Days out
Days out from Odiham
Farnham, Hook, Basingstoke and Winchester are all within about 40 minutes. Here's why each is worth the trip, and how to get there.
Odiham makes a good base: quiet evenings in the village, and four very different days out within 40 minutes. Here they are in the order we'd do them.
Farnham: our favourite
Farnham is a lively Surrey market town just over the county border, about 7.7 miles away (around 20 minutes by car along the A287). It's our favourite bigger day out: Georgian streets, independent shops, a Norman castle on the hill and a huge medieval deer park, with the countryside of the Hampshire and Surrey border all around.
Start here
Castle Street and Farnham Castle
Walk up Castle Street, lined with listed buildings, to the castle built in 1138 for Bishop Henry de Blois. The Farnham Castle Trust runs guided tours of the Bishop's Palace on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm (no need to book), and its Exhibition Room is open then too. The Keep has been closed because of falling masonry, so check the Trust's website before you go.
Free, always open
Farnham Park
A few hundred metres from the top of Castle Street: about 320 acres of medieval deer park with ancient oaks, a long tree-lined avenue, playgrounds, a café and toilets. The best free half day in Farnham, and great with a dog.
Free, Wednesday to Saturday
Museum of Farnham
In Wilmer House, a Georgian townhouse on West Street, open 10am to 4pm. The nearest car park is Lower Hart, next to Waitrose.
Arts centre
Farnham Maltings
Theatre, cinema, comedy, markets and lots of craft workshops. Farnham calls itself a World Craft Town, and October is Craft Month.
A short drive
Waverley Abbey
The ruins of the first Cistercian abbey in Britain, founded in 1128 by the River Wey. Free in daylight hours, with a small car park and a walk across a field to the ruins.
Woods and heath
Alice Holt Forest and Frensham
Alice Holt (Forestry England) has the Gruffalo and Room on the Broom trails, an easy-access trail, play areas, Go Ape and bike hire, with paid parking. Frensham's ponds and heath are lovely, but check Waverley Borough Council's notices first: there was a blue-green algae warning in summer 2026, dogs must be on leads from March to August, and the car park fills early on sunny days.
If it rains
Museum, cinema and Birdworld's Play Barn
The museum, the cinema at Brightwells Yard and the indoor Play Barn at Birdworld (just south of Farnham at Holt Pound) cover a wet day.
Big dates
Festivals
The Farnham Literary Festival runs from 4 to 14 March 2027, at venues including the Maltings and the Town Hall. Craft Month fills October with events.
On the way there or back
Crondall
Stop at the Seventeen28 cellar door for English wine (walk-ins only at the moment, and parking is limited), or Ballerz Clubhouse for indoor games.
Hook
Hook is the nearest big village, about 2½ miles north, just past junction 5 of the M3, and it's where you go for practical things: the station, with trains to London Waterloo, Basingstoke and Winchester, and the big Tesco.
Nearby
Pennybridge Alpacas and Hortus Loci
Alpaca walks near Up Nately, and a huge plant centre at Hound Green for keen gardeners.
Christmas
Christmas in the Park
Hook Parish Council's Christmas afternoon at Hartletts Park is on Sunday 6 December 2026, noon to 4pm.
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is the big town to the west, about 8.8 miles away (around 20 minutes by car), or one stop down the line from Hook by train.
Indoors
Milestones Museum
Recreated streets and shops from Hampshire's past, all under one roof. Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed most Mondays. Its Christmas Market is on 5 and 6 December 2026.
History
Basing House, Old Basing
The ruins of what was once the largest private house in Tudor England, besieged by Cromwell, with a Great Barn of 1535, a walled garden and a free car park. It isn't open every day out of season, so check before you go. The Christmas Fayre is on 28 and 29 November 2026.
Winchester
Winchester, the old capital of Wessex, is about 27 miles away: around 35 to 40 minutes by car on the M3 (junction 5 to junction 9 or 10). By train from Hook, a few direct trains a day take about half an hour; the rest need a change at Basingstoke and take 35 to 45 minutes. Allow 10 minutes to get from Odiham to Hook station.
Start here
Winchester Cathedral
Normally open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday afternoons, though services limit access at times over Christmas.
20 November to 22 December 2026
The Cathedral Christmas Market
Free entry and no booking. Go on a weekday if you can, especially with a pushchair, a wheelchair or a dog.
King Arthur, sort of
The Great Hall and the Round Table
The medieval hall at the top of the town, home of the famous Round Table, normally open daily from 10am.
By the river
Winchester City Mill
A National Trust watermill on the Itchen at the bottom of the High Street. Opening days are reduced in winter, so check first.
Closer to home, there are 14 villages and towns in our guide to the villages around Odiham, from Greywell to Hartley Wintney.
Quick answers
How far is Farnham from Odiham?
About 7.7 miles, around 20 minutes by car along the A287.
Can you visit Farnham Castle?
The Farnham Castle Trust runs guided tours of the Bishop's Palace on Wednesday afternoons, 2pm to 4pm, with no need to book. The Keep has been closed for safety reasons, so check before you go.
How long does it take to get from Odiham to Winchester?
Around 35 to 40 minutes by car on the M3. By train from Hook it's about half an hour direct or 35 to 45 minutes with a change at Basingstoke, plus 10 minutes from Odiham to the station.
Is Hook or Basingstoke closer to Odiham?
Hook, about 2½ miles away. Basingstoke is about 8.8 miles, around 20 minutes by car.