 | Until the 1950s, Basingstoke was a market town and today is a thriving town central to many industries including IT, insurance, communications and electronics.
Apart from the prosperous operations, there are plenty of things to see and do in Basingstoke.
For an interesting insight into history, why not take a visit to the remains of Basing House. Once the largest private house in England, it was the palace of powerful courtier William Paulet, Marquess of Winchester.
Visitors can admire the exhibition, join guided tours and witness period demonstrations.
Shopaholics should head to Festival Place. Opened in 2002, the modern shopping complex houses 165 shops and includes large departmental stores such as Marks & Spencer and Debenhams.
If designer products are more your style, the shopping centre also contains a number of designer stores including Austin Reed and LK Bennett. The complex also features a cinema, restaurants, cafes and bars.
The town of Roman Silchester is worth visiting if you are looking to explore history further away from Basingstoke. The Roman town (Calleva Atrebatum) is now a major archaeological site. Unlike many other Roman towns, Silchester has the benefit of being unspoilt as it was abandoned at the end of the roman occupation and was subsequently never built on so its history remains intact. |
