Basingstoke factfile

How to get to Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in the county of Hampshire, 78 km (48 mi) south-west of London and 48 km (30 mi) north of Southampton on the south coast. Basingstoke is easily accessible from the M3 motorway, and is a popular choice for commuters, having direct rail services to London and the south-west.

Shopping in Basingstoke
Basingstoke's Festival Place shopping centre is one of Hampshire's main shopping and entertainment hubs, offering over 165 shops to choose from, 30 eateries, a 10-screen cinema, nightclub and sports centre.

There are smaller shopping centres to found at The Malls and also in Top of Town, Basingstoke's historic heart. In this area, you'll find more independent local shops, as well as outdoor markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a monthly farmers' market.

Eating and drinking in Basingstoke
Basingstoke offers a lot of different dining options, from the stylish new restaurants of Festival Square to the traditional pubs in Top of Town. The town centre offers budget and family fare options, as well as a good selection of international cuisine, including Indian, Chinese, Italian, Thai and French.

Things to see and do around Basingstoke
You'll find Basingstoke's Willis Museum in the Old Town Hall, close to Festival Place. The museum traces the colourful past of the town, from its Saxon roots, its prosperous past as a milling and wool town and dramatic civil-war history through to the modern day. Basingstoke also boasts one of the very last working silk mills in Britain—you can see this rare craft in action at the Whitchurch Silk Mill.

Arts and culture in Basingstoke
Thanks to the efforts of Basingstoke Borough Council to encourage developers to make art an integral part of any new developments in the town, Basingstoke is home to a huge collection of public art, visible for all to enjoy throughout the town. It is also home to the Fairfields Arts Centre at Top of Town, which hosts exhibitions by local and international artists, including work by famous contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracy Emin.

Natural beauty spots around Basingstoke
Walkers will enjoy exploring the Basingstoke Canal Heritage Footpath Trail, which runs across Basingstoke Common and finishes at Basing House. The route passes through many areas rich in wildlife, such as the Basing lime pits, which provide an ideal spot for picnicking. The Black Dam Ponds Nature Reserve is also a haven for wildlife—look out for tufted ducks and kingfishers.