Our communities

Named as one of the top 50 places to live in the country, Baingstoke and Deane has lots on offer whatever you are looking for when setting up home.  As well as Basingstoke town centre being the perfect location for young professionals and commuters who are looking for proximity to travel options, there is also plenty on offer for families. 

Travel

Basingstoke town centre is well situated for access to the M3 at junction 6. For those that use public transport to commute or travel, the train station offers links to Reading, London and the south west. The bus station is conveniently located by Festival Place.

Town centre workplaces are on the doorstep, enabling you to walk to work and Basing View is close by. 

Lifestyle

Living in the town centre means access to an abundance of shops and restaurants with Festival Place and The Malls together with the top of the town.  There is also a weekly Wednesday market at the Top of Town, which has been running since 1622! For leisure pursuits, cinema lovers can enjoy a film at the Vue in Festival Place, theatre lovers will find something at the Anvil and the Haymarket or try an Escape Room with friends at Exciting Escapes. A little outside of the main town centre you can find the Basingstoke Leisure Park with the Aquadrome, Hollywood Bowl, Odeon Cinema, Planet Ice, iFLY indoor skydiving and Buzz bingo hall.

If you think living in the town centre means a lack of outside green space, then you would be wrong. Eastrop Park with its boating lake and childrens paddling pool, War Memorial Park and Glebe Gardens are all within walking distance and offer playparks and places to picnic or enjoy a run. Some of these host events including festivals, such as Basingstoke Festival of Transport, and firework displays.

Gym lovers have a variety of choice with Basingstoke Sports Centre situated in Festival Place, the new gym at the Village Hotel on Basing View and Anytime Fitness, opposite the train station. The weekly Park Run takes place in the War Memorial Park, every Saturday. For those that partake in other sports, the Basingstoke and North Hants Cricket Club is within easy reach or why not enjoy a game of tennis at Totally Tennis, in the War Memorial Park. 

For hair, beauty and selfcare, Basingstoke offers a wide variety of nail salons, hairdressers, barbers and salons which cater to an extensive range of treatments such as waxing and skincare. Beyond the town centre, explore Basingstoke’s spa retreats such as Beechdown Health Club and the Hampshire Court Hotel, where spa days and various treatments are available to relax and unwind.

If you are looking for an evening of entertainment, Basingstoke town centre will have you covered. Containing a multitude of pubs, bars and places to eat, it will cater for all your needs. There are many stylish bars such as Gabardine Bar, Alchemy bar and lounge, Royal Exchange and The Tea Bar. As well as some great pub options, live music and the popular nightclubs Fever Boutique and Plush Lounge, which regularly host events. 

Living in town

For modern apartment living look at Skyline Plaza, Crowne Plaza and Chapel Gate. There are plenty of other apartments within easy reach of the town center.

You’ll discover homes of up to five bedrooms in Brookvale, a designated conservation area where you will find Victorian and Edwardian homes with plenty of character.

Those later in life will find retirement apartments in town at Lady Susan Court perfectly located to enjoy the War Memorial Park and walk to the town centre shops.

Education

You'll find plenty of primary and secondary schools in this area of Basingstoke along with further education provision at Basingstoke College of Technology, where students achieved a 97.6% level 3 pass rate in August 2023. Only a short walk from town you’ll find Queen Marys College which had a 98% pass rate at A Level: 68% A*-C grades in 2023, with 75% of its students going on to Higher Education courses every year.

The Basingstoke Discovery Centre, inside Festival Place is a great place to access a free study area and educational resources, for all ages. Visitors can discover a huge number of groups catering for a wide range of interests, from babies and toddlers to those dealing with bereavement. 

Updated December 2023