Basingstoke - surrounding villages

[wax lyrical]

Can folk please recommend areas around Basingstoke that should be avoided and those which are desirable - (for Basingstoke!)

Friend is planning on moving there to be able to commute to Southampton for work but still not be too far from London either (renting a flat initially). Just needs to be sure he doesn't end up in Chavurbia.

Many thanks.

[wax lyrical]

Many thanks!

Do you know what 'Beggarwood' is like? And Sherfield-on-Loddon?

poru376289 said:

Places to avoid

South Ham - most of it
Popley - Popley 1,2,3 and 4
Brighton Hill - all of it
Buckskin - all of it and I'll add 'avoid like the plague'
Also avoid the yellow block of flats next to the railway station, and the development on the hill in close proximity to the railway station. Have heard that prostitution and drug dealing are rife in flats, and property is regularly vandalised.
Generally much nicer areas are
Chineham
Old Basing
Hatch Warren and the smaller villages around the outskirts such as Sherborne St John etc

Good luck!

[wax lyrical]

Thanks for all the really helpful input, guys! Much appreciated.

At the moment he is planning to get a flat in the newisjh Sherfield Park estate (near Sherfield-on-Loddon) as most days he'll need to be in Southampton by 7am so would miss all the rush-hour traffic heading to the M3.