10 Winter Wonders in Alton: Cosy Adventures & Festive Fun
18 December 2024
Home / 10 Winter Wonders in Alton: Cosy Adventures & Festive Fun
When winter rolls around, Alton becomes a seasonal wonderland, buzzing with charm and things to do. From historic haunts to holiday festivities, this town offers a warm welcome on even the chilliest days. If you’re looking to make the most of winter in Alton, here’s your guide — no hibernation required!
1. Visit Jane Austen’s House — Perfect for Cosy Literary Vibes

Winter is the ideal time to visit Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. There’s something special about exploring the world of one of Britain’s best-loved authors in her very own home. Especially so, when it’s wrapped up in seasonal decor. Wander through the cottage’s rooms where Austen herself once wrote, and stroll through her charming winter garden. It’s like stepping into a real-life novel — without any of the drama!
Location: Winchester Rd, Chawton, Alton GU34 1SD
Contact: +44 1420 83262
Check out self storage Alton page for more information.
2. Shop Alton’s Christmas Markets — Festive Finds Await!
Nothing says winter wonder quite like Alton’s Christmas markets. Here, you’ll find all sorts of holiday treasures — handcrafted gifts, delicious treats, and, of course, steaming cups of mulled wine. Perfect for anyone wanting to embrace their inner (s)elf. These markets add a sprinkle of magic to your winter weekends. Just wrap up warm and wander the stalls — it’s the perfect start to your festive season.
Location: Town Centre, Alton
3. Take In the Views on a South Downs Winter Walk
The South Downs is a natural winter beauty, with landscapes straight out of a postcard. Pack a thermos, lace up your boots, and head out for a bracing walk across the rolling hills. In winter, the Downs are often quieter, leaving you with wide-open views of frost-kissed fields and misty mornings. Catching a sunrise here is pure magic — and no need to battle the summer crowds for the best spots!
Location: South Downs National Park, near Alton
4. Alton Maltings Café — a Cosy Spot for Coffee and Catch-Ups
Nothing beats a warm coffee on a chilly day, and Alton Maltings offers just that in a historic setting. This inviting café is known for its welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect place to escape the cold. Sip on a spiced latte, nibble on a pastry, and take in the artisanal charm that makes Alton Maltings a beloved local favourite. It’s practically Alton’s answer to Hygge!
Location: Maltings Cl, Alton GU34 1DT
Contact: +44 1420 81950
5. Marvel at Gilbert White’s Gardens in Their Winter Glory

For a quieter escape, Gilbert White’s House & Gardens is a wonderful spot to reconnect with nature. The winter gardens offer a peaceful retreat, while the museum brings local natural history to life. Learn about White’s studies on wildlife and enjoy a slow wander through the gardens — it’s a fantastic way to feel grounded, even in the midst of winter.
Location: The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Alton GU34 3JH
Contact: +44 1420 511275
6. Enjoy Alton’s Festive Lights — Perfect for an Evening Stroll
When the sun sets early, Alton’s town centre lights up! The local businesses go all out with window displays and festive lights, making the town feel magical. Take a leisurely evening stroll through the twinkling streets, capturing those picture-perfect moments along the way. It’s a wonderful (and free!) way to soak up Alton’s seasonal spirit.
Location: Town Centre, Alton
7. Climb Your Way to Fun at High Sports Alton
Need an indoor adventure? High Sports Alton offers the thrill of climbing without braving the winter cold. It’s a great way to burn off some holiday calories (or just your extra Christmas pudding!). Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a complete beginner, you’ll find a route that’s both challenging and fun. It’s active, it’s indoors, and it’s definitely memorable.
Location: Alton Sports Centre, Chawton Park Rd, Alton GU34 1ST
Contact: +44 1420 540040
8. Make a Festive Wreath at Froyle Park
A handmade wreath is a lovely seasonal keepsake, and Froyle Park’s wreath-making workshops are a fun way to get creative. With guidance from experienced florists, you’ll leave with a beautiful wreath to hang on your door. Plus, it’s a fantastic activity to do with friends, adding some laughter (and maybe a bit of competition) to your afternoon.
Location: Froyle Park, Ryebridge Ln, Upper Froyle, Alton GU34 4LA
Contact: +44 1420 27811
9. Try English Wine Tasting at Hattingley Valley
Warm up with a winter wine tasting at Hattingley Valley! This award-winning vineyard offers a delightful escape from the winter cold, with tours and tastings to enjoy indoors. It’s an experience of refined English wines right on your doorstep, complete with scenic views and friendly guides.
Location: Wield Yard, Lower Wield, Alresford SO24 9AJ
Contact: +44 1256 389188
10. Cosy Up at a Local Pub — Log Fires and Pints Galore!

After all that adventuring, end your day with a cosy drink at one of Alton’s charming pubs. The Queen’s Head offers a traditional pub vibe with a toasty log fire, while The French Horn brings a touch of rustic elegance. From mulled wine to hearty meals, a visit to the local pub is a winter must.
The Queen’s Head Location: 6 High St, Alton GU34 1BN
The French Horn Location: 3 Normandy St, Alton GU34 1DD
Store Your Winter Finds with Us!
As winter fills your home with extra blankets, Christmas decorations, and even a wreath or two, finding storage space can be a bit of a puzzle. That’s where we come in! We offer storage solutions to keep your seasonal items safe and sound until next year.
From smaller units for your holiday decor to larger spaces for ski gear or bulky winter coats, we’ve got the right fit for you. Ready to clear some space? Contact us today and let us help you make room for what matters!
Customer Reviews

location. Good access in opening hours using the App. (Be prepared to check mail filter if the initial email giving access to the App and hence to your store does not seem to come through.) Clean, well lit. Kasey gave a very helpful introduction and registration process.

