Nurseries in Hampshire
Hampshire is a large South East county offering a mix of coastal towns, rural villages and thriving commuter hubs, making it a strong choice for families seeking high-quality early years provision. Covering postcode districts GU10–GU35, PO7–PO17, RG19–RG29, SO14–SO53 and SP10–SP11, it includes Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Andover, Eastleigh, Fareham and the New Forest. Families benefit from fast rail links to London Waterloo, excellent motorway access via the M3, M27 and A3, and a wide range of parks, beaches, countryside, libraries and children’s centres. Nursery demand is consistently high around commuter towns such as Winchester, Fleet and Basingstoke, as well as popular coastal areas including Gosport and Portsmouth.
Parents in Hampshire typically pay £74 per day for childcare, which is slightly 1% lower than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £74
- Comparison
- -1% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 20,265 places
Nurseries near you in Hampshire
Frequently Asked Questions
In Hampshire, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old, depending on staffing and availability. School-based and council nurseries usually offer funded places from age 2 or 3. All children can access funded early education from the term after their 3rd birthday, with some 2 year olds eligible earlier depending on circumstances or parental employment.
Across England all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 funded hours per week, with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. Some 2 year olds also qualify based on household circumstances. Eligible working parents of children from 9 months old may access funded childcare. Tax-Free Childcare provides a 20 percent government top-up to help with nursery costs.
Nursery fees in Hampshire typically range from £65–£140 per day, with higher rates in Winchester, Fleet, Farnborough and commuter areas close to London rail services. Coastal areas such as Portsmouth and Gosport tend to sit slightly lower in the range.
All nurseries in Hampshire are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by Hampshire County Council.
Ask about outdoor play access, funding delivery, meal and activity charges, staff retention, SEND support, parent communication and how they settle new children into the setting.
Applying for funding
Hampshire is covered by Hampshire County Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Hampshire County Council website
