Alton

A thriving country market town, with a fascinating history, Alton was built around a wealthy Saxon settlement and had the most valuable recorded market in the Doomsday Book. Saxon discoveries, including the famous Alton Buckle, are among the artefacts displayed in the Curtis Museum. The 11th-Century St Lawrence Church was the scene of the civil war ‘Battle of Alton’ and still bears the scars. At one time the town was notorious for the brutal murder of ‘Sweet  Fanny Adams’.   Today a delightful mix of historic buildings jostle with modern shops and arcades. Tuesday is market day, and the town hosts many markets and fairs throughout the year. Guided walks of the town start from the Tourist Information Centre or the rail station.   With a variety of places to stay, Alton is perfect for short breaks, a centre for exploring the literary and cultural heritage of this part of Hampshire. Surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful countryside, long distance footpaths and other rights of way offer many opportunities for walking and cycling.   Must see and do Allen Gallery, Alton Curtis Museum, Alton Jane Austen’s House, Chawton Gilbert White’s House and The Oates Museum, Selborne Grayshott Pottery, Grayshott Selborne Pottery, Selborne Coors Brewery, Alton 

Places close to Alton

Airports near here

Attractions near here

  • Brooklands Museum(42.3 km)
    Motoring and aviation exhibits
  • Eton College(45.7 km)
    Eton College is probably the most famous school in England. Henry VI opened the school in 1440 for the education of 70 poor boys. It is now a very expensive private school for about 1,300 boys aged 12-18. It costs approximately E40,000 per year.
  • Stonehenge - Britain's Best Historic Site.(59.4 km)
    Stonehenge was erected between 3,000 BC and 1,600 BC by no less than three different cultures and its orientation on the rising and setting sun has always been one of its remarkable features. Whether this was simply because the builders came from a sun worshipping culture, or because - as some scholars believe - the circle and its banks were part of a huge astronomical calendar, remains a mystery to this day.
  • The Royal Pavilion(69 km)
  • Big Ben- the United Kingdom’s favourite landmark(70.8 km)
    Big Ben, rising majestically over the River Thames at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament, is one of London’s best known landmarks. Originally the name ‘Big Ben’ referred specifically to the largest of the five bells in the clock tower. This is the bell which strikes the hour, while the other four bells strike the quarters. However, the term ‘Big Ben’ is now generally used for the clock itself and the clock tower.

Cities and towns near here

  • Farnham(14.3 km)
  • Fleet(16.8 km)
  • Farnborough(21.8 km)
  • Godalming(25.2 km)
  • Winchester(25.7 km)
  • Camberley(26.5 km)
  • Guildford(29.8 km)
  • Chichester(37.5 km)
  • Southampton(40.5 km)
  • Windsor(44.7 km)
    Windsor is a lively town in a glorious riverside location with great shopping, restaurants and Windsor Castle - one of the Queen's official royal residences and the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.
  • Bognor Regis(45.5 km)
  • Marlow(48.8 km)
  • Lyndhurst(52.2 km)
    Lyndhurst is the largest village located within the New Forest in the south west of England. Lyndhurst is located just 20km from the bustling city of Southampton.
  • Hampton Hill(52.9 km)
  • Worthing(56.4 km)
  • New Malden(57.1 km)
  • Salisbury(58.1 km)
    Salisbury is a an ancient city in the south west of England, dominated by the glorious Cathedral.
  • Wimbledon(61.2 km)
  • Ealing(61.6 km)
  • Kenton(66.2 km)
    Kenton is a pleasant suburb of London located about 20km north east of the centre of the city.
  • Chesham(66.3 km)
    Chesham is the largest town in the Chiltern district, located amidst the steep green Chiltern Hills. Chesham has much to offer the visitor with its many attractions including Lowndes Park, Church Street in the Old Town with its picturesque cottages, and also the twelfth century St. Mary's Parish Church.
  • Brighton(69.2 km)
  • Oxford(69.6 km)
    Oxford is one of Europe’s great cities, famous for its ancient university and outstandingly beautiful with its many towers and spires of golden stone. As a centre of learning and culture, it offers the visitor a huge range of cultural experiences. At the same time, Oxford has always been a thriving modern city with successful industries and great entertainment facilities, including excellent shopping, hundreds of pubs and restaurants, many cinemas and theatres and an exciting night life. This mix of old and new, of scholarly tradition and popular British culture, makes Oxford the ideal location for a homestay.
  • Faringdon(70.4 km)
  • Lewisham(74.8 km)
  • Friern Barnet(76.7 km)
    Friern Barnet is a very pleasant, residential suburb of London, located just 30 minutes to the north of the city. Friern Barnet is a convenient place from which to enjoy and explore London.
  • Bournemouth(79.2 km)
  • Carterton(80.1 km)