Alton Independents

27/05/2026

Heatwave Britain…

The pool itself at Guildford Lido is genuinely gorgeous ☀️ 🏊

Beautiful gardens, proper old-school lido charm, cool water on a boiling hot day, and the staff honestly deserve medals because they were trying to manage absolute scenes with good humour and saint-level patience.

BUT. Visiting during a heatwave? Brace yourselves. The number of people allowed in felt completely bonkers!!

We arrived early enough to get the “calm before the storm” photos and within an hour it was absolutely RAMMED.

Somewhere between the packed-out pool, melting Calippos and the faint aroma of kids’ p**s gently wafting through the air… the glamour of British summer really peaked.

Worth knowing: parking fills up quickly. We were diverted to nearby Guildford Spectrum, which has a 4-hour limit.

I LOVE that we finally get proper nice half-term weather in the UK, but honestly I’m not sure I’d rush back unless the booking system changed to more sensible timings and capped attendance a bit better.

26/05/2026

Love this 💧☀️

Hot weather finally hit Alton over the late May bank holiday weekend after weeks of cool temperatures and persistent showers.

25/05/2026

Bournemouth this week? You must be joking 😅

If you want to avoid the traffic, packed beaches and costly parking, the River Avon in Salisbury has just been given official bathing water status.

Way more chilled and you can actually hear yourself think.

Got any other local alternatives people should know about? Drop them below 👇

24/05/2026

A slower kind of bank holiday Sunday …

At The Ship Inn hiding from the heat for a couple of hours and slightly obsessed with how good restrained interiors can feel when they’re done well.

Limewash tones, worn wood, soft light, nothing overworked, just calm.

Then a quick cool-off in the River Arle afterwards because Hampshire apparently turned Mediterranean this weekend. ☀️

Anyone else drawn to places that just instantly slow your shoulders down a bit?



Summer finally showing off a bit. ☀️🌿

04/05/2026

You know those evenings where you just want something, but not a full night out?

That’s how we ended up at Ken’s Food Corner at … casual , easy, but still feels like a nice treat.

Ken (Hong Kong) & Lea (Malaysia) are such a lovely duo, we got chatting about food, travel, and my memories of eating Laska in Australian pubs came up… now I’m fully expecting to see those on the menu!

We devoured …

🦆 Roast duck, rice & bok choy
🍗 Popcorn chicken + fried chicken on the bone
🌶️ Spicy sausages
🧋 Boba teas
🍷 Chilled rosé from the Tap Room

Big flavours, super relaxed vibe, all in under £30!

03/05/2026

Yesterday’s drive towards Thursley Common came with an unexpected detour…spotted a yellow sign and thought it was worth a quick look.

This garden is packed with rhododendrons, full-on blooming lovely colour 🌺

Worth keeping an eye out for those small roadside signs… they usually lead somewhere interesting, let me know if you’ve stumbled upon any interesting ones.

28/03/2026

Easter holidays are here! 🌼✨

Sunshine, daffodils and that first “we made it” exhale after all the school runs.

A little wander through town - peak spring vibes… flowers blooming outside Hart Wildlife, dreamy high street windows (this one at Unique Chic 🥕🌽🥦🫛), and yes… the slightly questionable state of the Alton Community Centre sign 👀

I’m hearing whispers it’s got funding for a refurbishment which is fantastic news. Apparently it used to be a factory!?

Saturday mode at Alice Holt Forest 🌳
Ice creams to encourage the kids to walk with me, I skip my take-out coffee to stay on budget… tell me I’m not the only one making these sacrifices right now 🥲

🚧 Heads up if you’re heading to Alice Holt, the main play area is currently closed, and looking like a bit of a building site… anyone know what’s happening or how long for?

And because I have zero willpower… a wander into Haskins Garden Centre 🌿
Me: “just looking”
Also me: mentally redesigning the entire garden
Kids: spending all their money on stationery

Easter hols energy = slower mornings, fresh air, and trying not to spend a small fortune every time you leave the house 🙃

What’s everyone else got planned? Any local tips to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank? 👇