10 Best Things to Do in Fareham

Portchester Castle is a historic monument allowing you to explore fortifications dating back what is likely almost a thousand years. Despite its age, you'll notice that this castle is still in surprisingly good condition compared with the ruins of its contemporaries. One of the more interesting aspects of this castle is the design of the towers.

D-shaped towers are present along the exterior wall, as the medieval castle was built around pre-existing Roman defences that used this design. You can see it for yourself on the western edge of Paulsgrove Lake east of the town centre.

Titchfield Abbey is a 13th-century relic that offers valuable insight into the monastic life of the time, as this abbey specifically focused on scholarly pursuits. The dedication to learning is demonstrated by the abbey's extensive library, where more than 200 volumes of works once laid according to the still-surviving catalogue.

When you visit, you can explore the medieval ruins as well as the remnants of the 16th-century mansion that was built around the spot after the abbey was disestablished. You'll find the abbey in Catisfield a few miles west of the town centre.

Fort Nelson is a historical 18th-century defence fort you can explore that's part of the Royal Armouries and still carries some of its original armaments. This polygonal fort is open for tours where you can not only explore its historical construction, but you can also witness special events like live firing demonstrations.

You'll occasionally find unique events held here including costumed guides who will show you around and additional tours that run through the tunnels connecting the gun emplacements to the magazine storage. You'll find this fort a few miles east of the town centre around the northern edge of Portchester.

The Westbury Manor Museum is a local history museum that offers valuable insight into the Fareham area's past and is housed within an 18th-century Grade II-listed building. Behind the museum, you'll find formal Victorian-style gardens with immaculate greenery and vibrant, colourful flowers.

Within the museum itself, you'll find numerous artefacts from the past and exhibits including one showcasing the iconic Fareham red brick that was used to build the Royal Albert Hall. You can explore it all near the town centre just a few steps away from the Fareham Shopping Centre.

The Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve is a protected piece of natural wetlands where you can enjoy hikes through scenic nature areas that are home to rare animals and plants. You'll find something exciting here no matter what time you visit, as the winter hosts numerous wading birds, ducks and geese, while the summer months can feature the rare avocet.

The nature reserve is also home to a shop and a cafe, but that's just the beginning. You can also visit a permanent art exhibition that not only showcases the history of The Solent but also local glassware and craftwork by Fareham artists. You'll find it all a few miles southwest of the town centre.

Bursledon Brickworks Museum is housed within a genuine Victorian brickworks establishment and showcases the machinery once used to make bricks many years ago. You'll find a steam engine as well as barrows, shovels and wagons. The major equipment was restored just 20 years ago, so it's in excellent shape. In addition to the museum itself, you'll find steam engine rides available in the area.

This is thanks to the South Hampshire Historic Steam and Engineering Society teaming up with the museum to show off the wonders of steam to visitors. You'll find the museum about 17 minutes west of the town centre.

The Little Woodham Living History Museum is a brilliant re-creation of a 17th-century rural village complete with houses, a coal forge and a pottery kiln. The kiln is the only 17th-century replica anywhere in the world that was built with time-appropriate materials and techniques. It's still usable and is often working for demonstration purposes.

The forge is similarly accurate to the time period. It was re-created using evidence gathered from an archaeological dig in Newfoundland. You can explore everything this village has to offer a few miles south of Fareham in Gosport.

Hill Head Beach is a long stretch of beach where you can relax in the sand and enjoy The Solent's waters with swimming and boating opportunities. Water sports are especially popular here, with sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing going on just about all year long. If you're looking for a more relaxing experience, you can enjoy a spot of fishing at this beach.

Make your way to the small harbour at the end, and you can cast out and find bites around the mouth of the River Meon. This beach is located to the southwest of Fareham's town centre about 5 miles away.

The Hovercraft Museum is a museum situated within a massive hovercraft called the HMS Daedalus that showcases these fascinating vehicles. This is the place to go to learn more about hovercraft or just see these impressive vehicles in person, as there are 60 full-size craft within. This museum contains extensive records regarding hovercraft including documents, photos, videos and publications.

You're free to view them all for research if you like provided that you notify the museum in advance. You'll find this repository of information within Lee-on-the-Solent just south of Fareham.

Ferneham Hall is a theatre that hosts a variety of performances, all of which you can enjoy with a speciality drink from comfortable seating. The space is quite large, with 708 seats and a cafe on the ground floor that operates throughout the day. You can also enjoy a stronger drink at the terrace bar on the first floor.

All sorts of productions are held here, from dramatic plays to musicals and comedies. Be sure to check the schedule to see what's on during your visit to Fareham. You can find this theatre in the town centre just north of the Fareham Shopping Centre.