Basing House
BEST FOR
Ages 5-15
ENTRY
from £8
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Basingstoke
What it’s like
Ruins, a battle-scarred Tudor barn and a mouse trail to hunt down, spread across a big meadow site just outside Basingstoke.
There's not a roof left on the main house, and that's rather the point. Basing House was flattened after a Civil War siege, and what's left is ruins to clamber round, a meadow to run across and the Great Barn from 1535 still standing with the scars to prove what it went through. Kids aged five and up get the Basing Mouse trail to follow, which gives the ruins a proper job to do instead of just being old stones, and the visitor centre fills in the history for anyone who wants the story behind what they're looking at.
It's an outdoor site and a big one, so budget more than an hour if you're doing it properly. The ground isn't all flat: some areas have rough terrain or steep inclines, so a buggy won't get everywhere and it's worth knowing that before you set off across the meadow. Tickets are £8 for a child and £11 for an adult, which feels a bit steep for a ruin until you clock that one ticket gets you unlimited visits for the whole year, so a single trip pays for itself if you fancy coming back when the barn looks different in autumn light.
You don't need to book ahead unless you've already got a ticket and want to return, in which case you still reserve a day and time but won't be charged again. There's a café and picnic area if you want to make a day of it, and dogs are welcome anywhere on site, assistance dogs included. Wheelchair access covers parking and toilets, with guided tours for blind and visually impaired visitors if you book ahead.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 15, old enough to follow the trail and walk the ruins
- Booking
- Existing ticket holders need to book a day and time to visit but are not charged again
- Wheelchairs
- Accessible parking and accessible toilets
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs welcome anywhere on the site
- Getting there by bus or train
- No.10 bus from Basingstoke Bus Station to Park Lane/A30 junction (approx 5 minutes)
- Worth knowing
- Unlimited visits for a whole year with a single ticket
- One ticket gives unlimited visits for a year, so it's worth it if you'll come back.
- The site is large with rough ground in places, so wear proper shoes rather than pram-friendly trainers.
- Guided tours for blind and visually impaired visitors need booking in advance.
- There's a hearing loop at the visitor centre for anyone who needs it.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£11 for an adult, £8 for a child aged five to fifteen, £10 concessions. A family ticket covers up to five people with a maximum of two adults, and the discount applies automatically at checkout.
Do we need to book?
Not for a first visit, you can turn up. If you already hold a ticket and want to return, you book a day and time but aren't charged again.
What age is it good for?
The Basing Mouse trail and site are aimed at ages five to fifteen, so it suits kids old enough to walk the ruins and follow a trail rather than toddlers.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There's a café on site, and a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own.
How long should we stay?
It's a large outdoor site with the ruins, the Great Barn and the meadow to cover, so it takes a good chunk of a day rather than a quick hour.
Is it accessible with a wheelchair or buggy?
There's accessible parking and toilets, but some areas have rough terrain or steep inclines that limit access across the site.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome anywhere on the site, and assistance dogs are welcome throughout too.
What can kids actually do there?
They can follow the Basing Mouse activity trail, explore the ruins of the main house and meadow, and get into the Great Barn, which dates from 1535 and still shows its battle scars.
Is there a shop?
Yes, there's a gift shop on site alongside the visitor centre.
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