Hampshire is a country in the South East of England. With a population of 1.8 million, it is the largest of England’s ceremonial counties. Hampshire is a notably green county — 45% of its land area is covered by the South Downs and the New Forest. The county stretches down to the English South Coast, so people living there can take advantage of some breathtaking coastal scenery and beaches. Here are our picks of some of the best places to live in Hampshire.

Winchester

Winchester, the county town of Hampshire, was voted Britain’s happiest place to live in 2019. The town’s history stretches well into the past, having been inhabited since prehistoric times. Winchester’s rich history is visible in its ancient city walls and its beautiful cathedral too, which dates to 1079 and is one of the largest in Europe. For professionals looking to commute out of the city, Winchester offers an easy journey to London. On an average weekday there are 103 trains running between Winchester and London with an average journey time of 1 hour 25 minutes.

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Southampton

For people who want a mix Hampshire’s beautiful countryside with the best of city living, Southampton is a great choice. The city’s of 250,000 residents give Southampton all the buzz of a modern cosmopolitan city, but with easy access to forests and green space. Southampton has a vibrant atmosphere, helped in part by the large student populations of the University of Southampton and Solent University. Residents of Southampton also benefit the numerous beaches along the cost, with many considered amongst the UK’s most picturesque. Maritime events including the Southampton Boat Show, the largest of its kind in Europe, are commonplace in Southampton.

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Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the UK’s only island city but that is far from its only defining feature. Museums, including a natural history museum and one dedicated to Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes), are abundant, giving residents plenty of things to see over the weekend. A particular highlight is the the Mary Rose Museum, which is famous its namesake Tudor ship and the its status as Henry VIII’s favourite vessel. Portsmouth has a population of 238,000, including over 20,000 students who attend the University of Portsmouth. Retail enthusiasts will find much to love about the city too, as there are multiple shopping centres in the city including Gunwharf Keys, which is the South Coast’s leading outlet.

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Eastleigh

If you want to combine living in a vibrant, historical setting with easy access to the countryside then you should consider a move to Eastleigh. The largest town in Hampshire, Eastleigh offers modern, urban living in a beautiful setting characterised by period buildings, some of which date back hundreds of years. In fact, Eastleigh contains 180 listed buildings and eight scheduled ancient monuments (the town was built along a Roman road). Eastleigh is an easy 20-minute drive from the New Forest National Park, meaning residents have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

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Fleet

Fleet is up there with some of Hampshire’s most sough-after places to live in. The local authority of Hart, in which Fleet is situated, was consistently ranked the happiest place in the UK to live between 2011 and 2015. Fleet’s population of 36,000 encompass a vibrant local community, with annual events on offer including a half marathon, a beer festival, and a fireworks display. Nature lovers can enjoy spending time at the Fleet Pond nature reserve, home of the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire. Fleet enjoys a fast rail connection to London, offering commuters a convenient link to and from the city in just 58 minutes on average.

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How can OneDome help me move to Hampshire?

OneDome is the first property website in the UK that connects the entire homebuying journey. From finding a home, to getting a mortgage, through to completing the necessary legal steps, OneDome does it all. The legal aspects, for example, are completed on our online conveyancing platform (conveyancing is the technical term used for transferring a home from one owner to another). This platform lets you easily find and compare conveyancing solicitors based on their prices and reviews. Once you start the conveyancing process, you can go on to see when each step is completed, thanks to an online task list that updates in real time. Because everything is online and in one place, your paperwork, phone calls, and trips to the post office are all drastically reduced. We simplify home buying and selling for everyone.

OneDome, everything you need to complete your move.

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