Hampshire
Move to Hampshire
Hampshire is a beautiful county with coastal areas and stunning countryside. The lovely Test and Meon Valleys dissect the South Downs that rise from the Cathedral city of Winchester and head eastwards. England’s largest intact area of ancient woodland, the New Forest is tucked in the western corner of the county and is a wild and special place. Admittedly, the deepest parts of the forest and the downs would prove challenging for a daily commute, but there are many smashing villages and places in the central and northern parts of the county where you can travel with ease and have fantastic country areas within easy reach. As well as picture book villages, there are some super small towns and the large coastal cities of Southampton and Portsmouth provide the annual ‘Boat Show’ and ferry crossings to the continent or nearby Isle of Wight.
Education in Hampshire is good with state schools outside the two big coastal cities doing better than the national average and significantly so in the most favoured catchments. There is a range of independent schools from small preps in the forest villages to the historic Winchester College.
Rail lines run into Waterloo, either from Portsmouth via Petersfield or from Salisbury or Southampton via Basingstoke. There are also the advantages of an International airport at Southampton and the ferry links to France and beyond from Portsmouth. The M3 cuts through the middle of the county and the A3 and A31 are useful fast roads connecting Hampshire towns.
What part of Hampshire is right for you?
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Best Hampshire Villages: for commuting daily or less often.
Overton, Quidhampton, Steventon, Deane, Ashe, Kingsclear, Hannington, Ecchinswell, Alton, Crondall and North Waltham are all close to Surrey or Berkshire borders and have good commute times as does the gorgeous Cathedral City of Winchester. Delightful villages such as Bishop’s Waltham, Breamore, Emsworth, Hambledon, Lymington, Lyndhurst, Minstead, Alresford, and Fordingbridge are a longer journey but pay dividends if it is forest riding or a boating life that attracts you.
Commute from Hampshire: Stations to London Waterloo
Grateley 1hr17
Andover 1hr9
Whitchurch 1hr6
Overton 55 mins
Basingstoke 44 mins
Hook 53 mins
Winchfield 49 mins
Fleet 44 mins
Eastleigh 1hr21
Shawford 1hr11
Winchester 58mins
Micheldever 57 mins
Alton 1hr7
Bentley 1hr1
Portsmouth & Southsea 1hr34
Fratton 1hr30
Havant 1hr20
Rowlands Castle 1hr28
Petersfield 1hr6
Liss 1hr10
Liphook 1hr3
[New Forest stations: Brockenhurst, Beaulieu Road and Ashurst New Forest run into Waterloo taking between 1 hour and a half and 2 hours, so are primarily for the occasional commute]
Journey times shown are for the fastest services available at useful times. Additional services may have longer journey times so please check. National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner.
Hampshire Life: Something for the weekend ...
Hampshire has some wonderful countryside with stunning views for the walker, rider and cyclist. Aside from just taking in the country or coast, places to visit include
- Jane Austen’s House at Chawton near Alton
- The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu
- Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyards with the ‘HMS Victory’ and the ‘Mary Rose’.
- Winchester has its Cathedral and the annual ‘Hat Fair’ which is a hugely popular street arts festival of comedy, theatre and music.
- Exbury gardens are famous for their rhododendron and azalea displays
- For something unusual there is a working silk mill at Whitchurch
- Or take a Deer Safari in the New Forest.
With a coast line on the Solent plus two large chunks of National Park (South Downs and New Forest) Hampshire certainly does not lack fresh air or space to enjoy it.
