The quick answer
| If you want… | Go to | Parking |
|---|---|---|
| A big central park | War Memorial Park | Free, off Crossborough Hill |
| Lakes and a play area near the shops | Eastrop Park | Free, off Eastrop Way |
| Something indoors | Willis Museum | Town-centre car parks (paid) |
| Woodland and a proper hill | Crabtree Plantation | Free, but the gate locks in the evening |
| Ducks and a short wander | Black Dam Ponds | Limited, free |
| A riverside walk | Old Basing Riverside | Free at the Lime Pits or Basing House |
Parks
War Memorial Park is the town’s main park: about 24.5 hectares of mature trees, open grass and play space between the town centre and Crossborough Hill. There is an all-weather play area with a scooter track, a skate park and pump track, outdoor gym equipment, a bandstand and an aviary. The two cafés are the only bit that costs money.
Eastrop Park is the closest green space to Festival Place, with the River Loddon running through, a boating lake on the old mill pond, a play area open all year and a trim trail. Boat hire is the paid extra; the rest is free.
Walks
- The council walk from War Memorial Park heads out to Black Dam Ponds and back in about 1.7 miles, mostly level, or carries on through the underpass to Crabtree Plantation for 3.5 miles in all. Start at the park and you avoid Crabtree’s locking gate entirely.
- Crabtree Plantation is woodland and wildflower grassland on the old Hackwood estate, with gravel paths and a climb. Good for butterflies in summer.
- Old Basing Riverside follows the River Loddon through water meadows towards the Basing House ruins. Expect stiles and livestock on the common.
- The Lime Pits is landscaped former workings with hills, paths and a car park, and links to the Old Basing paths.
Indoors and free
The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery in Market Place is free with no need to book. It covers local history from archaeology to the modern town, with changing exhibitions. It is open Wednesday to Sunday.
History you can see without a ticket
- The war memorial at the London Road entrance to War Memorial Park, with its bronze Winged Victory, went up in 1923. The park itself was bought for the town as a memorial after the First World War, with Thomas Burberry’s help.
- The Bolton Arch at Crabtree Plantation is the old entrance to the Hackwood estate.
- St Mary’s Church in Old Basing still has bullet holes from the Civil War siege of Basing House.
- The Basing House ruins charge for entry, but the riverside path towards them is free and gives you a sense of the place.
With children
There are free play areas at War Memorial Park, Eastrop Park, Black Dam Ponds and the Lime Pits. Black Dam also has a duck-feeding platform. None of Black Dam, Crabtree or the Lime Pits lists a café, so bring your own snacks.
Almost free
- The Leisure Park has free parking, so a cheap bowling deal or a swim at the Aquadrome costs only the activity.
- Festival Place parking drops to £2 if you arrive after 5pm and leave before 2am.
If the weather turns, our rainy day guide has the indoor options.