Basingstoke is a town located in the county of Hampshire, in South East England. Situated across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, Basingstoke is commonly referred to as "Doughnut City" or "Roundabout City" due to the number of large roundabouts dotted around the town. Basingstoke has developed from an Old Market Town to a thriving economic centre with excellent transport links to London, ideal for commuters. The town is a popular residential area that offers a variety of accommodations for house hunters, including a wealth of beautiful Victorian and Edwardian homes, period buildings, and Victorian villas, all of which are perfect for families and professionals. The average property price in Basingstoke is around £350,000, which is lower than the average London home of £540,000, but still a high price for families to be able to afford.
Many great attractions are discoverable across Basingstoke. Residents and tourists can get educated at the historical sights of the Milestones Museum, the Willis Museum & Sainsbury Gallery, Silchester Roman City Walls & Amphitheatre, and Basing House. Entertainment options are also on offer, with the venues of iFLY Basingstoke Indoor Skydiving, Flip Out Basingstoke, and The Anvil concert hall and a performing arts centre. Shopaholics also have a number of places to shop til' they drop, with The Malls, Festival Place, and Chineham Shopping.
Basingstoke has been named among the top 3 most unsafe towns of Hampshire, although the town has only a 7% higher crime rate than the rest of the South East and a 0.26% higher crime rate than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
A good number of parking spaces are available across Basingstoke. For residents looking for short-term parking, there are hourly paid car parks available in the town centre, which include Central Car Park, Castons Car Park, Southern Road Car Park, and Festival Place Car Park. Anyone looking for long-term parking for convenience or work, can find secure daily or monthly parking via JustPark, Parkopedia, or Yourparkingspace.
With a variety of bars, restaurants, pubs, and clubs, Basingstoke offers its residents a good selection of nightlife to choose from. Some of the popular venues consist of Fever & Boutique Basingstoke, Plush Lounge Bar, Cosy Club, and The White Hart. If locals are in the mood for a change of scenery, they can head to the nearby areas of London, Bristol, or Portsmouth for even more evening entertainment.
Families have a choice of 5 ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated schools within Basingstoke. Some of the highest-rated schools are Dove House School, Marnel Community Infant School, Old Basing Infant School, and Four Lanes Infant School. Students can also find higher education in and around the area at Basingstoke College of Technology, Queen Mary's College, and the University of Winchester.
Along with its diverse selection of suitable pet-friendly properties, Basingstoke also has a great variety of green spaces for pet owners to discover with their furry friends. Dog walkers and adventurers can enjoy scenic trips to the local parks of Eastrop Park, Old Down Park, Popley Community Park, and Daneshill Park Woods.
Basingstoke train station is mainly served by the GWR and South Western Railway services. Residents can access frequent direct and connecting trains at the popular destinations of Reading- 27m, Southampton- 34m, London Waterloo- 1hr 14m, and Bath- 1hr 32m. The nearest airport to Basingstoke is Southampton (SOU) Airport which is reachable by car in 35 minutes via the M3. Buses also serve the area for local travel.