Beyond the Festival: Things to Do Near Thruxton Race Circuit
A practical guide for Campervan and Motorhome travellers
Whether you’re heading to Vanlove Festival, visiting Thruxton Race Circuit for another event, or travelling through Hampshire in your Campervan or Motorhome, Thruxton makes an excellent base for exploring this part of the South of England.
Set just outside Andover, with easy access to historic cities, open countryside and ancient landscapes, the area works particularly well for adding a day or two either side of a main event. Everything in this guide sits within roughly an hour’s drive of Thruxton, with a few optional ideas just beyond that if you’re building a longer road trip. It’s designed to help you shape a trip that fits around your route, energy levels and travel style.
“Quick Planning at a Glance”
Places To Visit Near Thruxton
Under 30 minutes:
– Danebury Hillfort
– Local chalk down walks
– Andover
30–45 minutes:
– Winchester
– River Test walks
– Mottisfont (NT)
45–60 minutes:
– Salisbury
– Stonehenge
– Avebury
How to Use This Guide
This isn’t a checklist, and it’s not about trying to see everything. Think of it as a planning companion.
Some of these places work well as a short stop on the way in. Others are better for a half day before rolling on. Several lend themselves well to meeting friends nearby before arriving at the festival together, especially if you’re travelling from different directions.
If you’re coming to Vanlove Festival in June, adding a day before or after can completely change how the weekend feels. If you’re not, this guide still stands alone as an evergreen snapshot of what this area offers van travellers year-round.
Historic Cities & Characterful Towns
(30–60 minutes)
One of Thruxton’s biggest advantages is its proximity to several walkable, characterful towns and cities that don’t require a full day to enjoy.
Winchester – approx. 45 minutes
Compact, historic and easy to explore on foot, Winchester works well for an afternoon wander or early evening stop. The cathedral anchors the city, but it’s the riverside paths, independent shops and cafés that give it its appeal. It’s a good option if you want something that feels complete without being overwhelming.Salisbury – approx. 40 minutes
Salisbury Cathedral dominates the skyline, but the city itself feels open and manageable. The surrounding water meadows offer a ready-made walking route, making it easy to combine sightseeing with time outdoors. Midweek visits are particularly enjoyable if you want to avoid crowds.Andover & surrounding market towns – 10–25 minutes
Closer to Thruxton, Andover and nearby villages are useful for resupply, casual wandering and low-key stops. Traditional high streets, small markets and easy access to countryside make them practical rather than flashy, but no less worthwhile.
Once your ticket’s sorted, everything else becomes easier to plan - arrival timing and local stop-offs if you plan to turn your trip to Thruxton into something longer.
Countryside Walks & Outdoor Escapes
(0–60 minutes)
One of the real strengths of this area is how easy it is to get outside without committing to a full-day hike. Whether you want a short leg-stretch after driving, a scenic picnic stop, or a proper half-day walk, there are plenty of options within easy reach of Thruxton.
Chalk Downs & Big-Sky Walking
The chalk landscapes surrounding Thruxton are ideal for open, expansive walks with wide views and well-established paths.
Watership Down & the North Hampshire Downs – 25–40 minutes
This area offers rolling hills, broad tracks and long sight-lines that feel instantly grounding after time on the road. You don’t need a set route here, many people simply park nearby and link public footpaths for an hour or two. It’s particularly good for sunset walks or relaxed picnics with space to spread out.Test Way (select sections) – 15–45 minutes
The Test Way long-distance path runs close to Thruxton in places, making it easy to dip into a section rather than tackle the full route. Short out-and-back walks work well here, especially if you’re arriving early and want something gentle to ease into the weekend.
Riverside Walks & Easy Nature Breaks
If flat paths and slower pacing appeal, the river routes nearby are some of the most reliable options.
River Test Walks – 20–40 minutes
Often cited as one of England’s most beautiful chalk streams, the River Test offers calm, accessible walking routes through water meadows and village edges. These walks are ideal if you want something restorative rather than strenuous, and they’re especially good in early summer when the landscape feels lush and alive.Stockbridge Area – approx. 35 minutes
Stockbridge is a popular access point for riverside walking, with clearly defined paths and plenty of places to pause for a coffee or picnic nearby. It’s an easy half-day option that doesn’t require much planning.
Woodland Walks & Shaded Trails
For warmer days or a change of scenery, woodland walks provide a different pace and atmosphere.
Danebury Hill & surrounding woodland – approx. 15 minutes
Close to Thruxton, this area combines woodland paths with open viewpoints. It’s well suited to shorter walks and quick resets between travel legs, and it’s easy to tailor the length depending on how much time you have.Bentley Wood (edge of Salisbury Plain) – approx. 45 minutes
A larger woodland area with a network of trails, Bentley Wood is a good choice if you want something slightly more immersive without heading too far afield.
National Trust & English Heritage Favourites (Within an Hour)
For those with memberships, or anyone who enjoys a well-managed site with clear trails and facilities, there are several strong options nearby.
Mottisfont (National Trust) – approx. 40 minutes
Best known for its historic house and gardens, Mottisfont also offers peaceful riverside walks and woodland trails that extend beyond the main attraction. It’s a good choice if you want a combination of history, walking and somewhere easy to stop for a picnic.Danebury Iron Age Hillfort (English Heritage) – approx. 15 minutes
An impressive hillfort with wide views across the surrounding countryside. There’s no formal route required here — just open access and space to explore at your own pace. It works particularly well as a short, high-impact stop.Old Sarum (English Heritage) – approx. 45 minutes
Set on a hill overlooking Salisbury, Old Sarum combines history with sweeping views and open walking space. It’s easy to pair with a Salisbury visit or use as a standalone stop.
