It's universally agreed 2020 has been a bit of a write off. So to cheer everyone up, we here at the Gazette wanted to focus on all the great things about the town and what we can look forward to, when life returns to normality.
Below we have decided to list the seven things that we love most about Basingstoke and Deane.
We would love to hear your seven reasons why you love Basingstoke.
1. Lots of green spaces
Although Basingstoke itself is a bustling town, it is surrounded by acres of beautiful countryside to explore.
On the outskirts of the borough there are miles of sprawling, untouched countryside.
And even within the town centre, there are plenty of green spaces for dog walkers, runners and the wider community to enjoy.
With Eastrop Park providing a peaceful rural haven within a few minutes’ walk from the town centre and Basing View, there is also the War Memorial Park, which hosts a whole range of events throughout the year in the borough.
2. Plenty of entertainment
In normal pre-Covid times, Basingstoke is a thriving hub of performance and culture.
In the town centre, there is The Anvil, the Haymarket and the Proteus Creation Spaces which bring a whole host of different forms of entertainment to the town.
From classical music to top comedy performances there is a something for everyone. And if festivals are more your thing, the council's annual B Love festival sees top acts brought to War Memorial Park across a weekend in July.
Chris Evan's celebrated Car Fest, held on his friend Jody Schetcker's farm in Laverstoke, is also a short distance from the town.
There is also a range of amateur dramatic societies available, which are often seen as a great way of not only making friends but learning new skills.
3. Excellent road system
It may not be aesthetically pleasing to look at in the conventional sense, but wow - Basingstoke’s road infrastructure really is a beautiful beast.
Are there lots of roundabouts? Yes. Visually is it quite tarmac heavy? Also yes.
But you cannot deny the dual-carriageway splendour that allows to say to virtually anyone in Basingstoke, “I’ll see you in seven minutes.”
Winchester may be a city of medieval beauty and charm and Reading may have size and scale on its side, but Basingstoke trumps both it’s nearest neighbours for convenience and practicability.
You don’t often hear the positives about living in a modern town but fantastic infrastructure is undeniably one of them.
4. Culture and rich history right on your doorstep
There are thousands of years of English history in and around Basingstoke, with numerous sites of cultural significance.
At the Vyne – a Tudor mansion which belonged to Baron William Sandys – sits in the beautiful countryside with a rich history.
The nearby village of Silchester is an English Heritage site with some of the best-preserved Roman town defences in the country and the remains of an amphitheatre.
The village was once the major Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum, which flourished until the early Anglo-Saxon period.
Basing House in Old Basing was an important site during the English Civil War and every year hosts a live re-enactment which brings hundreds of spectators.
And while Winchester has tried to claim her as their own, anyone in the know knows that literary legend Jane Austen is from Basingstoke.
Read more: Why Jane Austen loved her Christmasses in Basingstoke
5. Thriving business hub
Business is quite literally booming in Basingstoke, with hundreds of companies making the town their home. One of the most notable employers is international pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly's, whose gigantic new £19million Basing View headquarters will be opening in the not-so distance future.
With numerous business parks packed full of household-name businesses, those living in Basingstoke have plenty of job opportunities in a range of industries right on their doorstep.
In fact, according to the economic profile of Basingstoke, its town residents are more likely to have technical careers and are more likely than the UK average to be educated to a degree or higher standard of education. Ooh. Get us.
6. Family-friendly facilities
In the town there is a range of family friendly leisure facilities which everyone can use.
From the aqua drome to the town’s cinemas there is a whole host of different activities that people who live in the borough or visiting can do.
If exploration is more your thing, then the Milestone Museum and Willis Museum have unique exhibitions which are informative and educational.
For the more adventurous families, why not take a visit to the iFly facility to have a go at indoor skydiving, wind tunnels and free falling VR paragliding.
7. Generous and kind-hearted community
At the Gazette, we are fortunate to hear stories about incredible people every week raising money for charities and worthy causes.
And this sense of community spirit has never been more acute than in a time of national crisis. A global pandemic, for example.
From Spotlight Basingstoke feeding struggling families and vulnerable people throughout lockdown to our own readers helping to raise thousands for NHS Charities Together, there really isn't a limit to the generosity and kindness of Basingstoke residents.
And in non-Covid times, the residents aren't afraid of digging deep for worthy causes. Back in June 1919, sorry 2019, the community raised a staggering £30,000 in one day for the Ark cancer charity, which is funding for a new centre at Basingstoke hospital.
There are too many examples of genuine generosity to count but it is without a doubt, one of the loveliest aspects of Basingstoke.
- WHAT do you love about Basingstoke? Get in touch by emailing newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk
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