Andover Tourist Guide Shopping Hampshire

Andover Tourist Information Town Trails

Andover is in the north west of Hampshire. It is often regarded as a modern shopping and business centre but in fact dates back to 950 AD when Hampshire was the centre of the Saxon's Kingdom of Wessex and King Edred had a hunting lodge built here. Andover's past industries have included milling flour in the six watermills in the town, wool processing and iron works. In the eighteenth century it became a stop on the Exeter to London stagecoach route. The town has been providing accommodation to travellers ever since. To find out more about the town's history you can follow the Heritage Trail either as a self guided walk or as on a guided walk. More information is available at the Tourist Information Centre.

Andover lies on the River Anton and you can follow the Andover Poetry Trail along it. You can see some of the poems along the way that have been inspired by the town and have been chosen as they sum up the spirit of Andover. Click the Visit Hampshire link to Andover for a downloadable Town Guide leaflet.

Andover is also great for shopping with several shopping centres. There are also street markets on the High Street every Thursdays and Saturdays.

Andover Tourist Information Centre, Andover Museum, 6 Church Close, Andover SP10 1DP. Tel: 01264 324320. Fax: 01264 345650. Email: andovertic@testvalley.gov.uk

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Andover Museum - Museum of the Iron Age

Andover Museum also traces the history of the town back to its Saxon roots to the present day. Themed rooms take a look at different aspects of the town's history including the natural history of the area and archaeological finds dating back to the Neolithic period including a Bronze Age collection of amber beads and weapons excavated from a Saxon cemetery. The Museum of the Iron Age looks more closely at the story of Danesbury Hill Fort to the south of Andover. Actual finds are exhibited at the museum as are reconstructions and models to help bring this aspect of ancient history to life.

The industrial history of Andover covers a period of development for the town but also a scandal. Find out more about The Andover Workhouse Scandal that brought to light the appalling conditions at workhouses that the inmates had to endure. The museum regularly holds changing art, craft, photography and history exhibitions in the gallery.

Andover Museum is open Tues-Sat from 10am-5pm. Admission is free. There is also a coffee shop where you can stop off for refreshments.

Andover Museum, 6 Church Close, Andover, Hampshire SP10 1DP. Tel: 0845 603 5635.

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The Lights Arts Centre

The Lights is a modern purpose-built professional arts and entertainment centre that has already hosted acts such as comedians Ed Byrne, Al Murray, Mark Thomas, dance including The Ballet Russes and theatre productions by companies such as The Reduced Shakespeare Company.

The Lights contains a 242 seat auditorium, sprung floor dance studio, arena hall, conference room and workshop studio. There is also a bar and cafe area for drinks, lunches and snacks throughout the day. The Lights Wine Bar opens at 6.30pm on performance nights and opens out onto decking in summer.

Alongside the big name acts The Lights runs an arts education programme and an outlet for community group performances and exhibitions.

The Lights, West Street, Andover, Hampshire SP10 1AH. Box Office: 01264 368368. Fax: 01264 338719. Email: stop@thelights.org.uk

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Rooksbury Mill Park Andover

The grounds around one of Andover's watermills are now managed as a nature reserve. Rooksbury Mill was a working flour mill up until the twentieth century.

Today you can visit the grounds where the River Anton runs through the park. If you're lucky you might catch a glimpse of water voles, kingfishers and dragonflies.

The park is accessible for all including wheelchairs and pushchairs and there is dedicated car and coach park.

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Anton Lakes Local Nature Reserve

On the north side of Andover is Anton Lakes nature reserve. The River Anton percolates up through the reserve via springs and then flows down a series of old watercress beds.

These provide habitats for a range of wildlife including birds such as great crested grebe, little grebe, tufted duck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall and teal, water voles and butterflies on the chalk grassland including marbled whites and gatekeepers.

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