Odiham Estate Agents
82 High Street
Odiham
RG29 1LP
Living in Hampshire provides a perfect balanced environment of a bustling town atmosphere and rural country life.
Winchester Estate Agents
6 Jewry Street
Winchester
SO23 8RZ
Farnham Estate Agents
37 Downing Street
Farnham
GU9 7PH
Salisbury Estate Agents
41 Milford Street
Salisbury
SP1 2BP
Haslemere Estate Agents
6 Charter Walk
Haslemere
GU27 2AD
Our Hampshire area guide will provide you with all key information you need when considering a move to the county. From things to do through to to property pricing and schooling guides, our guide will give you everything you need to know when visiting.
Surrounded by nature
Nearly half of its area is made up of National Parks (the South Downs and the New Forest combined, the latter of which attracts up to seven and a half million visitors per year) and it boasts a huge amount of exceptional countryside. It is world renowned for its chalk stream rivers; most notably the River Itchen that runs through Winchester and the River Test which runs to the west of Winchester.
Excellent transport links
Yet it is also extremely well connected by road, rail, air and boat; even in its furthest corners, London is readily accessible. It has a number of good-sized towns and cities with all the shopping and amenities that you could need and 35 miles of varied coastline to boot.
Property and towns in Hampshire
The majority of Hampshire is served by Strutt & Parker’s offices in Winchester and Odiham, with offices in Newbury, Farnham, Pangbourne and Salisbury dealing with property in Hampshire’s fringes. Much of Hampshire’s finest property is found in the charming villages and rural areas surrounding its thriving market towns and it certainly has its fair share of delightful cottages as well as spacious barn conversions and impressive country houses. And many come with extensive gardens or a good view thrown in, too.
Things to do in Hampshire
Glorious National Parks
Hampshire has been protected by two National Parks so the countryside remains largely unspoilt and provides extensive outdoor pursuits. The New Forest, in the south western corner of the county, is fantastic for walking, cycling and camping. It has thriving wildlife; locals graze their animals alongside the wild ponies and five species of wild deer. The South Downs, a large section of which is in Hampshire, is home to the South Downs Way; a walk that runs approximately 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne, West Sussex.
Water-based activities
Chalk stream fishing is synonymous with Hampshire and catching trout in the gin clear water is a real treat. As well as the rivers Itchen and Test there are other better known but equally exciting rivers, such as the Meon, Dever, Anton and Dun rivers, as well as other tributaries. With a long coastline, opportunities for sailing and other water sports abound; destinations include the Solent, the Isle of Wight and Hayling Island. Lasham Airfield, in Alton, offers gliding opportunities for all levels and is a popular excursion for the nearby communities.
Why we love Hampshire
Our Odiham and Winchester offices' tips for the area:
Restaurants
It would be easy to say that the best restaurant in Winchester is the Hotel du Vin so why not try the Bengal Sage and have venison, goose or Hampshire trout. The Four Seasons is a renowned hotel and restaurant in Dogmersfield and The Grapevine in Odiham is very popular for its excellent local fare.
Pubs and bars
Greens, perfectly located next to Strutt & Parker’s Winchester office, is a very popular wine bar. Next Door, in Odiham, is a friendly, family-run bar and bistro with tables on the High Street, creating a continental atmosphere.
Annual events
The Christmas market, around the ice rink in the grounds of Winchester cathedral and the Odiham extravaganza, a busy Christmas Fair are both very popular annual events. Booze & Blues is a charitable event held each summer by the church in Odiham and is a great day out for all the family. Winchester Festival brings the town to life for 10 days each summer, with music, literature and art and, for one day every September, people gather together to enjoy agricultural festivities at the Alresford Show.
Secrets spots and country walks
Many people would recommend walking from Odiham to the Basingstoke Canal and along the towpath to discover the ruins of Odiham Castle, reputed to be where King John stayed before travelling to sign the Magna Carta. Others would simply advise to wander along the River Itchen, preferably with a fishing rod in hand!
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Properties for sale in Farnham
Key villages & towns in Hampshire
Alresford
Just seven miles from Winchester sits Alresford, a small, attractive Georgian town where the main street is lined with colourful buildings and a number of interesting boutique shops, restaurants and good day to day shopping. The town is famed for its former production of watercress, something which is commemorated by the naming of the ‘Watercress Line’, a heritage railway line, and its annual Watercress Festival, a celebration of local gastronomy.
The Itchen Valley brewery is based in the town, providing cask ales and bottled beers to punters and local watering holes such as the nearby Yew Tree, a Good Pub Guide award winner and purveyor of great beer and food.
Alton
At the other end of the Watercress line, located on the source of the River Wey, is Alton, a market town and hub for some beautiful surrounding villages. The Jane Austen Trail, around the town, tells the story of the writer’s life in a nearby hamlet.
