Local Attractions
Things to do and see in the local area
Here we list various local attractions, activities and places of interest around Stockbridge and the local area, please share any recommendations with us so that we can pass them on to other visitors.
Food & Drink
In the High Street
Our High Street is renowned for its variety of food & drink, craft shops, specialist rural sporting shops and timeless ambience. Browse at your leisure!
A Fuller’s pub which retains an excellent mix of good beer and food, with take away Fish & Chips if you fancy. For early risers they also do a full breakfast service if prebooked the night before, so no need to cook in the morning, just stroll down and have breakfast.
A lovely Thai restaurant, run with passion by the owners, who bring something different to our rural surroundings.
Lillie’s
Tearooms and a refuge on a rainy day. It is right by the gate for the pathway down to the Common Marsh and serves traditional English Cream Tea fare. They will also give children supplies of stale bread to throw to the ducks and trout in the streams flowing through the High Street.
Beccy’s Greengrocers
Fresh produce of a wide variety, beautifully presented.
John Robinson, Family Butchers
Proper Family Butchers, excellent quality and range, super staff and delicious food. They also provide a full BBQ service for functions, highly recommended. If you need advice or help with storage or preparation of game during your stay, go into the shop and have a chat.
High class Deli, Bistro and Fishmongers, excellent produce and service, always busy.
Excellent pub and restaurant with consistently high levels of quality and service, lovely garden out the back with stream running alongside, just the place to be on a summer afternoon.
Very classy Award Winning food experience with a rear garden looking over a weir of the River Test.
Rachel Gibson’s newly opened shop, advising on and selling a great range of wonderful wines, to suit all tastes and pockets. Rachel always gives excellent guidance and our “special occaision” purchases from her over the years have been exceptionally good. She does free deliveries too…..
The old Stokes’s Motor Garage beautifully refurbished and now a top class Wine Bar, Coffee Shop & Restaurant, the upstairs rooms reputed to have been used by Lillie Langtry……
Indian Food of invariably good quality, to eat in or take away, often a life-saver after a long day.
The classic frontage of Stockbridge High Street, the Hotel offers bars, a good restaurant and function rooms, as well as being home to the Houghton Fishing Club.
A little further afield up and down the Test Valley
Just up the valley at Leckford, in walking distance from Firs Lodge via the Test Way and The Bunny, a 15 minute stroll. Award winning restaurant and cosy bar, recommended.
Further up the valley at Fulflood, a longer walk up the Test Way. Superb location right alongside a main section of the River Test, good food and drink in an idyllic spot.
Down the valley at Houghton, just off the Clarendon Way, good food and a long garden down to the river. A proper Pub.
A reasonable walk directly down the Test Way, past the Common Marsh, Marsh Court and over the Clarendon Way. Recently taken over by the locals and re-opened, a classic english village pub at Horsebridge with good food and beer.
Over at Broughton, a 10 minute drive from Stockbridge, another proper country pub.
Places of Interest
Well worth a visit, it is a stiff walk to the very top of the ramparts but the views are spectacular from there, and it is a good way to get some fresh air.
One of our favourites, there is always something new to see, and plenty to keep children occupied, also has a restaurant if you need a snack.
Spectacular country house and gardens, well worth a visit but do check opening times.
Wonderful National Trust owned property with great history and architecture, rose gardens and riverside lawns, great for a leisurely wander around.
Part of the Leckford Estate owned by the John Lewis Partnership, a wonderful water garden worth a visit at any time of year.
A woodland setting with some fantastic birds on display and in action, just off the A303 between Andover & Thruxton
On the Braishfield road north of Romsey, this world famous arboretum and garden is open all year round, and is home to many wonderful species of plant.
High Ropes activities for all ages in Harewood Forest, if you fancy swinging through the trees like Tarzan……..
Ancient capital of Wessex, the centre of Winchester has many fascinating historic features, and a visit to the Cathedral is highly recommended.
