Basingstoke

A living history museum, with reconstructed street scenes and buildings from the Victorian era.

The birthplace of Jane Austen. It is possible to visit the parish church where Jane's father was rector, but the house where she lived has been demolished.

The largest statue of a penis on public display in Britain. The image of a mother and child is carved into the side of the sculpture, and its phallic appearance was apparently overlooked by planners until its erection.

Marvel at the similarities between this sculpture and the Iran-Iraq war monument in Baghdad.

Home to Britain's shortest piece of gauge railway track.

Displays a ribbon of around 100 red steel human silhouettes.

Once a major Tudor palace and castle rivalling Hampton Court, Basing House was destroyed in a civil war siege. Now an attractive set of ruins, with an explanatory exhibition. Car parking is very difficult in Old Basing village; instead follow the signs to Basing House car park and get the bonus of a very attractive walk along the crystal clear River Loddon to the house. Alternatively bus line 8 runs once an hour from Basingstoke bus station stopping outside Basing House main entrance.

a 16th-century country house, built for Lord Sandys, King Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain. It retains its Tudor chapel, with stained glass. The classical portico on the north front was added in 1654 by Inigo Jones's pupil John Webb.