At seventeen miles away from Portsmouth, Petersfield often gets overshadowed by its larger neighbor and many people assume that Petersfield is little more than a suburb of that sizable burg. It doesn't help that Petersfield originally rose to prominence as a stopping point of sorts between Portsmouth and London. Many towns around the areas between Portsmouth, Birmingham, and London all grew up because they were originally stagecoach towns that provided inns and services to the wealthy travelers that hopped around the big towns of those days. Petersfield, while fitting that mold, is a town that is actually filled to the brim with its own wonderful diversions and sights and it is most definitely a destination in its own right rather than a pit stop.
It helps that Petersfield is located right amid the gorgeous and scenic South Downs. There are few places in England that are as beautiful as The Downs and countless poets and painters have immortalized this wondrous land in some of the most beautiful art ever handed down. The entire surroundings make up what is officially an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and this essentially means that nobody can destroy this pristine slice of heaven. As such, Petersfield enjoys a healthy tourist industry that is largely made up of hikers and nature enthusiasts that want to lay eyes on this treasure.
Visitors to Petersfield will find much to love within the town as well, though. Petersfield boasts some of the most impressive museums in the county of Hampshire and the Flora Twort Gallery is particularly of note. This massive museum contains over one thousand historic costumes while the Petersfield Museum is a more traditional edifice that contains countless relics that date back to the days when Petersfield was inhabited by Neolithic wanderers. Sadly, one of Petersfield's most charming museums has recently shut down. The famed Teddy Bear Museum was the first of its kind and it was opened in 1984 but in 2006 it forever closed its doors. There is no word regarding the fate of the teddy bears but one can only assume that they were safely shipped to some other museum with minimal struggle.
The many lovers of nature that come to Petersfield daily also make it a point to peruse the lovely Physic Garden. This recreation of an herb garden from the 1600s is very impressive and it is thankfully open to the public. For people who like their fun to be more visceral Petersfield offers some of the most exciting pubs and eateries in the area. Over a dozen pubs that range from historic to thematic are all happy to accommodate tourists and some of the local flavor can even be gleaned when sitting next to one of the many charming residents who call Petersfield home. To put it simply, Petersfield truly has something to offer everyone. Though its roots may be related to its days as a stopping post, Petersfield has successfully eschewed its dependence on any outside whims and it stands today as a proud beacon of individuality and beauty.
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