Historic sites in Hampshire

Immerse yourself in the county where literary masterpieces like Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility were written. From soaring cathedrals and grand Victorian castles to Iron Age ruins, Hampshire brings thousands of years of history to life.

Whether you're wandering around ancient woodlands in the New Forest or exploring naval legends, here are the best historic places to visit while staying at our UK Club campsites.

1. Jane Austen’s House, Chawton

A must-see for literary fans is Jane Austen’s House, now a museum in the village of Chawton. This is the cottage where Jane lived for the last eight years of her life, writing her most famous books including Pride and Prejudice and Emma.

A Literary Pioneer: Walking through the rooms, you can see the tiny walnut tripod table where Jane wrote. She was a pioneer of the "Free Indirect Discourse" technique - a narrative style that subtly blends a character’s private thoughts with the narrator’s voice, allowing readers to feel deeply connected to her heroines' inner lives.

Chawton House is just a few minutes’ walk away is the "Great House," which belonged to Jane’s brother. Today, it houses a spectacular library of over 4,500 rare books by early women writers (1660–1860). You can also explore the beautiful grounds and enjoy a traditional cream tea in the Old Kitchen tea rooms.

Where can I stay near Jane Austen's House?

• Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite - 14 miles away

2. Winchester Cathedral, Winchester

Explore the magnificent architecture of the medieval Winchester Cathedral, which has been open for worship for over 900 years. Immerse yourself in over 1,000 years of history, with a collection of books and artefacts dating from Roman times to the present day. Visit the Kings & Scribes exhibition to delve deeper into the cathedral's history.

The Great Hall is a short walk from the cathedral is the 13th-century aisled hall containing King Arthur’s Round Table. Visit the museum to find out the history of the building and of Tudor and Stuart Winchester.

Where can I stay near Winchester Cathedral?

• Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite -  4 miles away

3. Highclere Castle, near Newbury

Highclere Castle is a beautiful castle set amongst 5000 acres, famous for many reasons including appearing in the incredibly successful Downton Abbey. The history of this castle dates back to 749AD, with the transformation into how it looks today taking place between 1842 and 1849, designed by architect Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament.

The house has so much history to uncover from surprising Egyptian links, to helping out in both world wars, being converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers during WW1 and then a safe place for children who were evacuated from London in WW2.

Where can I stay near Highclere Castle? 

• Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite - 23 miles away

4. Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth

Visit the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and The Mary Rose museum where you can explore an incredible collection of over 500 years of naval history. With submarines, huge workshops and very famous ships including the HMS Victory and many more including the magnificent ship, The Mary Rose, King Henry VIII’s flagship, raised from the bottom of the ocean in 1982 after nearly 438 years. 

Where can I stay near Portsmouth historic docks? 

• Rookesbury Park Club Campsite - 13 miles away

5. Mottisfont, near Romsey

Visit Mottisfont, a stunning house and gallery with a fascinating history dating back to the 12th Century. The house design itself saw many changes along the way. In the 1930’s it became home to Maud Russell who created a sanctuary for many creative minds, artists, musicians and writers including Ian Fleming.

The grounds feature a world-famous Rose Garden, home to the National Collection of pre-1900 shrub roses. There is a vast amount to discover within the house itself and beautiful grounds to explore.

Where can I stay near Mottisfont?

• Salisbury Hillside Club Campsite (Wiltshire) - 9 miles away 
• Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite - 18 miles away

6. Beaulieu, New Forest

Beaulieu has so much to explore. From the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey, the Palace House, which was once the gate house to the Abbey itself. Updated and extended during the 1800s it's now a great example of a Victorian country house. With beautiful gardens and woodlands to wander through and for motor lovers the National Motor Museum is the perfect place to explore cars throughout the ages. There are many events throughout the year with something for everyone to enjoy. 

Where can I stay near Beaulieu? 

• Black Knowl Club Campsite - 8 miles away  
• New Forest Centenary Club Campsite - 15 miles away

CAMC is not affiliated with the providers listed above so please check their websites for up to date information.