Car Hire in Basingstoke

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The moment you arrive, we've got you covered. Whether you fancy a cute compact for an urban jaunt, an elegant saloon for a business trip or a spacious people carrier for a family holiday, your perfect vehicle is standing by.

Frequent renters get upgraded – and additional days for free – by signing up for Avis Preferred loyalty benefits. Simply choose a date and time and we'll prepare your quality hire car.

Discover Basingstoke: an old market town in northeast Hampshire that lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. The town is the perfect base, situated just 30 miles northeast of Southampton International Airport and the coast, with the New Forest National Park just beyond.

Basingstoke is a small town with a lot to offer locals and tourists alike. World-class theatre and musical hall The Anvil is one of Hampshire's largest entertainment venues. It hosts a wide range of events including stand-up comedy, theatre, ballet, opera and music concerts. Nearby traditional theatre The Haymarket frequently presents high-quality touring productions and each Christmas holds an alternative show to The Anvil's festive pantomime.

There's also plenty to keep the kids entertained. Visit the interactive living history museum Milestones and experience what life was like in the Basingstoke of old. Exhibits cover the late Victorian era through to 1945. There are vintage vehicles and steam engines on display, plus a network of full-size streets and shops all laid out in period style. There's even a play post office for under 5s, plus a 1940s sweet shop. In October the museum hosts the county's beer festival: OctoberFest. A great family day out, the event showcases a large range of Hampshire's finest beer and food producers so you can taste, buy and learn about local produce.

To give the children a real treat, hop in the car and head to Paulton's Family Theme Park near Romsey, home to the hugely popular Peppa Pig World. We provide both small and large car hire so there's always enough space for everyone on a road trip.

The Leisure Park has a skating rink, cinema and bowling alley and is also home to the Aquadrome, which has a large swimming pool, three water flumes and a spa pool. If running is your thing, the local half marathon in the first week of October follows a picturesque route through beautiful countryside and quaint villages. Alternatively, the Festival Place shopping centre is well equipped with all the shops you'd expect plus smaller boutiques, and a wealth of restaurants, pubs and cafés to recharge mid-retail therapy.

Winchester
This beautiful heritage destination is just 20 miles from Basingstoke and England's former capital. The cathedral, one of the largest in Europe, houses works of art alongside the tombs of Jane Austen and many early English kings. Another worthwhile sight is the legendary Arthurian Round Table, all that remains of Winchester Castle. You can fill in any gaps in your historical knowledge in the City Museum, which is free to enter.

The New Forest
An hour's drive from the city, this stunning national park covers 220 square miles of heathland and forest, dotted with villages and small towns. Wildlife is abundant and the roaming cattle, ponies and donkeys are an iconic part of the Forest's character. Indeed, the New Forest Pony is one of the indigenous horse breeds of the British Isles and a famous attraction of the area. Leave your Avis rental car in one of the 51 car parks and head off on foot, bicycle or even horseback to get an up-close-and-personal look at the living landscape.

Portsmouth
The waterfront city of Portsmouth has many attractions for visitors, such as the Historic Dockyard and D-Day Museum. Port Solent Marina is a fully serviced boat yard set against the backdrop of the Boardwalk's restaurants, bars and shops. The impressive Spinnaker Tower, rising 170 metres above the harbour, offers fantastic views across the water and inland.

Isle of Wight
Car ferries go from both Southampton and Portsmouth, so why not extend a day trip to a weekend and make the most of the Island. Famously home to the poet Tennyson and also Queen Victoria, just over half of the Island is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Summer is festival time, with local carnivals plus the Isle of Wight Music Festival in June and Bestival in September, both of which attract international stars. If you're more interested in food than music, there’s even a Garlic Festival in August.

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