Emma Caulton

1 week ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Caulton

At first glance, Basingstoke doesn’t charm. Its reputation as a town encircled by dual carriages punctuated by supersized roundabouts precedes it. Certainly, it has grown exponentially. In 1901 its population was 9,510. In 1961 Basingstoke was designated as a London overspill town, and by 2001 the population was 152,573. However, this large and lively town has plenty going on to appeal to families, creatives and the active.

1 week ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Caulton

Hook’s desirability is all about its connections. This large and growing village, six miles east of Basingstoke, sits on the A30, just north of the M3 motorway, and has a mainline station with train services to London Waterloo in a little under an hour. Hook is a relatively young settlement that developed due to this connectivity. It started with inns popping up along the London to Exeter road (now known as the A30) in the 18th century.

1 month ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Caulton

This year is a biggy for Jane Austen fans. 2025 marks 250 years since the birth of this important author – a pioneer in the development of the modern novel. And Jane Austen’s House, a delightful cottage in the village of Chawton and the birthplace of her major works, is only a couple of miles outside Alton, a traditional market town in the heart of Hampshire.

1 month ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Caulton

The town is found on the edge of the South Downs National Park and midway between Winchester and Portsmouth. WHY IS BISHOP’S WALTHAM SPECIAL? Bishop’s Waltham is best known for the romantic ruins of what was once a grand palace founded in 1136 by Bishop Henri de Blois - William the Conqueror’s grandson. It became a key residence for the powerful Bishops of Winchester and hosted many royal visitors, among them Richard the Lionheart, Henry V and Henry VIII. The town itself is unspoiled.

2 months ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Caulton

Andover’s regeneration is underway. The River Anton is being opened up with the creation of a riverside walk south of Bridge Street and a waterside park around Western Avenue. Architects have also now been appointed to deliver a new theatre - which will play a pivotal role in revitalising Andover’s High Street. Andover is an historic market town close to the Berkshire and Wiltshire boundaries in the west of the county.