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in the county of Hampshire

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About Alton

An historic market town which in recent times derived its prosperity from hop fields and the brewing industry, previously it had been a centre for wool and cloth.

In its gracious streets you can see many fine examples of Georgian architecture with the dominant feature of the town being the historic church dedicated to St.Lawrence. The earliest parts of the church date from 1070, and over the centuries it has been enlarged many times. The style is mainly Perpendicular with a fine Norman tower. In St.Lawrence's, you will see many treasures, at the centre of these is a magnificent Henry Speechley organ, built in 1866. It is one of three finest organs in the South of England and it is therefore unsurprising to find the church runs a series of organ recitals during the winter months, at which organists of national and international acclaim perform. The bullet holes in the west door remain as evidence of Civil War skirmishes during which men where shot in the church pulpit.

Noted citizens in the town have been the poet Edmund Spenser whose 16th-century cottage in Amery Street is now a museum with a fine collection of pre-historic tools and roman pottery. Of special interest is the Roman Cup and the Anglo-Saxon Alton Buckle. The museum covers thousands of years of local history, it tells of hops and brewing, has childhood memorabilia, tells the riotous story of Sweet Fanny Adams and of the Battle of Alton in 1643. The town was also the home of Cardinal Newman who lived here between 1816 - 1819. A grammar school in Alton was first founded in 1641.

Alton is the setting for the wonderful Watercress Heritage Line which runs between here and Alresford, taking visitors on a lovely atmospheric trip in beautifully restored coaches pulled by a real steam engine. The journey passes superb Hampshire scenery where the chalk streams and rivers provide the ideal conditions for salmon, trout and watercress, an emerald green delicacy grown in the region for centuries.

This fine town has a lovely atmosphere, it offers pleasant shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and inns, has a wide choice of accommodation for those wishing to extend there stay in order to see more. Alton is within easy reach of the historic home of Jane Austen at Chawton.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Alton

Jane Austen's House	(1.7 miles, 2.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Birdworld & Underwater World	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Odiham Castle	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Mid Hants Railway	(8.9 miles, 14.4 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Farnham Castle	(9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Chapel of the Holy Ghost	(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Petersfield Heath	(10.5 miles, 16.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Hinton Ampner Garden	(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Devils Punchbowl	(11.2 miles, 18.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Vyne	(12.0 miles, 19.2 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Aldershot Military Museum	(12.6 miles, 20.2 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Queen Elizabeth Country Park	(12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction S)	Pictures
Hog's Back	(12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Butser Ancient Farm	(13.3 miles, 21.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Yateley Country Park	(14.0 miles, 22.6 km, direction NE)	Pictures

All attractions in Alton
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Recommended towns near Alton

Chawton in the county of Hampshire (1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction S)
In Chawton is the unassuming 18th-century cottage where Jane Austen once lived.
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Farnham in the county of Surrey (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction NE)
It was King Caedwalla of Wessex who, in 688 bestowed the Manor of Farnham on the Bishop's of Winchester.
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Alresford in the county of Hampshire (9.0 miles, 14.6 km, direction SW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Tongham in the county of Surrey (12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction NE)
The interest in this village centre on its two famous landmarks. One its quaint church, built of chalk stone in the mid 19th-century, the other is the Hogs Back Hotel.
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Itchen Abbas in the county of Hampshire (12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction W)
A beautiful village in a serene and picturesque valley whose meadows are watered by the gently flowing, trout filled waters of the River Itchen as it continues it's journey towards Southampton where it will meet with the sea.
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Elstead in the county of Surrey (12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction E)
Elstead is a spacious village occupying a favoured position in the Surrey countryside on the River Wey.
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Haslemere in the county of Surrey (12.3 miles, 19.7 km, direction E)
This is an attractive old town was granted a market charter by Richard II in 1394.
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Ash Green in the county of Surrey (13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction NE)
This is a popular residential area reaching to the lower slopes of the Hog's Back.
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South Harting in the county of West Sussex (13.1 miles, 21.2 km, direction S)
The main village street is thronged with exquisite old properties, some of brick, some tile hung, and some are built of Sussex clunch - a beautiful building material of soft limestone.
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Farnborough in the county of Hampshire (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction NE)
This town is listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086, then it was a mere settlement which over the passing centuries developed into a village.
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Ash Vale in the county of Surrey (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction NE)
Ash Vale is a small place lying close to Aldershot. This has long been Army country and large areas of the regions open spaces are given over for use by the services as training grounds.
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Midhurst in the county of West Sussex (15.4 miles, 24.7 km, direction SE)
Popular small market resort town whose beautiful 19th-century church stands close to the banks of the River Rother, on which the town stands.
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Winchester in the county of Hampshire (15.8 miles, 25.5 km, direction SW)
This is an old town which was a tribal town long before the Romans landed in Britain, under their leadership it flourished to become the 5th largest city in the land, and was later heralded as the capital of King Alfred.
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Hambledon in the county of Hampshire (15.9 miles, 25.5 km, direction S)
This lovely red-brick village was the early home of cricket. A club was founded here in 1760 when the laws governing the game were laid down.
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Godalming in the county of Surrey (16.0 miles, 25.7 km, direction E)
A feature of the town is its long narrow streets, these stretch out from the River Wey and are lined with several gracious historic properties.
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Nearby travel help

Alton Station	(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)
Bentley Station	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction NE)
M3 Junction 5	(8.4 miles, 13.4 km, direction N)
M3 Junction 6	(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction NW)
Southampton Airport	(21.4 miles, 34.4 km, direction SW)
London Heathrow Airport	(31.9 miles, 51.3 km, direction NE)
Alton to London	(44.4 miles, 71.4 km, direction NE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Alton

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Alton center
The Alton House Hotel	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Best Western Frensham Pond Hotel	(7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction E)
Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate	(8.2 miles, 13.3 km, direction SE)
Holiday Inn	(8.4 miles, 13.6 km, direction NW)
Red Lion Hotel	(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction NW)
The Pride Of The Valley Hotel	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E)
Tylney Hall Hotel	(9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction N)
Farnham Park Hotel	(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction NE)
The Hampshire Centrecourt - A QHotel	(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction N)
Princess Royal Lodge	(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Alton