Picnic Spots & Low-Effort Outdoor Stops
If walking isn’t the main goal, there are plenty of places where simply being outside is enough.
Viewpoints across the downs, riverbanks along the Test, and grassy edges near hillforts all lend themselves to informal picnics. Many travellers find these stops work best early in the day or early evening, especially in June when the light stretches on.
You don’t need to plan these precisely - arriving with a flexible mindset and using local signage or mapping apps often leads to the best finds.
Iconic Sights Worth Seeing
(45–60 minutes)
Some places are popular for a reason. With the right timing, they’re worth including.
Stonehenge – approx. 50 minutes
Stonehenge is one of those landmarks many people plan to visit but never quite do. If you can arrive early or midweek, it’s worth experiencing at least once. The surrounding landscape adds to the sense of place, especially if you approach it as part of a wider day out rather than a quick tick-box stop.Avebury – approx. 60 minutes
Often overlooked in favour of Stonehenge, Avebury offers a very different experience. The stone circle sits within a living village, and you can walk freely among the stones. It’s easier to linger, feels more open, and often fits better with a slower road trip rhythm.
Easy Local Add-Ons
(Within 30–45 Minutes)
Small museums & heritage sites (ideal for 1–2 hours)
Market towns like Stockbridge, Romsey or Winchester
Farm shops and roadside produce stalls
Village pubs with outdoor seating
Short riverside or downs walks with minimal planning
Perfect for arriving early, staying on after the festival, or filling a spare half day without rushing.
Local Finds & What’s On Nearby
If you’re looking to balance the energy of Thruxton or the festival with something more grounded, the surrounding area offers plenty of easy, low-commitment options. These are the kinds of places that work well for filling a spare hour or shaping a relaxed morning or evening without over-planning.
Independent Museums & Heritage Sites
Beyond the headline attractions, this part of Hampshire is home to smaller museums and heritage sites that reward curiosity without demanding a full day.
The Museum of Army Flying near Middle Wallop (around 20 minutes away) is a standout if you’re interested in aviation or local military history, with indoor and outdoor exhibits that are easy to explore at your own pace. Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age offers a compact but informative look at the area’s deeper history and works well as a short stop rather than a major outing. The National Motor Museum in Hampshire is an hour away, but worth the detour as it has one of the finest collections of vehicles and motoring memorabilia in the world.
Many visitors also make use of National Trust or English Heritage memberships here. Sites like Mottisfont (National Trust), with its riverside walks and gardens, or Bury Hill Earthworks near Andover, give you a sense of place without the crowds associated with larger attractions.
Markets & High Streets
For something more informal, nearby towns and villages offer strong food and independent shopping scenes that fit easily around a festival schedule.
Stockbridge (approx. 25 minutes from Thruxton) is particularly well known for its independent shops, cafés and food-led events. It’s a good choice for a gentle wander, a late lunch, or picking up supplies to take back to your van. Romsey and Winchester also host regular markets and have walkable centres that make them easy to dip into midweek or outside peak hours.
Farm shops and roadside produce stalls are common throughout the Test Valley and surrounding countryside, ideal if you’d rather avoid supermarkets and lean into local, seasonal food while travelling.
Cafés, Pubs & Informal Viewpoints
Not every stop needs a plan. Sometimes it’s about finding a good coffee, a pub garden, or a place to pause with a view.
Traditional village pubs are scattered across the area, many offering good food and relaxed outdoor seating, especially appealing on warm June evenings. Riverside cafés around Winchester or Salisbury work well for a slower start to the day, while countryside tearooms and bakeries provide easy refuelling stops between drives.
For views without effort, look out for lay-bys and short paths along the chalk downs, where wide skies and open landscapes offer natural pause points without committing to a full walk.
If You’ve Got an Extra Half Day
An extra half day can add real value without overcomplicating things.
Choose one anchor activity: a city wander, a longer countryside walk, or a scenic drive with a couple of short stops. Let that shape the day, rather than trying to squeeze in multiple highlights.
This approach works particularly well if you’re arriving early for an event or staying on after, when there’s no pressure to be anywhere else.
Just Over an Hour: Worth the Detour If You’ve Time
If your route allows for a little extra distance, there are several places just beyond the one-hour mark that fit naturally into a longer journey.
Edges of the New Forest, sections of the South Downs, or coastal stretches towards the south coast can all be added on if you’re building a few extra days around your trip. These aren’t essential, but they’re strong options if you’re already heading that way.
Vanlife Planning Notes
Check Search4Sites or Park4Night locally for parkup options
Many National Trust & English Heritage sites are typically van-friendly
Pub stops, Club sites, and informal overnight options are plentiful in this area
Midweek travel is noticeably calmer than weekends, especially in June
Turning Your Visit Into Something More
Whether you’re travelling for Vanlove Festival or simply passing through, Thruxton’s surroundings make it easy to turn a single event into a fuller experience.
With the festival landing in mid-June, long days and lighter evenings make adding time before or after feel natural. Meet friends nearby. Arrive together. Stay a little longer once the weekend winds down.
If you’re travelling with others, this is one to share with your crew and start shaping the trip together.
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