Waterlooville offers several clear starting points for a stay: Queen’s Inclosure is known for its woodland and wildlife, artworks in the town centre reflect the character of the place, and Horizon offers public swimming and sports facilities. Alongside nature, you can choose to focus on local history, culture or exercise. The following topics can help you shape your time in Waterlooville around what interests you on your trip.

Woodland and wildlife

Queen’s Inclosure lies in the heart of Waterlooville and is a fragment of the ancient Forest of Bere. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife and has clearly marked paths. The site therefore brings together a historic landscape and a specific focus on nature. If you are particularly interested in woodland and wildlife, these features offer a clear focus for your time in Waterlooville.

Local history and art

Artworks installed throughout Waterlooville town centre highlight the historical, social and technological factors that have shaped the place. They offer a cultural perspective on various influences rather than limiting the history to a single theme. This provides a different approach from the woodland: here, the focus is on what has shaped the town.

One historical reference point is the year 1815. At that time, Charles Matthews built an inn in the area now known as Waterlooville, as a resting place for travellers and their horses. The inn reflects the role of a stop along the way and gives the town’s history a tangible connection to travel.

Another historical aspect is the growth of a small settlement around the junction of London Road and Hambledon Road. The inn and the settlement offer two different perspectives: one on rest stops for travellers, and the other on the development of a place at a road junction. You can therefore explore Waterlooville’s history through both travel and the origins of the settlement.

Swimming, sports and cycling

Horizon in Waterlooville offers public swimming in its pool. The gym has a 10 m sprint track, and classes range from strength training to cycling. This offers a different focus from woodland and local history, with practical options for people interested in sport. As class schedules may change, check Horizon’s current swimming times and class offerings before planning a visit.

If you are including cycling in your plans, the Havant Borough Council cycling guide, in its 2024 edition, includes a detailed map of the cycle network around Waterlooville town centre. The map provides practical guidance for this part of the network. It adds a practical perspective on the cycle network to the town’s historical themes.

A report from March 2023 names Jubilee Park in Waterlooville as part of a tennis court renovation programme announced by Havant Borough Council for public parks. If tennis is important to you, check the court’s current status in advance. This helps distinguish the historical reference to the programme from the practical planning of a visit.

Discover more destinations: Tadley, Liphook, Liss, South Hayling, Fordingbridge, Cadnam, Ellingham, Heckfield

For the wider travel overview: Hampshire.