Hampshire
15+ D-Day Sites to Visit in England
When we think of D-Day, we all have mental images of troops landing on the beaches of Normandy. What about where they left from? D-Day was months in the planning and preparations, all of which took place in the UK. In honour of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, we have compiled a list of the sites in the UK, that includes Hampshire, where you can learn about the other side of the D-Day landings …Continue Reading >>
Map of Archaeology and History Sites and Museums in Hampshire
Archaeology & History Sites in Hampshire
Roman Sites in Hampshire
Roman Silchester – Calleva Atrebatum
The remains of the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum, near present day Silchester, are still surrounded by what are considered to be the best preserved Roman town walls in England. Originally an Iron Age oppidum, the town was first occupied by Romans in about 45 AD and then abandoned by the 5th century. Outside the polygonal walls a relatively well preserved amphitheatre can be visited.
Many sites and attractions listed on this page are managed by English Heritage or the National Trust. While not all charge an entry fee, some do – certainly those that require greater upkeep and care. Joining either of these two organisations does offer many benefits, but also it supports the work of these two bodies. Read more on membership benefits of joining English Heritage.
Medieval Sites in Hampshire
Mottisfont Abbey
Mottisfont Abbey was founded in 1201 as an Augustinian priory. Along with many other abbeys in England, the abbey was given to Sir William Sandys by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. During World War Two the house was commandeered to serve as a hospital. Besides the historic house museum, visitors come for the National Collection of heritage roses and the beautiful setting of the Abbey.
Netley Abbey
Netley Abbey is the best preserved Cistercian abbey in the south of England, with remains of the church, cloister buildings, abbot’s house, as well as remnants of the post-Dissolution mansion. The abbey was founded in 1239 and closed by Henry VIII in 1536. The extensive ruins were an inspiration to Romantic writers and poets, and today the site is a popular visitor attraction.
Modern Sites in Hampshire
Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is widely known having featured in the period drama, Downton Abbey. The Castle was the ancestral home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon – it was the 5th Earl who funded Howard Carter’s excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. A few artefacts are now on display for visitors in the ‘Antiquities Room’, along with a near perfect replica of the mummy and sarcophagus of the boy king.
Museums in Hampshire
Winchester City Museum
The city of Winchester was not only the capital city of the Anglo-Norman Kingdom, before that it was a regional Roman capital, the fifth largest town in Roman Britain. Before that, during the Iron Age, it was an important trading centre. With a vast collection of archaeological and historical objects the City Museum of Winchester displays the story of this amazing city from earliest prehistoric times to the present.