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3rd
Jul

Whilst it may not receive the headlines of its neighboring city of Reading, Basingstoke Town is a developing area, thriving with business and activities. The town benefits from year-on-year investment and only two years ago Waitrose and John Lewis launched a fantastic new store in the heart of the town, which draws further visitors from many miles away.

Basingstoke has fantastic transport links

1. Transport links and access

Basingstoke is a fantastic central location, supported by fast trains from its modern station. Within 50 minutes you will arrive in central London Waterloo or just an hour to the coast of sunny Bournemouth. Local business hubs are even closer with the historic city of Winchester just 20 minutes, the ever-expanding business center of Reading 24 minutes, and the trendy coastal city of Southampton just 31 minutes away.

Only minutes away from the M3, Basingstoke is also a savvy choice for car users.

Basingstoke has an array of business parks

2. Thriving area of business

Basingstoke is a renowned area for business, attracting multi-billion turnover companies making it a popular location, supporting tens of thousands of employees. Key business parks include:

  • Hound mill’s – Home to businesses including Fyffes Group Ltd, Game Retail Ltd and Sainsbury’s.
  • Chineham Business Park – Home to businesses including Exertis, Kofax Plc and Tech Data.
  • Basing view – Home to businesses including Matrix House (Home to Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada UK), AA and Kier Facilities Services Ltd.
  • Jay’s Close – Home to businesses including Taylor Made, Motorola, and De la Rue.
Basingstoke Festival place is full of restaurants

3. A fine selection of Restaurants and places to socialize

Following extensive investment into the town center, Basingstoke has a large selection of places to eat and drink within its town center. Festival Place, with it’s array of shops, hosts popular chains including Nando’s, Wagamama, Pizza Express, Zizzi’s, and Las Iguanas. Many of these restaurants offer all-year-round al fresco dining below a large glass roof.

If you would prefer to dine at independent restaurants there is a further selection within the town, including some particularly authentic Indian and Chinese Cuisine.

Basingstoke also has a busy social scene. Amongst the pubs, bars, theatres and nightclubs are varying themes allowing for live music, relaxed cocktails, performing arts, comedy, or dancing depending on what takes your fancy! If you have a night out in Basingstoke and don’t want to travel back home you can always stay in our service apartment in Basingstoke.

The Anvil, Basingstoke attracts many popular acts

4. Local Activities

With so many local attractions, you are guaranteed to never have a dull moment in Basingstoke! Below is a sample of some of our favourites:

  • The Anvil and Haymarket Theatres – Very popular attracting some of the UK’s finest acts in theatre, comedy, and music
  • Basingstoke Leisure Park – A fantastic set up including:
    • Aquadrome
    • Odeon Cinema
    • Planet Ice (Home to Basingstoke Premier league ice hockey team ‘The Basingstoke Bison’s’)
    • Hollywood Bowl
    • Gala Bingo
    • Milestones Museum (Interactive, with street scenes and shops)
    • Pitch and Putt
    • The Academy Snooker Club
    • IFLY (Indoor skydiving Centre)
  • Basingstoke Town Football Club – Members of the Southern League Premier Division, playing at Camrose with a capacity for 6000 supports
  • A selection of golf clubs including Basingstoke, Dummer and Weybrook Golf Club
  • The Vyne – (National trust grounds) located at Sherborne St John (a Tudor home with a lake & walled gardens)
  • Basing House – Impressive Ruins including a Castle
  • Wellington Country Park – Beautiful parkland, Paths, trails and attractions
  • Many down Family fun Farm – A lovely farm and experience for all of the family
  • Eastrop and War Memorial Park’s – With thriving wildlife Eastrop won a Green Flag Award last year, containing a boating lake, tree trail, trim trail, children’s play area and a paddling pool
Rodney Trotter attended Basingstoke Art College

5. Fun Facts about Basingstoke

If the thriving business community, fantastic transport links, and numerous activities weren’t enough to draw you to the town of Basingstoke, here are some fun facts you may not know…

  1. Thomas Burberry founded the Brand Burberry in Basingstoke 161 years ago, in 1856. He also had his original raincoat factory and shop in Winchester Road. Unfortunately, the shop was burnt down in ‘The Great Fire of Basingstoke’ in 1905*.
  2. Rodney Trotter from the classic fictional British sitcom ‘Only Fools & Horses’ attended “Basingstoke Art College” but was expelled after just three weeks when he was caught smoking cannabis in a fellow student’s room!
  3. Hollywood actress Liz Hurley attended Harriet Costello school and Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke*.

*Source http://www.basingstoke.me.uk/

House of Fisher is huge advocate for Basingstoke and offers Serviced Apartment locations within the town at Central Point located in the heart of the town including a range of spacious studio and one-bedroom apartments. Whether staying for business or visiting for leisure we highly recommend allowing plenty of time to experience Basingstoke in all its glory.

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