Anyone live in Basingstoke

Anyone live in Basingstoke

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Discussion

Challo

Original Poster:

10,121 posts

155 months

Thursday 9th February 2017
quotequote all
Does anyone live in Basingstoke that can help provide inputs on good or bad area's to live in. I currently live in Bracknell, but due to prices we are looking at Basingstoke (surrounding area's) for a 2 bed house upto around £300k mark.

Most houses are coming up for Old Basing, Hatch Warren, Chineham, Marnel Park but no idea if the area's are any good? We need to start to go on some viewings but wondered on any to avoid?

We have friends/family in Chineham & Kempshott but unclear on other area's.

Thanks

yellowjack

17,076 posts

166 months

Thursday 9th February 2017
quotequote all
Oh you poor fellow...


...no-one 'lives' in Basingstoke. It's like a Gulag there - you just 'exist'.


wink

anonymous-user

54 months

Friday 10th February 2017
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Have a look at some smaller villages outside of basingstoke if possible.

SeeFive

8,280 posts

233 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
quotequote all
Out of those, I would say that Hatch Warren is your best bet. But be careful, Old hatch warren is perilously close to Brighton Hill and houses are getting on and bit now, with the associated drawbacks.

Anything in New Hatch warren, about 4 miles out of the town centre, opposite side of A30 from Kempshott would have been built from the late 80s to the late 90s, and are that type of house. Areas tend to be well kept and peaceful with green space and there are good services (big sainsbury, buses etc) if you need that kind of thing.

I am about to sell 2 houses on the south western outskirts of Hatch Warren, which is a very nice part of the place but too big for what you want - large 4 beds multi ensuites, and lots of reception rooms upwards of 550k. There are also more recent developments at Beggarwood adjoining south of HW, but personally, I don't like the layout of the area as much as HW - places seem to be rammed in very tight.

Chineham always seems a bit mixed to me, never lived there but have friends who do. Seems the kind of place where you would find lots of rentals compared to HW. And the s love it too. Old Basing is fine if you like village life, but has considerable "council" looking areas too.

I love the way that people knock Basingrad. We brought up kids there after moving from a dying Surrey/ Sussex border town with nothing for kids, declining old facilities and have absolutely no regrets. Like any commuter town, it has its down sides with rougher areas, but the abundance of facilities there means that I would do exactly the same thing again given the choice.

Go see your mates / family in Kempshott and have a drive up to the Sainsbury and around that area off Danebury Road and up to Heritage Park, Belmont heights, Chatsworth Green etc - I have owned properties in all those areas. I left there just over two years ago due to lifestyle changes and would be more than happy to still be there if that had not happened.

I guess it largely depends on what you want from an area. If it is solitude, then Basingstoke and its suburbs is not the area for you and you need to get out to the villages in the area. If you want a good residential area, with decent neighbours and excellent facilities in the wider area, then have a real good look yourself and ignore the detractors.

It is well under the hour to London on the train, well connected by roads to just about anywhere you need to go, including some good south coast beaches under an hour away, new forest less than that, countryside right on your doorstep etc.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
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Seen on an office kitchen wall on the edge of Basingstoke:


paul789

3,681 posts

104 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
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Rotherwick looks pretty good to me..

GT03ROB

13,262 posts

221 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
quotequote all
yellowjack said:
Oh you poor fellow...


...no-one 'lives' in Basingstoke. It's like a Gulag there - you just 'exist'.


wink
He is coming from Bracknell!!

paul789

3,681 posts

104 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
quotequote all
Signs of civilisation appearing...


anonymous-user

54 months

Saturday 11th February 2017
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paul789 said:
Signs of civilisation appearing...

laugh

Challo

Original Poster:

10,121 posts

155 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
SeeFive said:
Out of those, I would say that Hatch Warren is your best bet. But be careful, Old hatch warren is perilously close to Brighton Hill and houses are getting on and bit now, with the associated drawbacks.

Anything in New Hatch warren, about 4 miles out of the town centre, opposite side of A30 from Kempshott would have been built from the late 80s to the late 90s, and are that type of house. Areas tend to be well kept and peaceful with green space and there are good services (big sainsbury, buses etc) if you need that kind of thing.

I am about to sell 2 houses on the south western outskirts of Hatch Warren, which is a very nice part of the place but too big for what you want - large 4 beds multi ensuites, and lots of reception rooms upwards of 550k. There are also more recent developments at Beggarwood adjoining south of HW, but personally, I don't like the layout of the area as much as HW - places seem to be rammed in very tight.

Chineham always seems a bit mixed to me, never lived there but have friends who do. Seems the kind of place where you would find lots of rentals compared to HW. And the s love it too. Old Basing is fine if you like village life, but has considerable "council" looking areas too.

I love the way that people knock Basingrad. We brought up kids there after moving from a dying Surrey/ Sussex border town with nothing for kids, declining old facilities and have absolutely no regrets. Like any commuter town, it has its down sides with rougher areas, but the abundance of facilities there means that I would do exactly the same thing again given the choice.

Go see your mates / family in Kempshott and have a drive up to the Sainsbury and around that area off Danebury Road and up to Heritage Park, Belmont heights, Chatsworth Green etc - I have owned properties in all those areas. I left there just over two years ago due to lifestyle changes and would be more than happy to still be there if that had not happened.

I guess it largely depends on what you want from an area. If it is solitude, then Basingstoke and its suburbs is not the area for you and you need to get out to the villages in the area. If you want a good residential area, with decent neighbours and excellent facilities in the wider area, then have a real good look yourself and ignore the detractors.

It is well under the hour to London on the train, well connected by roads to just about anywhere you need to go, including some good south coast beaches under an hour away, new forest less than that, countryside right on your doorstep etc.
Thanks SeeFive

SydneyBridge

8,583 posts

158 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
I lived in chineham for 18 odd years, in an older part (well as old as chineham gets..) and loved the area.
Depends which side of town you want to be really

SeeFive

8,280 posts

233 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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Challo said:
Thanks SeeFive
No worries bud. We are moving home tomorrow too - surrounded by large brown boxes full of our lives at the moment. Thank goodness we are only going a 100 yard walk. However, it is a mile and a half drive around the marina basin as I can't get the car across the lock gates smile

Many journeys with a single layer of boxes in the soft suspension RAV4 rather than a bumpy van should see it done with no breakages (5 speed bumps) - especially the fish tanks hopefully...

Good luck with your hunt.

2gins

2,839 posts

162 months

Sunday 29th March 2020
quotequote all
My turn. Suppose I were contemplating the Old Basing side of town. Can't have a poke around at present but what's it like?

We'd need good primary and secondary schools, swimming pool easy to get to, access into Waterloo twice a week. House with double garage, garden, 3 beds, nice area. Say 500k.

Likely? Possible?

rpm1969

91 posts

161 months

Friday 8th May 2020
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Take a look at Hook. We've been here 20 years now - it's changed with a lot of new houses going up, but the railway station is walking distance from anywhere in Hook, decent primary schools, Robert Mays is the local secondary school. Swimming pools would be toss up between Basingstoke or Fleet - I'd opt for the one at Fleet - probably 10mins by car

Unknown_User

7,150 posts

92 months

Friday 8th May 2020
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Upton Grey is a nice village and probably one of the best places to live around Amazingstoke. Doesn't have the facilities you want but it would get my vote. Rotherwick is nice too.

2gins

2,839 posts

162 months

Friday 8th May 2020
quotequote all
Thanks. Fleet would be my natural choice but wife didnt like it when we toured a few yrs back. London bird. Hook would be the same, probably. I know Upton Grey, I use the 3349 quite a lot on my way south to family driving