What to do and see in Basingstoke, England: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day

Jane Austen Tours. Exclusive one day guided tour of where Jane Austen spent her first twenty five years. See the places where she danced, fell in love and the quiet valley where she wrote her first three novels. Trace the people she mentions in her letters in ancient village churches, lunch in a country inn and visit the house where she spent her last eight years, the Jane Austen House Museum at Chawton. Other Hampshire tours offered. A brilliant day out of London.

Jan Jack's Laughter-House is a small buzzy comedy club bringing you top comedians from the UK circuit (est 2007). Comedy nights are usually the second Thursday in the month. Doors open 7.30pm show starts at 8.00pm. Book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets available through website.

Exciting Escapes are thrilled to bring the global phenomenon that is Escape Rooms to Basingstoke. Working together in a small group of 2-7 people, your challenge is to solve puzzles and mysteries together while the clock ticks down. Each room has a story that you play a part in, and each presents its own unique challenges for a truly entertaining experience. Will you accept the challenge?

At Skizone our revolving, fully adjustable ski slopes replicate a real piste. The slope surface is an astro-turf carpet which offers the most economical way to learn and is suitable for all ages and abilities. With a fully qualified instructor by your side throughout the lesson and a mirror at the bottom of the slope feedback is instant and gives you the best opportunity to perfect your technique.

Glitch VR is Basingstoke's first virtual reality gaming arcade. Come and try out the latest in virtual reality and PC gaming with the newest headsets and latest VR games.

Gorilla Spirits Co. offers visitor experiences at our distillery in the beautiful Hampshire village of Upton Grey. Join us for a distillery tour and tasting session, get hands on with professional mixology lesson in our cocktail masterclass or join our distilling experts to make your very own gin at our Gin School. Visit our website gorillaspirits.co.uk to find out more about and to book.

Experience the most exciting escape rooms in Basingstoke. Escape Hunt Basingstoke in Festival Place features 5-star rated escape rooms, VR experiences and outdoor adventures. Operating under enhanced cleaning procedures and safety measures, play safe and let the adrenaline flow as you race against time to crack the clues and escape the room. Great fun for groups, team building, corporate events, families or a night out with friends. Our expert staff can help you create an exciting and memorable day out, birthday party, group event, company away day and more. Escape Hunt is the global leader in escape room games with locations worldwide. Book online now and step up to the challenge at Escape Hunt Basingstoke!

Immerse yourself in the past at Milestones, Hampshire’s museum of living history. Explore the museum’s streets, shops and buildings to discover how people used to live, buy a ration of sweets from our 1940s sweet shop, view our unique collection of vintage vehicles and have a go in our penny arcade! Your trip to Hampshire past will take you as far back as the age of the Victorians, with cobbled streets, a replica Victorian school room – complete with chalkboard and teacher’s desk – and even a working printing press. Throughout the year, we run a programme of fun, family-friendly events and exhibitions – keep an eye on our Events for more details. From a working pub to a play space for under fives, costumed characters, interactive displays and more, there is so much for everyone to enjoy at Milestones!

The Anvil is one of Hampshire’s largest entertainment venues and offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages including stand-up comedy, theatre, ballet & opera, classical music, pop concerts and pantomime. This year we’ve welcomed top class performers including Lee Evans, Boy George and Billy Ocean and also had the pleasure of hosting one-off events such as the last UK concert appearance of the great pianist Alfred Brendel.