Salisbury is another ancient regional centre with a wonderful heritage including of course the impressive Cathedral, Old Sarum, and a little further afield, Stonehenge.
Romsey is a classic english market town, and retains much of its character to this day. The imposing Norman Abbey and 13th Century St Johns House are highlights, and the Broadlands Estate, home of the late Lord Louis Mountbatten lies to the south of the town, with the River Test running along the front of this magnificent stately home.
Despite major development in the outskirts of Andover, the centre of the town still has its historic market town which is worth a visit, and there are also cinema’s and children’s play centres should you need a diversion on a rainy day.
Walks and Views
Situated as we are in the centre of the Test Valley, it is not far down the valley to the crossing point of the Clarendon Way as it traverses Hampshire to join Winchester and Salisbury. The Test Way cross the Clarendon Way at Houghton, and it is a quite idyllic spot with complete peace in the middle of the river valley as you cross over various bridges, looking down at the clear chalk stream water below.
From Firs Lodge here in Stockbridge you can walk straight to the Test Way and turn either north or south and go as far as you wish to. Alternatively you can drive to one of the many intermediate car parks along the Way, and start at a point further away, for a different part of the route.
It is very easy to take The Marsh for granted as it is so close to Stockbridge and Firs Lodge, however, whether you stroll down the Test Way, cut between Lillie’s and Garden Inn or park at the Lions Den, the Marsh is a wonderful place to take a walk at any time of day. Whether you stay up at the Stockbridge end with the river and footbridges, or venture down to the southern end with the beautiful Lutyens designed Marsh Court overlooking the valley, the Marsh is always a relaxing place to walk.
Although you either have to walk up the main Winchester Road or drive up and park in the carpark, a trip up to the Down is recommended as the views from the top are spectacular, looking across to Danebury Ring and Salisbury Plain to the west, the Isle of Wight to the south, and over towards the South Downs to the east.
The atmospheric centrepiece of mystical Salisbury Plain. It is a though provoking place to visit at any time of year, rising so unexpectedly out of the rolling grassland of the Plain. A short car journey down the A303, there are many other remarkable Neolithic and Iron Age site within a short distance of Stockbridge.
Sporting activities
Fishing
Test Valley Fly Fishing School
If you would like to learn or brush up on your fishing skills, here is some very able assistance
Just down the valley, fish on the River Test.
Local specialists in chalk stream fishing, whether you want tuition, guiding, father & son days or corporate activities on the Test.
Not far from the John O’Gaunt pub, excellent fishery right in the middle of the valley.
Shooting
Just outside Stockbridge, well set up facilities for all levels of skill
Compton Manor
With Acorn Shooting On the Compton Manor Estate near Kings Sombourne
Near Thruxton Race Circuit, a wide range of stands and a welcoming environment
Horseriding
Just up the hill towards Winchester, rides available for all levels of skill
Golf
Up the valley towards Andover, a 10 minute car ride from Firs Lodge.
Over at Winchester, lovely downland course just outside the southern edge of the city.
Established in 1888, on the western side of the city, another beautiful course.
On the Twyford road out of Winchester, where grandfather Bert Campbell famously drove his new Peugeot into a bunker he didn’t see……..
Owned by the John Lewis Partnership, and principally for the use of Partners, non-members and societies should contact the Club to discuss playing.
Golf Range – Sussex Golf Consultants
Monxton Road, Grately, 01264 889256
Motorsport
One of the fastest tracks in the UK, with many different activities available, including track days, Karting as well as top line race meetings including BTCC and Superbikes. From Firs Lodge Thruxton is a 15 minute drive through the lanes or along the A303.
Ballooning
Details to follow
Kids Activities
Jungle Jungle15 minutes drive up the Test Valley to Andover, good fun for smaller kids.
The little ones have a great time…….25 minutes drive from Firs Lodge.
45 minutes up the M3 towards London from Firs Lodge.
