Things to do in Silchester
Silchester has a whole Roman town on its doorstep that nobody ever built over, a common that was one of the first SSSIs in the country, and a village association that has run the social calendar since 1972. Here's what there is, the free things first.
Out and about
Free, and nobody to book with.
The Roman town walls and amphitheatre
A mile east of the village and never built over, so the whole circuit of the Roman wall is still standing, up to four metres high in places, with the amphitheatre a short walk from the car park. English Heritage, free, and open any reasonable time in daylight. The car park has a height barrier at 1.8 metres.
Their websiteSt Mary the Virgin
A twelfth century church standing just inside the east wall of the Roman town, over the site of two Roman temples. It's usually open most days. The early sixteenth century screen was hidden through the Reformation and the Civil War and found again in the 1860s, and the trail leaflet calls it one of the finest in Hampshire.
Their page on EveryVillageSilchester Common
Fifty three hectares of lowland heath between the village and Pamber Heath, owned and looked after by the parish council, and one of the first places in the country to be made a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Cattle graze it to keep the gorse and birch down, and paths cross it in every direction.
Their websitePamber Forest
Two hundred and fourteen hectares of ancient woodland on the far side of the Common, looked after by the Wildlife Trust and open at all times, dogs on a lead. Known for its butterflies, purple emperors and white admirals among them, and for wild daffodils and bluebells in spring. The car park is on Impstone Road in Pamber Heath.
Their websiteThe Silchester Trail
A waymarked circular walk of up to eight miles, with three and four mile short cuts, from the village or from Bramley station out to the Roman town and the church, past the ford at Clappers Farm and a medieval moated site with its fish ponds restored. The leaflet is at the Calleva Arms.
Their websiteThe playground on the Common
A woodland themed playground on the edge of the Common, looked after by the Silchester Playground Association, about forty volunteers who check it every day.
Worth a visit
The places in the village with a door you can walk through.
The Calleva Arms
Quiz on the first Monday of the month
The Fuller's pub opposite the cricket green, dog friendly, with a garden you can watch the cricket from on match days. A quiz on the first Monday of the month and a live band once a month.
Their page on EveryVillageSilchester Pop Up Cafe
Fridays all year, Wednesdays March to October
Homemade cakes, breakfasts and toasties in the Sports Pavilion on the edge of the Common, beside the playground.
Their page on EveryVillageSilchester Village Market
First Saturday of the month, at the Village Hall
Local independent traders in the Village Hall, with bread and baking, preserves, meat and fish, and crafts.
Their page on EveryVillageSilchester Farm
A working farm turned wedding and events venue, with rooms and a kitchen garden, which opens its doors to the village through Trough Farm Shop, seasonal feasts and markets.
Their page on EveryVillageSilchester Village Hall
Opposite the football field, a hundred years old in 2026, and home to the pre school, the Guides, the drama group and the monthly market.
Silchester Methodist Church
On the edge of the Common, with a service on Sundays at 10.30 and refreshments after, and beside it the Ebenezer Project garden, made as a quiet place to sit.
Their page on EveryVillage
Join in
Clubs, markets and the dates the village keeps every year.
The Silchester Association
The village's own events body since 1972. It runs the beer festival each autumn, the bonfire and fireworks on the paddock at Silchester House, a scarecrow trail every October half term, a fun run through the woods, quiz nights, Burns Night, talks and, with St Mary's, a walk round the parish boundary.
Their websiteThe village fete
Mid June
Music, a dog show, craft stalls and food tents, raising money for St Mary's.
Their page on EveryVillageSilchester Players
The village drama group, rehearsing and performing in the Village Hall.
Their page on EveryVillageCalleva Volunteers
The group that looks after the Roman walls, working with English Heritage, Hampshire County Council, the parish council and the Silchester Association.
Their page on EveryVillageCricket and football
Cricket on the green opposite the Calleva Arms through the summer and football on the recreation ground through the winter, both from the Sports Pavilion, which reopened in 2024 after a refurbishment and is run by a charity.
Work parties on the Common
The parish council's volunteers clear gorse and birch where the contractors' machines can't reach. New volunteers are welcome, through the parish clerk.
Guides, Brownies and Rainbows
All three meet in the Village Hall. The nearest Scouts, Cubs and Beavers are in Pamber Heath and Bramley.
Compiled by us from what each place and organisation publishes, and checked against it. We don’t rate anything, and nobody paid to be here. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Read on Silchester Parish Council, the parish, St Mary the Virgin, Silchester, on A Church Near You, Silchester Parish Council, the Common, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Pamber Forest, The Silchester Trail leaflet, silchester.org, the playground, The Calleva Arms, Silchester Pop Up Cafe, silchester.org, the village market, Silchester Farm, silchester.org, the village hall, silchester.org, the Methodist church, silchester.org, the Silchester Association, silchester.org, the village fete, silchester.org, about Silchester, silchester.org, Calleva Volunteers, Silchester Parish Council, the Sports Pavilion and silchester.org, youth organisations.
What’s on this weekEvery place in SilchesterCommunity groups