The 5 Best Specialty Museums in Alton, England

Step back in time to 1816 and follow in Jane Austen's footsteps. Jane Austen's House in Chawton is the beautiful Hampshire cottage where Jane Austen lived and wrote. It is the most treasured Austen site in the world. It was in this house that Jane's genius flourished and where she wrote, revised and had published all six of her beloved novels, including the timeless Pride and Prejudice.

**Please check website for updated opening days/times** Chawton House, referred to by Jane Austen as the ‘Great House’, as it was owned by her brother Edward. See the dining table where she enjoyed meals with her family and stroll through the walled garden. Discover the inspiring stories of early women writers, from novelists and travel writers to philosophers and activists. Visitors can enjoy light lunches and refreshments in the Old Kitchen Tearoom and browse a range of gifts related to the Library, House and Gardens in the Gift Shop without paying for admission. There is a rolling programme of exhibitions, which are included in the price of admission, along with a variety of events from evening talks and conferences to children’s workshops and garden tours.

Gilbert White & The Oates Collections celebrates the lives of three explorers of the natural world. The historic house was the home of the eighteenth century pioneering naturalist Gilbert White; whose major work The Natural History of Selborne has never been out of print since its publication in 1789. The House is surrounded by 25 acres of majestic restored garden and parkland, which specialises in eighteenth century plants and gardening methods inspired by Gilbert White. The Museum is also home to the Oates Collections where visitors can discover the stories of the nineteenth century explorer Frank Oates, who travelled extensively around Africa and Central America and the heroic Captain Lawrence Oates. The Collection commemorates the life of Lawrence Oates, who travelled with Scott to the South Pole on the epic yet ill fated Terra Nova Expedition of 1912. This unique and diverse, interactive Museum also boasts a fantastic café which serves food throughout the day.

Based at Lasham Airfield, home to Lasham Gliding Society; the largest gliding club in the world, The Gliding Heritage Centre exists to preserve the history of British Gliding and make it accessible to the public. Visitors are welcome at the centre any day of the week, though we run organsised tours at 2pm every Sunday. On the first Sunday of each month we fly our gliders (weather permitting). When you come to visit us, park your car in the Lssham Gliding public car park as shown on the map and come into the Lasham clubhouse. At the enquiries desk inside tell the staff that you'd like to visit us and they will call a guide who will escort you to the centre.