Welcome to Eastrop Park
Eastrop Park is the undisputed jewel of Basingstoke's town center green spaces. Located just a short walk from the bustling shops of Festival Place and Basing View, this consecutive Green Flag award-winning park offers a stunning, vibrant escape for families, dog walkers, wildlife enthusiasts, and fitness lovers alike.
Whether you are planning a summer afternoon on the boating lake, looking for a safe paddling pool for the kids to cool off in, or embarking on a historic walk along the old canal routes, Eastrop Park provides an outstanding, fully accessible outdoor experience throughout the year.
- ⏱️ Opening Times: Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- 🎟️ Admission: Completely free.
- 📍 Location: Eastrop Lane, Basingstoke, RG21 4QE.
- 🌟 Best For: Boating, family water play, wildlife spotting, and scenic trails.
Top Things to Do at Eastrop Park
🚣 Boating Lakes & Model Boat Sailing
The beating heart of the park is its beautiful water features. The main balancing pond operates as a seasonal boating lake during the spring and summer months, where visitors can rent classic pedalos and rowing boats from the Boathouse. Just alongside it sits a dedicated smaller Model Boating Lake, regularly hosted by the Basingstoke Model Boat Club, where hobbyists sail scale-model yachts across the water.
💦 Seasonal Paddling Pool & Adventure Playground
If you are visiting with toddlers or young children, Eastrop Park is a premier free summer destination. It features a large, shallow paddling pool equipped with water filtration (open daily from Easter through September, except Wednesday mornings for routine deep cleaning). Directly adjacent is a modern, fully enclosed children’s playground packed with climbing frames, swings, and activity zones suited for all ages.
If the playground gets exceptionally busy during sunny bank holidays, consider taking a short walk over to the expansive lawns of The War Memorial Park for additional open-air play spaces.
🚲 National Cycle Route 23 & The Tree Trail
For those looking to keep active, Route 23 of the National Cycle Network runs cleanly through the park on wide, flat, shared-use tarmac paths perfect for bikes and scooters. Fitness enthusiasts can also utilize the outdoor trim trail equipment, while those looking for a slower pace can follow the self-guided Eastrop Tree Trail, featuring 16 interactive identification posts displaying facts about unique species like walnut and cider gum trees.
🦆 Wildlife Watching Along the River Loddon
The pristine chalk stream waters of the River Loddon flow openly through Eastrop Park, creating a rich habitat for local wildlife. The river feeds into protected reed beds and wildlife areas where visitors can easily spot swans, tufted ducks, herons, kingfishers, and even endangered water voles making a home along the banks.
🐾 Is Eastrop Park Dog-Friendly?
Yes! Eastrop Park is a firm favorite for local dog owners and offers a fantastic circular walking loop.
- To protect the nesting wildfowl on the water and ensure child safety, dogs must be kept strictly on a lead around the edge of the boating lakes, the paddling pool, and the playground.
- Well-behaved dogs can be let off their leads to run and play in the large, open grassy meadows located further back toward the southern boundary of the park.
- Multiple dedicated dog waste bins are situated near the entrances and main pathways for convenience.
🤔 Visitor Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I park for Eastrop Park, and are there EV chargers?
Free public parking is available on-site across two dedicated car parks accessed via Eastrop Lane (Postcode: RG21 4QE), which include designated disabled bays and two 22kW electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Because these spaces fill up rapidly on sunny weekends, alternative parking is easily found at Festival Place, connected directly to the park via a short, flat pedestrian underpass.
What public toilet and baby changing facilities are on-site?
A brick public toilet block is located directly next to the children's playground and paddling pool area. This includes standard cubicles, accessible (disabled) toilets accessible via a standard RADAR key, and integrated baby changing facilities.
Can I buy food and ice cream inside Eastrop Park?
Yes. The seasonal Boathouse Café kiosk operates near the main lake during peak warmer months (generally weekends and holidays from Easter to September, 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM), serving hot drinks, light snacks, and ice creams. The park also features expansive open lawns perfectly designated for family picnics.
Where does the historic walking trail in the park lead to?
The park hosts the Basingstoke Canal Heritage Footpath, a scenic 2-mile historic trail that follows the line of the original 1794 canal. Walking east out of the park, the trail routes you safely across Basing Fen directly into Old Basing, terminating at the iconic English Heritage ruins of Basing House.
