History of Basingstoke town
Basingstoke is a large town in the county of Hampshire in the south of England. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 152 573. Basingstoke is a prosperous town with an above-average standard of living and low unemployment. It is a financial centre, and the location of the headquarters of the Automobile Association and Sun Life Financial of Canada (not to be confused with AXA Sun Life) in the UK. Other industries include drug manufacture, insurance and electronics.

Basingstoke's expansion has absorbed many smaller villages in its wake, becoming housing estates or local districts. Many of these new estates are designed as almost self contained communities, such as Chineham, Winklebury, Kempshott and Hatch Warren. The M3 acts as a buffer zone to the south of the town, and the South Western Main Line constrains the western expansion, with green belt to the north-east, making Basingstoke almost triangular in shape. As a result, the villages of Cliddesden, Dummer and Oakley, although being very close to the town limits, are considered distinct entities.

The brutalism of the town's architecture, and its perceived status as a new town and haven for accountants and those with other occupations considered "boring", have led to Basingstoke becoming a comedic archetype for the soullessness of many modern British towns. It remains to be seen whether the opening of the new Festival Place shopping centre will do anything to soften this image and part the town with its "Boringstoke", "Basingjoke" and "Basingrad" nicknames. Basingstoke railway station is the junction between the South Western Main Line railway, built by the London and South Western Railway, and the Reading to Basingstoke line, built by the Great Western Railway.

Basingstoke Geographical location
Basingstoke is situated in the north of Hampshire, in the district of Basingstoke and Deane. It is 72km (45miles) west-southwest of London. It has excellent road and rail links, making it popular with commuters: London Waterloo can be accessed in roughly 45 minutes by train, and there is easy access to the M3 and M4 motorways. Basingstoke has very good bus services, both local town services and more long-distant stage routes to Andover, Newbury and Winchester.

Town Centre
A new shopping centre - Festival Place opened in autumn 2002, adding a huge boost to the town centre. Aside from a wide range of shops, including department stores BHS, Debenhams and Marks and Spencer, there is also a range of cafés and restaurants as well as a large multi-screen Vue cinema (formerly Ster Century until their takeover in 2005).In the middle of the shopping centre is Basingstoke Sports Centre which has a subterranean swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room. Above ground there is a gym, aerobics studios, squash courts and main hall. There is also a playden for young children.Basingstoke town centre also has two theatres: the Haymarket Theatre, and the newer Anvil concert hall.