Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Winchester
What it’s like
Try on a real uniform and handle genuine artefacts while tracing the regiment's history from 1702 to now, free of charge.
This is a small, free museum in Winchester where kids get to handle real artefacts rather than just look at them behind glass. There's a timeline running from 1702 to the present day, so you can trace how the regiment changed over three centuries, and activity sheets and crafts to keep younger visitors busy while the grown-ups read the details. Trying on uniforms is the bit that'll stick in a child's memory, and it beats a lot of museum visits where everything's roped off.
It suits a quiet couple of hours rather than a full day out. There's no charge to get in, which makes it an easy add-on if you're already in Winchester, and a gift shop on the way out if pocket money's burning a hole. Wheelchair access is good throughout, which is handy in an old building like Serle's House.
Parking is the honest catch here. Spaces near the museum are limited and the museum itself doesn't control them, so don't bank on finding one right outside. The Sussex Street or Tower Street multi-storey is your best bet, or the Park and Ride if you fancy dodging the city centre traffic altogether. It's a fifteen-minute walk from the train station if you're coming that way.
If you've got a relative who served in the regiment, staff will do some digging for you, though that's a paid research service rather than a wander round with the kids.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Limited on-site spaces (may not be available)
- Wheelchairs
- All areas accessible
- Getting there by bus or train
- Winchester Train Station, 15 minute walk
- Parking near the museum can't be guaranteed, so ring or email ahead if you need a space close by
- Winchester Train Station is about a fifteen-minute walk away
- The regiment research service is a paid extra at £45, separate from a normal visit
- Saturday hours are shorter than the weekday ones, so plan around 4pm closing
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to get in?
Entry is free. There's a gift shop if you want to spend a bit on the way out.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Friday it's 10am to 4.30pm, and Saturdays plus bank holiday Mondays it's 10am to 4pm.
Is there parking?
Spaces near the museum are limited and not guaranteed, so it's best to email or call ahead if you're set on parking close by. The Sussex Street/Tower Street multi-storey is the nearest public car park, and the Park and Ride is worth it too.
What do kids actually do there?
They handle real artefacts, try on uniforms, follow a timeline from 1702 to today, and get activity sheets and crafts along the way.
Can you research a family member who served?
Yes, staff will research a relative's service history, though it takes a few hours and they ask for a £45 donation towards costs.
Is it accessible with a wheelchair or buggy?
All areas are accessible.
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