Car rental Basingstoke

Parking in Basingstoke

• You’ll find sixteen council-run car parks in central Basingstoke, including near Festival Place Shopping Centre.
• Basingstoke’s car parks can be paid for using cash, card or via smartphone app payment.
• There is also a Centre Shuttle service which lets you leave your rental car at Basingstoke Leisure Park and travel in by bus – its postcode is RG22 6PG.

Heathrow Airport to Basingstoke

1. Exit the Hertz rental offices and take the first exit at the roundabout onto Northern Perimeter Road West.
2. Continue onto Western Perimeter Road and Wright Way.
3. Use the second exit at Terminal 5 roundabout towards the M25.
4. Take the M25 South exit and merge onto the M25 motorway.
5. After four miles, take Junction 12 to merge onto the M3 towards Southampton.
6. Stay on this road for 26 miles.
7. Use Junction 6 to exit the M3 and merge onto the A339.
8. Take the left two lanes to head towards Basingstoke town centre.

Roads and freeways

• The M3 motorway connects Basingstoke with London to the north-east and Southampton to the south-west.
• Basingstoke is linked to nearby Reading by the A33 road, which runs north of the town.
• The A339 runs north-west out of Basingstoke and eventually merges onto the M4 motorway – heading towards Bristol.

Driving rules and regulations

Driving in Basingstoke and around the UK, you will use a right-sided vehicle and drive on the left-hand side of the road.

If you’re travelling with passengers, they must wear a seatbelt throughout the journey and all children below 12 years of age, or shorter than 135cm, must sit in a child seat.

Speed limits around Basingstoke vary, according to the type of road you’re driving on. These will usually be signposted and displayed in miles per hour (mph).

When not signposted, speed limits tend to be as follows:

• 30mph on residential roads and streets
• 40mph on wider streets with pathways
• 60mph on single carriageway roads
• 70mph on dual carriageway motorways

What to see and do in Basingstoke

Milestones Museum

Experience the history of British life from the Victorian era up to the 1940s at the Milestones Living History Museum. Step inside to walk along recreated cobbled streets to be whisked back in time and be sure to drop by the old-time confectionary shop to satisfy your sweet tooth with a taste of the past. Don’t forget to check out the amazing collection of vintage steam, horse-drawn and motor vehicles too.

The Vyne

Tudor grandeur and quaint British woodlands meet at The Vyne, a National Trust mansion that’s just a 10-minute drive north of Basingstoke. Venture through its doors to discover the history of the Chute family, who formerly resided here, and marvel at the neo-classical architecture and art on display.

Highclere Castle

Discover the country house where the world-famous Downton Abbey was filmed. Explore the Jacobethan interior, visit the Egyptian antiques exhibition and wander the delightful gardens to follow in the footsteps of its most famous fictional residents, both upstairs and down. It’s just over 14 miles outside Basingstoke and you can reach its grounds in just over 20 minutes along the A339 and A34.

Basingstoke’s best hotels

Oakley Hall Hotel

Only around nine kilometres outside Basingstoke, but set in a leafy, grandiose setting, Oakley Hall Hotel boasts four-star luxury in a glorious manor house. Experience the beautiful Hampshire countryside when you book one of the elegant rooms and eat at its superb restaurant facilities.

Basingstoke Country Hotel & Spa

If you’re looking for a luxurious three-star base from which to relax and explore the wider south-east England area, look no further than the Basingstoke Country Hotel and Spa. It’s less than 10 minutes away from central Basingstoke via the A30.

Apollo Hotel Basingstoke

Enjoy four-star luxury, pool and spa facilities, as well as delicious food served at the on-site steak restaurant – only a quick five-minute drive from central Basingstoke on Chapel Hill and Sherborne Road.

Basingstoke’s best places to eat

Spicy Tadka

Discover Indian food at its finest at Spicy Tadka. Get ready to experience a wealth of choice across an expansive menu, all served in a convenient location – next to Festival Place on Church Street.

The Olive House

Amazing Turkish and Mediterranean food can be found at the Olive House, where delicious grills and kebabs, alongside mouth-watering guvec dishes are served to satisfy your taste buds.

The Lime Leaf

Get ready to sample sumptuous Thai cuisine, including stir fry, pad Thai and signature seafood dishes when you visit the Lime Leaf – near the War Memorial Park on London Street. 

Best day trips from Basingstoke

Winchester

Historical Winchester is less than 30 minutes south-west of Basingstoke in your rental car along the M3 highway. Discover Winchester Cathedral, one of the biggest and most grandiose in Europe, and enjoy a relaxing stroll through its quaint streets.

London

England’s bustling capital is around an hour from Basingstoke. Visit iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the city’s West End theatre district. No trip to England would be complete without a trip to London.