Alton

Not to be confused with Alton, a village in Staffordshire near the Alton Towers theme park.

Jane Austen's house in nearby Chawton

Alton is a town in Hampshire, surrounded by attractive countryside and villages that were once home to novelist Jane Austen, naturalist Gilbert White, and Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates.

Get in

By car

It is just off the A31 between Farnham and Winchester.

By train

Watercress Line, a preserved railway, runs from Alresford to Alton.

The station provides service from London Waterloo, direct or with a change in Guildford or Woking.

See

• 1 Jane Austen's House, Winchester Rd, Chawton, GU34 1SD, ☏ +44 1420 83262, enquiries@janeaustens.house. Th-Su 10:00AM-4:00PM. The 17th-century house in which novelist Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life, writing and revising six of her novels. Highlights of the museum include Austen's writing table, family heirlooms, and painstakingly recreated wallpaper. The museum opened in 1949. Adults £10, children £5, young people 17–26 £7.50. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Gilbert White's House and the Oates Collections, Selborne, Alton, GU34 3JH, ☏ +44 1420 511275. Late Mar–Oct: Tu–Su 10:30AM–5PM; Nov–Dec: Tu–Su 10:30AM–4:30PM; Jan–mid Feb: F–Su 10:30AM–4:30PM; mid Feb–late Mar: Tu–Su 10:30AM–4:30PM. Closed Christmas Day–New Year's Eve. Home of 18th-century naturalist Gilbert White, and a museum dedicated to Captain Lawrence 'Titus' Oates, the Antarctic explorer of the polar expedition with Captain Scott. Adult £9.50, concession £8.50, child (5-16 years) £4. (updated Sep 2017)
• 3 Chawton House Library (The Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing), Chawton (The # 64 Stagecoach service runs daily between Alton train station and Winchester, stopping at the A31/32 junction roundabout near Chawton. The # 38 service from Petersfield to Alton is less frequent, stopping in Chawton.). Late March to end of Oct only: M–F noon-4:30PM (last entry 4PM); Su 11AM-5PM (last entry 4PM). A listed Elizabethan manor house (and garden) built around 1590, containing a library. The ‘Great House’ referred to in Jane Austen’s letters, it belonged to Jane Austen's brother. Adult £8, under 16 £4, under 6 free, family ticket (2 adults & up to 3 children) £20, seniors over 65 & full time students £6.50, disabled (free entry for accompanying carer) £3. (updated Sep 2017)

Do

• 1 Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway). Steam locomotives and vintage diesel trains links Alton's National Rail station to Alresford. A fantastic way to travel through the Hampshire countryside 

The theme park Alton Towers is not anywhere near Alton in Hampshire. It is in the village of Alton in Staffordshire, about 185 miles north west.

Eat

• 1 The George, Butts Rd, ☏ +44 1420 82331. 
• 2 The Greyfriar, Winchester Road, Chawton, GU34 1SB. Pub with meals, bookings recommended. mains from £12. (updated May 2017)

Sleep

• 1 Alton House Hotel, 57 Normandy St, ☏ +44 1420 80033. 
• 2 Swan Hotel, High St, ☏ +44 1420 83777. 
• 3 The White Hart, 139 London Road, ☏ +44 1420 876-54. (updated Apr 2021)

Go next

• Alresford
• Basingstoke
• Farnham
• Winchester

Routes through Alton

Winchester ← Alresford ←	SW  NE	→ Farnham → London
END ←	N  S	→ Meon Valley → Fareham