Large Houses to Rent in Hampshire
RENT A BIG HOUSE IN HAMPSHIRE
Head to Hampshire and discover a land of forests and hills, big cities and open fields, seaside resorts and naval ports. Stay at one of our big houses to rent in Hampshire and immerse yourself in centuries of English history. This region is home to the city of Winchester, occupied through the ages by King Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror. It’s home to HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship. It is the county of the Duke of Wellington, Jane Austen and Mary Tudor, among many notable historical figures. It’s home, too, to the western edge of the scenic South Downs National Park. And, of course, the New Forest, over 71,000 acres of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest, waiting to be explored. Hampshire attractions you can visit include the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey was filmed, and, children’s favourite, Peppa Pig World. Browse our curated selected of luxury big houses to rent in Hampshire.
Choose your Hampshire holiday house
WHEN TO STAY IN HAMPSHIRE
Spring
Catch the blossoms. Enjoy creamy, rose-tinted magnolia at Sir Harrold Hillier Gardens, walk among the daffodils at Mottisfont and savour the pink Japanese cherry blossom at Hinton Ampner. Cross to the Isle of Wight for Mottistone Gardens where, in the sheltered valley, you’ll find apple, pear and cherry blossom, an abundance of daffodils and, in late spring, vibrant rhododendron and azaleas and carpets of scented bluebells.
Summer
Catch Hampshire at its liveliest. In August, enter the world of Boomtown, a one of a kind music and arts festival, or get down to Carfest. Take things more gently and gaze at the summer countryside from a steam train along the historic Watercress Line, packing a picnic to enjoy in the orchard at Ropley Station. Make a spectacular end to the day by booking drinks at the Spinnaker Tower, where you can watch the sun set over the Solent.
Autumn
When autumn arrives in Hampshire, head to the New Forest to enjoy long walks amidst the golden beech trees. Keep an eye open for wild deer, foraging pannage pigs and of course, the famous ponies. Stop for lunch at one of the many village pubs dotted throughout the area.
Winter
Let the sparkle of the many Christmas illuminations light up your winter stay in Hampshire. In the quieter months, go for a winter walk on one of Hampshire’s shingle beaches or pick up a section of the Solent Way walk, with castles and forts, harbours, marshes and lagoons to explore, and rare species to discover.
PLACES TO VISIT IN AND AROUND HAMPSHIRE
Hampshire is a large and diverse county with cities, seaside resorts, national parks and pretty villages all waiting to be discovered. The historic heart of Hampshire lies on the coast at Portsmouth, where the docks have welcomed, dispatched and defended against sailors for centuries. Put aside a full day to visit the museum and ships and learn all about the port’s military history. Close by, visit Southampton for its shopping and nightlife. When you want to escape city life, head for the New Forest, the jewel in Hampshire’s crown, where you can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Discover the wide open spaces and gently rolling hills of the South Downs too. Visit the pretty villages of the Test Valley, where you can browse antique shops, stop off at delis and teashops and follow rare chalk streams. Make time to explore Winchester, with its famous cathedral and quaint streets, and if you want some old fashioned seaside fun, try Southsea or Hayling Island. When you stay in Hampshire, it’s also a golden opportunity to visit the Isle of Wight to discover its beaches and friendly little towns.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HAMPSHIRE
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Is Hampshire easy to get to?
Hampshire is on the south coast, straight down the M3 from London. It’s well served by the rail network and has its own airport, Southampton airport. It is also easy to get to from Gatwick and Heathrow, and Bournemouth airport is handy for the New Forest. From further north, it’s well worth the drive, being one of the sunniest regions in the UK.
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When’s the best time of year to go to Hampshire?
Hampshire has something for every season. Its position on the south coast makes it a summertime destination, with warm weather, beaches and plenty of open spaces. Visit the New Forest in the autumn to enjoy the changing colours, and come in spring when it bursts into blossom ahead of most of the rest of the UK. Winter lights up with Christmas illuminations and it’s a lovely season walk along deserted beaches or visit Hampshire’s towns and cities when the parking is easy and the year-round attractions are quieter.
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What are the main attractions in Hampshire?
With coastline, National Parks and bustling cities, Hampshire has something for everyone. The New Forest is a vast area with walks, cycling and outdoor activity centres. Portsmouth boasts its dockyards with their long maritime history and Winchester is a small and beautiful cathedral city to visit. Hampshire has its own theme park, Paulton’s Park which incorporates Peppa Pig World, and it’s also home to Marwell Zoo, which is set in over 140 acres of parkland.
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Where are the best beaches in Hampshire?
Many of the beaches in Hampshire are pebble or shingle beaches and that’s perhaps why we don’t hear so much about them as the neighbouring Dorset beaches. But if you don’t want sand in your sandwiches, they are for you. Southsea Beach is perhaps the most ‘seasidey’ having been a popular resort since Victorian times. Calshot Beach, a shingle spit is great for watching ships come and go, Milford on Sea is a stony beach flanked by beach huts, and Beachlands on Hayling Island, another resort with amusements and fairgrounds, is popular for fishing and sailing. Also worth a visit is Lepe Beach, a stony beach in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with views across to the Isle of Wight.
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Is the Isle of Wight in Hampshire?
The Isle of Wight is a county in its own right. It is not part of Hampshire. However, it was historically part of Hampshire, being granted autonomous county status in 1890. Until 1974, it was still part of the ceremonial county of Hampshire but is now a ceremonial county in its own right too. Its connections to Hampshire remain in a shared police force and fire and rescue service. If you are staying in Hampshire, it’s a short hop on the ferry across the Solent so it would be almost rude not to pay a visit.
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What is Hampshire famous for?
Perhaps Hampshire’s most obvious claim to fame, apart from Peppa Peg World of course, is its links to Jane Austen, who was born in the Hampshire village of Steventon and lived much of her life in Hampshire, writing many of her classic novels in the county, drawing on local inspiration. Portsmouth’s pivotal role in the country’s naval history looms large, and you can see Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory when you visit. The New Forest is also a famous part of Hampshire’s appeal. Latterly, Hampshire has become increasingly well known for its vineyards, with many wines now being noticed on the world stage.