Basingstoke Removals

About Basingstoke

Everything you needed to know about the Doomsday town ahead of your big move.

Basingstoke is the largest town in the county of Hampshire and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. The etymology for the name of the town came from the position of the settlement of the Anglo-Saxon leader Basa’s people.

The town is recorded in the Doomsday Book as a weekly market site, and has held a regular Wednesday market since 1214. The brewing and cloth industries were important in the development of the town between the 17th and 19th centuries and in later years Burberry’s first ever store opened in the town in 1856, by former draper’s apprentice Thomas Burberry.

Oliver Cromwell is said to have stayed in Basingstoke towards the end of the siege of Basing House, during the English Civil War and the author Jane Austen was born several miles from Basingstoke and drafted ‘Pride and Prejudice’ whilst living nearby. Henry VIII visited Vyne House during his reign and the property is now open to the public and managed by the National Trust.

Leisure

Basingstoke provides some fantastic things to do, regardless of age or interest. Among the top things to do is visit the Vyne- a 16^th century estate bult for Henry VII’s Lord Chamberlain. The Vyne is also home to a Roman ring and tablet which are believed to have provided the inspiration for JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The grounds and gardens are spectacular making the Vyne a fantastic day out for all ages.

Skizone are an indoor ski facility offering coaching, support and equipment, to help experts and beginners hone their downhill skills. With classes for all ages and abilities you can hire skis and snowboards and benefit from expert coaching plus children’s camps and classes.

In the nearby Hamlet of Andwell there is the award-winning Andwell Brewing Company, based in a former trout smoke house. They offer day and evenings tours, allowing visitors to see each step in the process of ale making, and ends on trying a selection of beers created by the company.

Basingstoke Market takes place twice a week and offers a huge range of vegetables, meats, breads, fish, Asian food, clothing, fruit, cheese, and much more.

The architecture itself is a sight to behold, and is a documentation of the history of England, and attracts visitors from all over the globe.

Schools

Basingstoke boasts 24 secondary schools, and boasts a large range of primary schools. The fact that there is a broad choice means parents can really pick a school best suited to their child, a luxury quite rare for a town. In villages and towns surrounding Basingstoke, there are more secondary schools and primary schools, so if you are moving to just outside of the town or want your child to attend a village school, or school of a smaller size, there is also that option available.

Transport

By car, the M3 runs directly next to the town, and you can exit straight off to enter Basingstoke at junction 6. From the north, the A33 or the M4 also give excellent access to the town and local area

Basingstoke Train Station offers direct routes to and from London Waterloo and Reading, with connecting services running to destinations including Exeter, Falmouth, Southampton, Brighton and Dover. Local bus routes cover the town centre and wider areas as part of Basingstoke’s comprehensive public transport network.