What Is Living In Basingstoke Like? A Guide To Basingstoke

Last Updated November 2022

Basingstoke is located in the county of Hampshire at the north end of the county, on the border of Surrey and West Berkshire. Basingstoke is 30 miles northeast of South Hampton and 48 miles southwest of London. It is the largest town in the county of Hampshire.

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you’ll ever need to know about living in Basingstoke; from discussing the best neighbourhoods, best schools and the best places to go shopping, this holds all the answers to your questions and more!

Is Basingstoke a Nice Place To Live?

Basingstoke started off as a market town wat back in the Iron Age, and it wasn’t until the 20th century that it became a spill over city for London. But now Basingstoke is a modern, bustling city in its own right, with a lively nightlife and growing business community. One of the things that makes Basingstoke a popular place to live, is its proximity to London, which you can get to in 40 mins by train.

Halifax undertakes an annual Quality of Life survey and Basingstoke was voted on of the top 50 places to live in the UK. With the thriving nightlife, good quality shopping and high number of family friendly activities, earning it is place on the list. Basingstoke also scores highly for employment rates, earnings, crime rates and health and wellbeing.

What Is The Population Of Basingstoke

The population size of Basingstoke has increased by 10.4%, from around 167,800 in 2011 to 185,200 in 2021.  This is higher than the overall increase for England, which only grew by 6.6%.

If you think you’d rather live somewhere a bit smaller, why not look at our local area guide for Ringwood, with a small population of 14,366 it might be the perfect place for you.

Is Basingstoke A Safe City

You aren’t going to find any town with no crime, however in Basingstoke the crime rates are relatively low compared to other towns of the same size, at a rate of 77 crimes per 1,000 people. In February 2021 there were 221 street level crimes committed in Basingstoke, the largest category of these being violent crimes; this includes burglary and other crimes of this nature. The second largest category of crimes committed were anti-social behaviour.

Portsmouth is a similar sized local town, and with their crime rate at 119 crimes per 1,000 people, however the high rate may be due to the passion for the football club and the history links to gang behaviour.

What are the average house prices in Basingstoke?

The average house price in Basingstoke is currently £347,536. Southampton has a similar price range to Basingstoke with an average house price of £326,788, why not look on our area guide to see if you’d like to live there instead, if you’re thinking of moving. The following shows the average property cost in Basingstoke:

Detached

The current average sold price for detached houses in Basingstoke is £548,530.

Semi-Detached

The current average sold price for semi-detached houses in Basingstoke is £384,148.

Terraced

The current average sold price for terraced houses in Basingstoke is £289,957.

Flat

The current average sold price for flats in Basingstoke is £179,648.

Renting in Basingstoke

The following shows how much a rental property costs in 2022 Basingstoke:

Flat – £1,191

House – £1,514

Average Property Rental Cost Per Room (PCM):

1 bed –  £1,026

2 beds – £1,207

3 beds – £1,740

4 beds – £1,650

What Schools are in Basingstoke

There are plenty of highly rated schools in Basingstoke, many which have the rating ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ awarded by Ofsted. If you have younger children then there is a large selection of early year settings that have also received an ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted. As for further education for older children there is Queens Mary Collage, which has some great facilities and 30 acres of beautiful grounds. You will also find Winchester University 17 miles away for those looking to earn a degree.

What is the Transport like in Basingstoke

Being predominantly a commuter town, Basingstoke is very well connected by road, rail and air. Basingstoke train station is located on the edge of the city, a short walk from the city’s main shopping area. You can catch trains provided by Great Western Railway and South Western Railway from here. To get to London specifically, you can catch a fast train to Waterloo that will get you there in 40 minutes. You will also find direct services to other major destinations including; Bournemouth, Southampton and Manchester.

Basingstoke is also easy to navigate by road and it situated on the M3 motorway from London to Southampton. There is also the A303 that links Basingstoke to the West Country. There is also a Park and Ride facility that you can access from the central bus station.

What are the Best Hotels in Basingstoke

Apollo Hotel

This 4-star hotel is located close to Basingstoke Business Park and the M3. The Festival Place Shopping Centre is only a mile away, so it’s a good place to base yourself. They offer spacious rooms that contain, TVs, work desks and safes. There is also a swimming pool, hot tub, and a fully equipped gym. You can also access the Horizons Health and Beauty facility for a pamper session.

Village Hotel Basingstoke

The Village Hotel is located right near the popular Festival Place Shopping centre and the town centre itself. This hotel includes; 5 meeting rooms, a bar, Starbucks and free Wi-Fi. The rooms offer air conditioning, flat screen TVs and Amazon Alexa technology. All the bathrooms contain free toiletries, a shower and a hairdryer.

To find out more about this hotel, visit their website.

Red Lion Hotel

The Red Lion is located within a 10-minute walk from the train station. They offer free Wi-Fi and onsite parking. It’s a refurbished historic coaching with all the character of an old building, but the comfort of a modern one. It’s close to the M3 motorway and there are regular trains for those needing to travel.

Where are the best places to Shop in Basingstoke?

If you are a fan of shopping then Basingstoke will satisfy your needs, the town offers a great selection of shops. You’ll find your standard high street mainstays as well as some farm shops further out of the main city. One for the most popular shopping destinations within the city is Festival Place, with its large airy interior and major shops such as Apple, Zara and TK Maxx. There’s a good range of restaurants and cafes for you to enjoy as well as a swimming pool, indoor assault course, a cinema and health spa. It is really the one stop shop for your every need.

Where are the best places to eat in Basingstoke?

Yamazaki Sushi Restaurant

This is a traditional, family run Japanese Restaurant that has been making authentic sushi for over 15 years. They pride themselves in only using the freshest ingredients and all food is made to order. You’re not going to find a more authentic Japanese experience anywhere else.

Glasshouse Restaurant

Set within 315 acres of beautiful countryside, this is the perfect places for any food lover. This award-winning restaurant offers a luxurious dining experience that fits well with its beautiful surroundings. You can also enjoy a lovely afternoon tea in the 2 AA Rosette winning Oakly Hall. There is also the 1795 Bar and Lounge for you to relax and enjoy a drink in.

The Fur and Feathers

The pub has been around since 1850 and is still family run. They serve up delicious traditional pub food in a fresh, modern environment. They also have a stunning garden for you to enjoy in good weather. The Fur and Feathers is also a great place for those who are gluten intolerant, as 80% is gluten free, they understand the difficulties of gluten intolerance having a family member that has it!

Top 10 Things to do in

1. Milestones Museum
2. Eastrop Park
3. Crabtree Plantation
4. The Anvil
5. Festival Place Shopping Centre
6. Skizone
7. Black Dam Ponds
8. Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery
9. Haymarket Theatre
10. The Vyne

Need a Locksmith in Basingstoke?

When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Basingstoke Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek^® Locksmiths Basingstoke provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once your in consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek^® Locksmiths Basingstoke page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 023 8202 6725!