Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum
Free county regiment museum in Georgian Serle's House, Winchester, with uniforms, weapons, medals and a regimental memorial garden.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum tells the story of the county infantry regiment of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which traces its origins to 1702 and served the Crown for nearly 300 years. In 1992 the regiment amalgamated with the Queen's Regiment to form the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, which today recruits from Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex.
The museum is on the ground floor of Serle's House in Southgate Street, a Georgian building designed by Thomas Archer around 1730 and bought by the War Office in 1796. It stood at the heart of the Lower Barracks, which became the depot of the Royal Hampshire Regiment from 1881. After the regiment left in 1959 the museum was re-established at Serle's House in 2004. The Memorial Garden in front of the house was dedicated in 1952 for the regiment's 250th anniversary and remains the focus of its remembrance services.
The collection includes uniforms, weapons, personal items and a medal collection, supported by an interactive timeline running from 1702 to the present. The museum is an Accredited Museum, entry is free, and staff help visitors who are researching relatives who served in the regiment or are named on local war memorials.
Highlights
- Medal collection of the regiment
- Uniforms and weapons from three centuries
- Interactive timeline from 1702 to today
- Georgian Serle's House and its Memorial Garden
- Research help for family history
Permanent exhibitions
- Medal Collection – Medals awarded to members of the regiment.
- Uniforms – Uniforms worn by the regiment over its history.
- Weapons – Weapons used by the regiment.
- Founded
- 1796
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free entry; donations are welcome (a card donation point and a donation drum are provided), as the museum receives no Ministry of Defence funding. A donation of £45 is requested towards the cost of researching a relative who served in the regiment.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum states that all areas of its galleries are accessible. An access guide for visitors can be downloaded from the website.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Winchester railway station · 15-min walk
About a 15-minute walk from Winchester railway station. Nearest bus stops are at the station and on Winchester High Street; Park and Ride is available.
By car
Parking nearby is limited and not controlled by the museum. The nearest public car park is the Sussex Street/Tower Street multi-storey (sat-nav postcode SO23 8GQ).
The museum is next to the Hotel du Vin in Southgate Street, about 150 metres from the High Street. Visitors are advised to phone or email ahead about parking.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop selling historical books, badges and souvenirs, with 10% off for Art Fund National Art Pass holders.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Schools, youth groups and local history groups are welcome; talks and guided tours can be requested through the contact form. |
Museums nearby
The Gurkha Museum
HorsePower: The Museum of the King's Royal Hussars
Westgate Museum
The Rifleman's Museum
City Museum
Adjutant General's Corps Museum
All 9 museums in Winchester All museums in South East England
