Scratch an acre of England and there are stories to be found. Basingstoke is no exception. It is
perceived as a modern town but the truth is there have been people living here since pre-Saxon
times. The town is as rich in history as any other medieval town, and the countryside around the
town is beautiful. It’s wonderful to be able to explore the north Hampshire landscape.
Ancient churches, villages, thatched cottages, chalk streams, the countryside around the town has
so much to offer.
Every village in the borough has stories to tell, from early settlements to epic sieges, home to
internationally famous authors like Jane Austen and Richard Adams, the entrepreneur Thomas
Burberry and the more humble stories of local people. Basingstoke Heritage and the Historical and
Archaeological Societies can offer so many glimpses to explore the past.
As for the present and future, the town’s cultural offer is vibrant and various, richer in arts, leisure
and creative industries than many other towns I have lived in.
Basingstoke is a good place to be.
