeking is your thing, then iFly Skydiving should definitely be on your wish list. This place is not for those who like to keep their feet on the ground with indoor skydiving, a Freedom Climber climbing wall and the chance to learn or improve on your snow-sport skills – it’s certainly for those who like the wind in their hair and the venue’s vertical wind tunnel is open to free-fall flyers from the age of 3 to 103!
Basingstoke Rugby Club
With a variety of sporting options on your doorstep, Basingstoke Rugby Club is a great choice and open to all the family. Founded in 1948, it’s the town’s premiere community sports club with more than 500 members. The club welcomes new members and runs teams from under 6’s through to veterans. Basingstoke Rugby Football Club is a family friendly sports club which runs teams from under 6's through to veterans. Basingstoke RFC is also an excellent venue to hire for group events or parties, with capacity for up to 150 people, onsite parking and a fully licensed bar.'
Festival Place
Festival Place is an impressive shopping centre in Basingstoke that houses over 200 shops including large stores such as Zara, Next, Mark and Spencer and Apple.
The centre is also home to numerous bars, restaurants and cafes – of which most are located in the covered Festival Square section – and these include Nandos, Las Iguana and GBK. Festival Place really is a great venue for a day out as the centre also incorporates a Vue cinema, Basingstoke Sports Centre, Basingstoke Discovery Centre and Flip Out Trampoline Park. The centre is based in Basingstoke Town Centre and is easily accessible by car, rail or bus.
Eastrop Park
If it’s peace and tranquillity you’re looking for then Eastrop Park is well worth a visit. Located just a few minutes walk from the town centre, the park is a lovely area to take a walk but is also home to a fabulous boating lake where you can hire rowing boats and pedalos in the summer months.
The park is great for youngsters too with an extensive play area, trim tail and in the summer the paddling pool opens which is very popular with local families. Eastrop Park also hosts a number of events throughout the year including live bands, the Brackenwood Festival 5k race and The World Party in the Park.
The ruins of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum
Just a short drive from Squirrel Wood and you’ll find the ruins of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum in Silchester. The Roman name for Silchester was Calleva Atrebatum which denotes its role as the centre of the territory of the Atrebates, one of the major late Iron Age tribes in southern Britain.
Today you can walk around the walled town, read all about its exciting history and even step into the amphitheater where gladiators once fought. Then take a relaxed walk into Silchester and enjoy a delicious lunch in the Calleva Arms.
Bombay Sapphire distillery
For those with a penchant for a G&T, the Bombay Sapphire distillery in nearby Whitchurch offers a fantastic day out.
The distillery is located in the stunning Laverstoke Mill – which is situated within a Conservation Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in rural Hampshire. Here you can enjoy hosted tours, gin cocktail masterclasses, gin tasting classes or a heritage experience to name a few. The beautiful venue is also available to hire for special occasions and you can even host your wedding reception here!
The Vyne country house
Set in a scenic landscape, this former Tudor powerhouse turned 17th century family home is set in sprawling gardens and woodlands – perfect for a day of blissful exploration. Inside the house, you can learn about William Wiggett Chute and his family who lived at The Vyne in the mid-19th Century. Take in historic gems including a pre-Reformation chapel, Tudor oak gallery with 16th-century wood carvings and neo-classical staircase hall. Or immerse yourself in the Victorian chapter of The Vyne’s past by dressing up like Victorians in the Housekeeper’s Room. You can enjoy your own picnic in the beautiful grounds or visit The Brewhouse tea-room for homemade cakes and light lunches.