Top Ten Things to Do in Hampshire This Weekend

Here's our pick of the top ten things to do with the family....

(1) At Romsey Show...

VISITORS are promised an end of summer spectacular as residents gear up to celebrate 175 years of The Romsey Show tomorrow.

One of the oldest agricultural shows in the country, The Romsey Show is based on the Broadlands Estate and promises new attractions including a magnificent Falcon Village, the humorous Mole Show and the Sheep Show with dancing sheep.

More than 700 horses and livestock will be competing at the one-day event.

Some of the region’s top chefs will be demonstrating their skills in the Food Zone theatre, while children can get messy in the free Kids Kitchen and there are new and improved food stands with everything from Thai and Mexican to vegetarian delights to tempt the whole family.

Those look for a country-style shopping fix will enjoy hundreds of retail stands in the shopping and crafts marquees.

TV archaeologist Dr Phil Harding is this year’s President and visitors can step into the past with activities from Wessex Archaeology.

They are available at romseyshow.co.uk

(2) On Southampton's big wheel...

TAKE to the skies on Southampton's newest attractions, which opens tomorrow.

A giant 35-metre Ferris wheel has been installed at the Bargate and will dominate the city's skyline.

The 115-foot attraction, dubbed the “UK’s tallest mobile Ferris wheel”, is a major boost for city centre businesses.

The sky-high observation wheel will allow those with a head for heights to see for miles out to sea and around the city, giving riders a unique aerial view.

Visitors and residents are expected to flock to the giant attraction, which is set to stay until Sunday, October 29.

(3) At Royal Victoria Country Park...

TAKE part in an exciting weekend of talks, tours, activities and a pop-up exhibition. These events will explore the hidden history of the park, which was once the site of the Royal Victoria Hospital, personally commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria to serve the soldiers of the Empire.

The Grade II listed chapel is all that remains of the former military hospital and is currently undergoing a £3.2 million conservation project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Part of the Heritage Open Days weekend, there will be free tours of the park and Netley Military Cemetery with a knowledgeable park guides, who will bring the park’s history to life. In the Empire Room there will be an exhibition about the history of the site and activities for children, and visitors will even be able to handle objects from the military history collection.

Don a hard hat and hi-vis jacket and go into the chapel for a Sneak Peek Chapel Tour where you can learn about the conservation works taking place inside the chapel and even go out on to the exterior scaffold.

Tours will run every hour from 10.30am until 4pm tomorrow and Sunday.

Visit hants.gov.uk

(4) At Southampton Old Bowling Green...

MEMBERS will be dressed in costumes from the 13th Century through to the modern day at a special Heritage Day at the historic city venue, in Lower Canal Walk, tomorrow.

They will bowl a special Heritage Game of Lawn Bowls and will welcome visitors to roll-up one or two woods on the world's oldest bowling green.

Also enjoy a tour of the Clubhouse and view the many archives.

On Sunday, another special Heritage Day will be based around a live friendly bowls match. Visitors can learn all about the game from the experts.

No booking is required for the event, which takes place between 10am and 4pm each day.

See sobg.co.uk

(5) Aboard SS Shieldhall...

THE largest working steamship in Britain will be open for visitors between 10am and 3pm tomorrow and Sunday as part of Southampton's Heritage Open Days Weekend.

SS Shieldhall is a heritage cargo/passenger steamship included in the National Historic Fleet. Launched on the Clyde in 1955, she was built on classic lines and retains her original machinery and traditional wheelhouse. Withdrawn from commercial service in 1985, she was purchased by the Solent Steam Packet Charity who continue to operate Shieldhall today. Now based in Southampton and operated by a team of dedicated volunteers, visitors will have access to all areas of the ship.

As part of your visit, see the impressive engine room with its original triple expansion steam engines and the bridge, with its traditional instruments and gleaming brasswork; talk to the captain and our crew; walk the teak decks and relax in the Saloon . A range of children's activities will also be staged.

Access will be by vintage bus, with a timetable and further information available at sadtht.co.uk/main/shods

Tickets for cruises, between 4pm and 6pm each day, from ss-shieldhall.co.uk

(6)At The Brickworks Museum, Bursledon...

COME and be amazed at the authentic sights, sounds and smells of the last steam-driven Victorian brickworks in the UK. Make your own brick, get close to the massive brick making machines and see how the men used to run 15 miles a day in the big drying sheds.

A second steam engine is now up and running and a display of old padlocks is also gracing the museum in 2017.

Bursledon Brickworks is open from 11am to 4pm on Sunday.

See bursledonbrickworks.org.uk

(7) At Itchen Valley Country Park...

THE Stay Wild Festival is a family-friendly wilderness living skills, bushcraft and outdoor festival set in 440 acres of beautiful water meadows and woodland this weekend.

The outdoor activities weekend encourages families to get outside to take part in wilderness skills workshops, wild activities and craft skill demonstrations, as well as enjoying entertainment, food and music.

Activities will include everything from from archery to Gladiator style games via wild yoga.

For more details, visit staywildfestival.co.uk

(8) At Fort Nelson, Fareham...

FORT Nelson will focus on the behind-the-scenes work Conservators carry out as they skilfully preserve and maintain our collection for future generations this weekend.

The event, from 10am to 5pm each day, is another way of celebrating our country’s fantastic history and culture and offering visitors the chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences as part of Heritage Open Days.

Conservator Matthew Hancock will discuss one of the major conservation projects currently being carried out at Fort Nelson in Insight: Marine Salvage at 11am and 3pm.

The 17th-century Marine Salvage Project focuses on three guns recovered from the river Thames and Goodwin Sands, off the Kent coast, all of which require technical conservation treatments. The gun recovered from Goodwin Sands is especially interesting as it is manufactured from four different types of metal.

Enjoy a conservation behind the scenes talk and tour at 12 noon and 2pm each day. Join Conservator Matthew Hancock on a short tour of the Fort’s conservation workshop for an interesting insight in to some of the challenges faced when conserving collection objects and the technical treatments used to resolve them.

See royalarmouries.org

(9) At Guildhall Square, Southampton...

AN EXTRAVAGANZA of skateboarding and art is heading to Southampton this weekend.

The Southampton Slamma '17 will be opening up on Sunday in Guildhall Square, where the area will come alive with an old school street skateboarding competition.

The event is hosted by the Southampton Association of Skateboarders, and it hopes the event will celebrate the sport and raise awareness for the need to create and improve facilities in the city.

Youngsters will also be able to get involved with a free skating lesson.

The free event runs between 11am and 5pm.

(10) At The Furlong, Ringwood...

A mix of antiques, collectables and vintage as well as work from artists, designers and makers will be on show at the Ringwood Antique and Decorative Arts Fair.

A wide range of interesting items will be for sale tomorrow, whether you are a collector or just an impulse buyer.

Stands include glassware, jewellery, vintage accessories and houseware, furniture, silver, ceramics, postcards and even quirky ‘must have’ items, retro, linen, reclamation and vinyl records.