Visiting Alresford
Picture courtesy of Anthony Oxley.
On Foot
Alresford lies on the St Swithun’s Way and the Wayfarer’s Walk, which also connects to the South Downs Way. These ancient routes pass through unspoilt Hampshire countryside – across chalk downloads and past beautiful chalk streams.
The Wayfarer’s Walk is a 70 mile long-distance walking route, starting high on the chalk downs at Inkpen and finishing at Emsworth Harbour. This walk has been split into six sections, two of which visit Alresford.
The St Swithun’s Way offers some of the county’s best countryside paths. It passes through the towns of Alresford and Alton, as well as Chawton, the home of Jane Austen. https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/stswithunsway
An 11 mile walk starting at New Alresford and passing through Tichborne, crossing the River Itchen at Cheriton Mill to the pretty village of Cheriton, following a section of the Cheriton Battlefield Walk and passing around the grounds of Hinton Ampner House and onto Droxford. https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/wayfarerswalk-alresford
A 14 mile walk from Dummer, the Wayfarer's Walk uses trackways to take you south across Beckett’s Down, passing through Abbotstone, Itchen Stoke and onto Alresford. https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/wayfarerswalk-dummer
By Bicycle
Alresford is situated on the fringes of the South Downs National Park and is located on Route 23 of the National Cycle Network, which connects to Basingstoke and Alton in one direction and to Winchester and Southampton in the other.
The route to Alresford from Alton is 12 miles and from Winchester is 8.5 miles.
Visit: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-23/ for more information on the route.
Bicycle stands are located outside the Co-op on West Street (postcode SO24 9BT) and also outside Alresford Linen Company on Broad Street (postcode SO24 9AR).
Public Transport
The nearest mainline train stations to Alresford are Winchester and Alton. Check times, prices, and book tickets here. Alresford also boasts a steam railway called The Watercress Line, which runs between Alton and Alresford.
Buses run from Winchester, Alton and Petersfield to Alresford. To plan a bus journey visit https://www.stagecoachbus.com/ and enter your starting point and destination.
By Car
Electric Car Charging Points
Alresford has electric car charging points located:
Perins School Car Park
Jacklyns Lane,
Alresford
SO24 9BS
Alrebury Park Car Park,
The Avenue,
Alresford
SO24 9EP
Parking at Arlebury Park is ‘Pay and Display’ with the first 2 hours free.
Refreshments
Public Houses
- The Bell, 12 West Street, Alresford SO24 9AT
- The Horse & Groom, 2 Broad Street, SO24 9AQ
- The Swan Hotel, 11 West Street, Alresford SO24 9AD
Coffee Shops and Cafes
- Caricoli, 15 Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AR
- Coffee#1, 4 East Street, SO24 9EE
- Heidi’s Swiss Patisserie,13 West Street, Alresford SO24 9AB
- Mange 2 Deli, 44-46 West Street, Alresford SO24 9AU
- The Courtyard Cafe, 19 Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AR
- Tiffin Tearoom, 52 West Street, Alresford SO24 9AU
Public Toilets
Public toilets are located next to the Doctors Surgery on Station Road, Alresford SO24 9JL