Hampshire’s friendliest market town, Alton is a delightful and welcoming place and the ideal base for exploring. The surrounding area, home to Jane Austen, is renowned for its tranquil and unspoilt beauty.
A thriving country market town, with a fascinating history, Alton was built around a wealthy Saxon settlement and had the most valuable recorded market in the Doomsday Book. Saxon discoveries, including the famous Alton Buckle, are among the artefacts displayed in the Curtis Museum. The 11th-Century St Lawrence Church was the scene of the civil war ‘Battle of Alton’ and still bears the scars. At one time the town was notorious for the brutal murder of ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’.
Today a delightful mix of historic buildings jostle with modern shops and arcades. Tuesday is market day, and the town hosts many markets and fairs throughout the year. Guided walks of the town start from the Tourist Information Centre or the rail station.
With a variety of places to stay, Alton is perfect for short breaks, a centre for exploring the literary and cultural heritage of this part of Hampshire. Surrounded by breathtakingly beautiful countryside, long distance footpaths and other rights of way offer many opportunities for walking and cycling.