Arts & culture
Yes, there is a cultural life.
A proper concert hall, a smaller theatre and a programme worth checking before you book anything else. Start with The Anvil or The Haymarket.
Live performance
The venues we've covered.
What each one is for, how to get there and the details worth checking before you go.
The Anvil
Basingstoke's proper concert hall: live music, comedy, orchestras and touring shows in one of the town's genuinely good cultural venues.
Read the local guide →
The Haymarket
The Anvil's smaller, older sibling in Top of the Town — theatre, comedy and live performance without the big concert-hall feel.
Read the local guide →Choosing between them
Big night or small room?
The Anvil is the town's main concert hall, with orchestras, touring bands, comedy and stage shows, and a smaller Forge performance space inside the building. If you are driving, our guide to parking for The Anvil compares the nearby car parks.
The Haymarket is the smaller, older venue in Top of the Town, with theatre, comedy, music and touring productions in a more intimate setting.
Programmes and ticket arrangements change, so check what is on before you travel.
Daytime options
Museums and heritage.
If you would rather see something than sit down in the dark, the Willis Museum and Milestones Museum cover the town's history, and Basing House is the one with ruins.
Keep exploring
Make an evening of it
A show is easier with a plan for before and after.