Milestones Museum Hampshire
Housed in a former aircraft hanger, incongruously located next to a bowling alley and cinema complex in Basingstoke’s leisure park is one of my family’s favourite rainy day haunts: Milestones Museum of Living History. Here, toddlers can dash across a cobbled street past a truck, without parents needing to grab them by the hood at the last minute. Older children can learn about the history of their county while grownups can reminisce about the not too distant past in the Collections Corner where items from our youth or indeed adulthood have been consigned to history.
Looking for somewhere to stay in Hampshire? Check out my guide to family friendly places to stay in Hampshire.
Milestones is a perfect example of how museums today can offer an immersive and interactive experience which makes history fun and enjoyable for all.
Milestones Museum is a recreation of Victorian and early 20th century Hampshire featuring streets and shops which visitors can explore. There is a multitude of restored vehicles on display including a special gallery dedicated to the Thornycroft Steam Wagon Company which opened a factory in Basingstoke at the end of the 19th century and employed thousands of local residents. The museum is very well laid out so even on busy days it never feels overly crowded (except the sweet shop).
Here are some of my boys’ favourite things to see and do at Milestones (they were five and three when we last visited):
- Playing in the post office
Although there is so much to see and do at Milestones, the children always love this little refuge which requires a special key to enter to restrict the number of visitors. The post office is often empty when we use it as not many people seem to know about it. Here, kids can dress up as a postman, drive a postal van, pretend to work behind the counter, deliver letters and so forth. Hours of fun, literally.
Swap a pound for an old penny (not a great exchange rate, I know) from reception and head down to the sweet shop and choose between dolly mixtures, pear drops and other old favourites. Sweets are rationed and weighed as per the era so don’t worry, your children come away with quite a modest bag of treats.
There are fire engines, a tram, old buses, a steam train, a steam roller and trucks galore. If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll be in heaven.
There is a Romani caravan parked on a green space next to a grocer’s shop where children can collect vegetables to cook at the gypsy campsite. If only my kids ate that range of veg in real life…
As well as postmen, kids can dress as Victorian school children and attend school as it was at the turn of the century. With regal outfits, hard hats and a multitude of other costumes dotted about the museum, there should be something for even the pickiest dresser.
And here are some of the things the grown ups in our family enjoy at Milestones:
1. Having a drink in the Edwardian pub
The museum has it’s very own pub, the Baverstock Arms, what more need I say?
2. Look wistfully at the contraptions we used to own in the not so distant past
In one corner of the museum history fast forwards to a period that most parents, or grandparents will recall. It’s slightly disconcerting to have to explain to my children that I used to play music on a record player which is sufficiently old to warrant space in a museum. There are also black and white televisions, a vintage kitchen and even an old fashioned toy shop with many items I recognise from my childhood.
3. Play in the vintage arcade
This appeals to adults and children alike. My three year old son spent much of our last visit on the Postman Pat van and an old rocking horse while some of the adult males in the group enjoyed the rich cultural history of the arcade peep show…
4. Exploring
There is so much to see at Milestones, I really enjoy just wandering around either by myself or with the kids and reading about a particular shop, vehicle or local person of note.
The museum usually has a temporary exhibition on display to ensure there is something new whenever you visit. During our last trip it was a time travel adventure and there was also an area where children could play with remote controlled tanks. The museum also organises themed school holiday events.
Visiting:
Open: 10am-16:45 Tuesday to Friday, 11am-16:45 at weekends, closed on Mondays (except bank holidays).
Cost: (pay once, valid all year) £15 for adults, £10 for children aged 5-15, under 5s free:
Love visiting museums with your kids? Read about our trips to Stevenage Museum and the National Maritime Museum.
I’ve put together a guide about the best things to do in Hampshire – including Milestones and plenty of other great days out.
Have you visited Milestones Museum? Let me know in the comments below.
If you’re driving in the UK, check out my post about the best family-friendly places to stop just off the motorway, including picnic spots, country parks and castles.
I had no idea that this was here, it sounds brilliant. Rockbourne Roman Villa is also calling me! Thank you for linking up to #CulturedKids
I was amazed when we first visited. I hadn’t expected such a brilliant and perfect place on our family’s doorstep.
I drove past Basingstoke on the way to Southampton the other day, so not too far away
This sounds like a fabulous place to visit with little ones. I had never heard of it, so thanks for sharing #citytripping
Oooh what a cute little day trip for the kiddies!! I love it! #CityTripping
I adored this type of place as a kid and pretending to have been transported back in time. I can’t believe we didn’t visit when we lived in Hampshire! More reason to go back!! #citytripping
This looks great. Something for all the family! I’d have loved seeing the old computers and vintage toys and reminiscing (and feeling rather old). Thanks for linking #citytripping
This is my kind of “museum”. I’m also a sucker for old Californian ghost towns. The gold mining type, where they open up all the shop fronts and have people dressed up in period costume. What a great experience this would be for children, to learn about life was like way back in the 40s! #CityTripping
So cool! Especially that Commodore computer.. brings back memories! Museums like this really bring history to life dont they. Looks like such a great place to take the kids. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
I love the fact that the pub serves real beer! I remember going to reconstructions like this when I was a child, and I loved it. It’s fun as well as informative – the best of both worlds. Thanks for linking up with #CulturedKids
Yes, it’s definitely a great way to inform kids. We’re going to the Jorvik Centre at half term, can’t wait!
What a fun place! My favorite is the teddy bears. I haven’t outgrown my love for them. We are looking at traveling to Hampshire, so this is welcome info!
Definitely go!
This looks completely brilliant. I had never heard of it before but am so pleased you brought it to my attention. I will add it to my things to do with nieces and nephews list! #FarawayFiles
What a great looking museum! A real blast from the past and looks perfect for small children. thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles
This sounds a great place to visit similar to the Black Country Museum.#FarawayFiles
I would love to visit the Black Country Museum, I keep hearing great reviews about it.
This looks brilliant. My parents live near there and I had NO idea it even existed! The little streets, that cute post office look perfect for some role-play! I would like to check out the Edwardian pub too! Thanks for sharing!
#familytraveltips
My folks live near it too, I was so delighted when we first visited. I just wish we had somewhere similar near us in Herts!
Oh, this looks brilliant! Just our sort of place. And I love the idea of the little post office for children to play in to get a break from the hustle and bustle. We visit Hampshire infrequently but it’s great to have something in mind for a rainy day next time we’re down there. We were at the Black Country Living Museum a few days ago, which sounds like a similar sort of idea and we love it there. Thanks for linking up to #FamilyTravelTips
Nat.x
I definitely have the Black Country Museum on my list for when we are in your neck of the woods!
What a nice day out you had with your little ones. We have a similar museum in Manchester, where the children can play dress up and walk on the old Victorian cobble stones. So much fun for the whole family.
I’ll have to remember that when I’m next in Manchester.