I've never used self storage before so it was all new to me but Wigwam have made it so intuitive and simple to use. You download the app which gives you easy Bluetooth access to the entire building. I've only used the facility out of office hours and it was all so easy. There are flat bed trolleys, a pump truck and a sack truck to make moving your items hassle free. Safe, secure storage, easy to use, accessible until 10pm and reasonable prices. Top marks all round.
I'd recommended Wigwam to anyone wanting self storage.
Lenny called as soon as I emailed and was extremely helpful on making this process quick and easy so i could get into the unit the next day.
there was an issue with the app when i went to use the unit but i emailed Lenny and he rang back within 5 mins and managed to resolve the issue very quickly.
would recommend and thanks to Lenny for making the process smooth.
Units are clean and well maintained with easy access.
Many thanks!! 😊
Peter & Heather
Set up went well and app appears to work well and is easy to use.
Cheers
Containers are amazing excellent lighting and very clean.
Thank you Lenny 👍xx

Wigwam are highly recommended by me!
I can’t recommend Wigwam Storage in Lincoln highly enough. From start to finish, the whole experience was fantastic. Every member of the team was incredibly helpful, friendly, and professional — nothing was too much trouble, and they genuinely went out of their way to make the process easy and stress-free.
The facility itself is excellent: clean, secure, well-maintained, and clearly run with a lot of care. It’s obvious they take real pride in what they do, and that gives you total peace of mind when storing your belongings.
If you’re looking for a reliable storage facility in Lincoln with an amazing team and top-quality facilities, Wigwam Storage is the place to go. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and will happily recommend them to anyone.
Would recommend to everyone.
The signing up process was easy, and the service from the staff was speedy, friendly, helpful and professional.
The app used to access the premises was easy to use and gave added assurance of the security of my items.
Once inside the premises were modern, clean, well lit, and directions to the storage unit were clear and easy to follow…. Even the lift had step by step instructions!
All in all a fantastic company and storage facility.
Thank you!


The customer service is second to none, and facilities utterly perfect.
11 out of 10.

I was very impressed everything is via the app and that side of things is very responsive and I have had no issues so far.
They even play the radio in there.
Holly was an absolute star, we were panicking as we were in the middle of our house moving and needed a quick storage area. Less then an hour after our first call we were already putting boxes to our Storage.
The site is nice and clean, the entry system is truly clever and makes the storage Access easy and quick.
Customer service is top notch 👌
They talked me through the entering and exiting the facility. Jess was outstanding dealing with all the paperwork quickly and me being forgetful and dim.
Thank you very much, hopefully I won't set any alarms off again




My one suggestion is to extend the timers on the doors when entering the storage unit as sometimes it enough time to unload big deliveries onto a trolley and get back to the unit building before the doors close!
All in all, AMAZING company! Couldn’t recommend more :)


All the staff are very helpful and friendly highly recommended
Access is available 6am to 10pm

System 4 Stars
Sarah 5 Stars

The whole experience was excellent.
TheWigwam staff saw the shipment into the storage unit for us and made it all as simple as is possible when moving home and countries at the same time.
The storage building is well organised, clean, tidy, secure and access was available everyday for a significant number of hours.
Most of all ,the staff were kind, concerned, helpful and friendly. as anyone using the storage facility will learn.
Mary Welstead

Staff were very helpful on the phone setting everything up and compared to other units in Alton Wigwam are very reasonably priced.
Would definitely recommend them
Highly recommend this storage facility to anyone looking for safe, affordable, and hassle-free storage in Bath!



Much Appreciated ☺️
I’d highly recommend them to anyone!

Great service for a great price. Highly recommend.










Very happy client so far, thanks to Lenny and team 🙏😃


The units are easy to access, they are spacious and clean. I have a lot of camping equipment plus all my Xmas decorations (I have a lot) in the winter we will also be storing our hot tub. We also have lots of stuff that was the children’s when they were growing up. It has given us the spare room back at the house.
Staff are always polite friendly and very helpful.





The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Thank you Lenny for dealing with our emergency fast and supportive,

For full disclosure, we've only just rented the unit and filled it up, but the experience so far has been great. Response times to emails and helpfulness of staff has been excellent.
Thankyou
I would highly recommend .

Would highly recommend.
Beautifully clean facilities, fully automated access. Ample parking and menouvering space for cars and vans.
So easy to use the storage unit.
Thank you to Wigwam self storage Lincoln.
5*****
My wife and I moved back and forth between Cheltenham and other European countries during our two months long trip, Mr.Harrison( Kasey) supported us friendly and professionally.
We will definitely use it again next time.
See you !
We needed sudden storage after selling our parents’ house. I stopped in at the Bromsgrove branch and found it unmanned, (which I now know is normal).
I rang the number and spoke to an extremely helpful employee who offered me immediate, remote access to the building and let me see inside two different sized units.
After that, the set up was extremely quick!
I applied in the morning and was able to drop stuff off the same day. Everything is activated by an app on your phone but staff can be contacted by phone if needed.
On my second visit (after lots of rain) I did notice a pool of water not far from my unit. I rang up and by next day it had been sorted. No recurrence.
I am really happy with the unit and the excellent service.
Lift so you don’t have to struggle in and out with your things lots of parking too
The best thing that made me hire space is the ladies in reception they were so accommodating and helpful so thank you
I hired storage for my daughter to store all her Uni belongings while she was away for the summer.
Sasha provided excellent friendly service. Always at hand to help with any questions from the beginning to the end of our contract.
Great value for money.
Thank you Sascha.
Helen was efficient, proactive, enthusiastic, engaging and more importantly had a great sense of humour.
You could not ask more of a person or company.
Thank you.
Highly recommend this company
Would definitely recommend.