It is a useful local retail centre; it has big name stores and supermarkets as well as some popular independent shops, including a butcher’s and a greengrocer’s. With its rural location and direct rail link with London Waterloo, Alton is a natural choice for commuters.
Basingstoke
Basingstoke was an old market town until the 1950’s but is now one of the primary towns in Hampshire, acting as an economic centre for the smaller surrounding settlements. The town centre, boosted by the fairly recent addition of a large shopping centre, offers a huge range of leisure, social and shopping facilities.
Venture out of the centre, to the Viables craft centre, to find a number of permanent and independent businesses trading in converted farm buildings. The Parlour Tearoom is particularly well recommended for its delicious home-made cakes and cosy atmosphere.
Hook
Hook is a large village with amenities serving the surrounding rural area. It is a decent commercial centre, with a number of good-sized businesses based there. It is well located for the M3, providing very easy access to London to the North-East and Winchester and Southampton to the South. It also has a station on the Waterloo to Southampton line.
Odiham
Conveniently placed for the motorway yet nestled in beautiful countryside, the pretty village of Odiham is a popular location for commuters and country lovers alike. It has a regular farmer’s market, which reflects its excellent community feel. Odiham Castle and the nearby Basingstoke canal provide some great outdoor spaces to complement the extensive open countryside which surrounds the village.
Although the railway does not pass through Odiham itself, Hook mainline station is just 2 miles away.
Overton
Overton is a large and attractive village situated on the River Test and spreading onto the base of the surrounding hills. It is a thriving community in itself, formerly an industrial village with a mill famous for printing currency paper and now with a more diverse range of businesses. It is also a direct train ride away from London Waterloo and an easy drive to Basingstoke.
Surrounded by beautiful countryside, the village retains a rural feel and has now reinstated the popular sheep fair, a 3 day quadrennial event hosted in July.
Stockbridge
Stockbridge is a picturesque town, 8 miles from Winchester, which takes its name from the bridge crossing the River Test on its wide and attractive main street. Architecturally, it is varied and very pleasing; many interesting buildings date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and even earlier. The main street is lined with an impressive number of independent and specialist shops, many of which trade local produce and it has a good gastronomic reputation. The butcher John Robinson is highly regarded.
As a nod to the town’s history of inspiring writers, there is a Poetry Trail of 10 poems throughout the town centre. Stockbridge is also home to the Houghton Fly Fishing Club, which has exclusive rights over 13 miles of prime trout fishing streams in the surrounding area.
Winchester
Formerly the capital of England, the historic city of Winchester is centred around its impressive cathedral and associated grounds. Further up the high street is the Great Hall, one of the finest surviving medieval halls and home to the legendary Round Table, famous for its links with the legend of King Arthur. Winchester has a fortnightly farmer’s market, good shopping facilities and the Theatre Royal. Positioned in the Itchen Valley and with the river running through the town, it is just a stone’s throw from a choice of beautiful walks.
The city is a direct train service away from Waterloo and is also well connected to a network of major roads. This, combined with many well-reputed schools and beautiful countryside, makes Winchester a very popular place to live.
Schools in the area
Schools in Hampshire have an excellent reputation – both state and private – making the area very appealing, particularly for people looking to move out of London.
Hampshire’s villages have many popular primary schools, with good Ofsted reports. In Winchester, there are three excellent state schools which lead into the very highly regarded Peter Symonds sixth form college.
The county has a huge wealth of choice at private preparatory level: Pilgrims School, Princes Mead and Twyford School, all in Winchester, Farleigh School, near Andover, Danes Hill, in Hook, and Cheam, near Newbury, to name a few. At secondary level, Winchester College is internationally regarded intellectually and St Swithun’s for girls has a superb reputation. Both these schools complement the extremely popular Bedales School, located just outside Petersfield. Lord Wandsworth College is a very well regarded school for 11 to 18 year olds, near Hook.
For a more comprehensive list of schools in Hampshire and the wider area we recommend the Good Schools Guide.
Transport links
By train
From Hampshire, there is a very wide choice of services into London Waterloo. The principal stations are Basingstoke and Winchester, taking 45 minutes and just under an hour respectively. The smaller, local stations of Andover, Alton, Petersfield, Micheldever, Overton, Hook and Winchfield all offer additional services and often easier parking.
By train
Key road links to London are via the M3 and the A3, which has become much more accessible from Hampshire since the Hindhead tunnel opened. The M27 and a number of good A-roads, including the A34, A303 and A31, provide easy access within Hampshire and to the rest of the country.
Hampshire has got a bit of everything – beautiful rolling countryside, river valleys, coast, culture and history – and residents enjoy a wonderful rural location. But, when you need to get away, the communications in and out are also excellent.