Basingstoke could become hotspot for leisure tourism

At the centre of that shift is Basingstoke Leisure Park, a 60‑acre, council‑owned site just off the M3 that already houses the Aquadrome, Planet Ice, iFLY indoor skydiving, Milestones Museum, a cinema, bowling and bingo.

In 2023, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council adopted a masterplan to "transform" the park and attract major leisure operators – and three years on, that strategy is producing results.

The biggest single project is the council's own £59.7m replacement of the ageing Aquadrome. Places Leisure has been named the preferred bidder for a new energy‑efficient complex that would deliver a 25‑metre eight‑lane competition pool, a 20‑metre four‑lane teaching pool, leisure water with flumes, a 150‑station gym, three exercise studios, a cycling studio, indoor play, party rooms and a café, with options for a luxury health suite, Reformer Pilates studio and padel tennis courts.

How the new Aquadrome should look (Image: BDBC)

Council co‑leader Cllr Gavin James said the borough was "punching above its weight" on leisure investment.

"Our major milestone decision to commit £60 million to a new leisure and water complex to replace the much-loved Aquadrome is one of the biggest council leisure investments in the country, working with an industry-leading partner," he said.

"This is the catalyst for more operators to focus on our Leisure Park as the place to be. As part of this, we’ve supported Planet Ice’s major refurbishment of the rink to keep ice in Basingstoke.

Outside the ice rtnk

"Great Wolf Resorts is targeting one of its first new complexes in the UK here in Basingstoke and has submitted a planning application – set to boost employment and draw in thousands of visitors to keep the local economy booming."

A planning application for the new Aquadrome is expected in 2026 and, if approved, the complex could open in 2029 – with Places Leisure also taking over management of the existing facility in the meantime.

A Places Leisure spokesperson said: "This new leisure destination is a major investment in health and wellbeing. Alongside modern facilities to help people stay active, it will be a welcoming, inclusive space where people of all ages can connect, learn and spend time together."

CGI of a Great Wolf Lodge hotel in Basingstoke (Image: Great Wolf)

Next to the Leisure Park, US‑based Great Wolf Lodge has submitted a planning application for a 512‑bed hotel and indoor water park resort on the Basingstoke Golf Centre site.

The nearly 11‑hectare scheme would replace the existing driving range, adventure golf and pitch and putt with a large enclosed resort offering slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, restaurants, conference space and an indoor adventure zone.

Planning documents state the development would generate £24.2m a year in gross value added, around 600 permanent jobs and an estimated 600,000 additional visitors to the borough every year. Great Wolf did not respond to a request for comment.

Planet Ice Basingstoke has also recently completed a major refurbishment, with the council agreeing a new lease to secure the 2,000‑seat arena as a "key regional attraction", while Milestones Museum is exploring expansion plans to boost visitor numbers as the wider park evolves.