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Hampshire county

Introduction

Equerry Homesearch have provided relocation services in Hampshire since 2000.

It is a wonderful county of 1,445 square miles and a population of approx 1,660,000, Hampshire has within its boundaries the New Forest, two of England’s largest ports, an extensive area of the South Downs, the military garrisons of Aldershot and Portsmouth and several ‘new’ dormitory towns such as Basingstoke.  It is clearly a county of variety!  Its county town is Winchester, a historic city that was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Wessex.  Hampshire was the home of both Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

Large areas of Hampshire are protected: the New Forest is a National Park so development is strictly limited to protect the landscape and wildlife; Salisbury Plain is owned by the MOD; and much of the Downs are designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

From the 12th century, Hampshire thrived on the trade associated with its two important sea ports, wool and cloth manufacture, a burgeoning ship building industry and the fishing industry.  In modern times however, it is with tourism and sailing that this south coast is primarily associated. 

Interesting Facts & Figures

• Hampshire has a higher average annual temperature than the UK average and higher than average sunshine.
• The New Forest was established as a Royal Hunting Forest after the Norman Conquest.
• Southampton has been host to many important ships including the Titanic, which was staffed primarily by Hampshire natives.
• Hampshire has a GDP of £22.9 billion, equal in size to the economy of Northern Ireland.
• Due to Hampshire’s long association with pigs and boars, natives of the county were known as ‘Hampshire hogs’ in the 18th century.
• Hampshire’s county flower is the Dog Rose.

Hampshire’s key road and rail transit routes

The South Western Main Line railway from London to Weymouth runs through Winchester and Southampton, and the Wessex Main Line from Bristol to Portsmouth also runs through the county. 

The M3 motorway connects the county to London and the M25.  The M27 motorway serves a bypass for the major conurbations and as a link to other settlements on the south coast.  Other important trunk roads include the A3, A31 and A36.

Travelling by car from Winchester to London takes approximately 1 hour 35 minutes, and to Birmingham, 2 hours 10 minutes.  Further approximate car journey times are as follows:

	London	Birmingham
Portsmouth	1 hr 50 mins	2 hrs 40 mins
Basingstoke	1 hr 20 mins	2 hrs 10 mins
Ringwood	2 hrs	2 hrs 40 mins

Airports and Ferries

Southampton Airport is an international airport with its own rail station.  It is situated between Southampton and Eastleigh.  Cross-channel ferries link the county to the Isle of Wight and the European continent.

Hampshire Schools

Hampshire has forty-seven Independent Schools within its boundaries.  Equerry has contacts with many of these schools – and can, unofficially, help you with the kind of ‘local view’ that is not always portrayed in a prospectus!

Some examples of ISCis-approved Hampshire Independent schools follow:

• Bedales School, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 2DG
• Churcher’s College, London Road, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 4AS
• Ditcham Park School, Ditcham Park, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 5RN
• Lord Wandsworth College, Long Sutton, Hook, Hampshire RG29 1TB
• Norman Court Preparatory School, West Tytherley, Hampshire SP5 1NH
• Pilgrims’ School, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9LT
• Stroud School, Highwood House, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9 ZH
• Twyford School, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1NW
• Winchester College, College Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9NA

Where to stay and what to do in Hampshire

By way of entertainment, Hampshire has plenty of variety to choose from – and more than sufficient for those hoping to send weekend visitors off for the day!

There are a wealth of military attractions including Gosport’s ‘Explosion!’, a lively hands-on museum devoted to naval weaponry.  Other military museums include Fareham’s Fort Nelson, the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop, Aldershot’s Airborne Forces Museum, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum at Gosport and the Royal Marines Museum at Southsea.  Away from the military, there is Milestones Living History Museum in Basingstoke, the Good Pub Guide’s Hampshire Family Attraction of the Year.

The New Forest also offers miles of walking, cycling and trekking opportunities, and the south coast offers as rich a seam of maritime possibilities.  The annual Southampton Boat Show is a major draw.

Hampshire Hotels & Pubs

• Lainston House Hotel, Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2LT.  01962 863588
• Tylney Hall, Rotherwick, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9AZ.  01256 764881
• Chewton Glen, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 6QS.  01425 275341
• Hotel du Vin, Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9EF. 01962 841414
• The Trooper, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 1BD.  01730 827293
• Clos du Marquis, London Road, Sutton Scotney, SO20 6DE.  01264 810738
• Flower Pots, Cheriton, Hampshire SO24 0QQ.  01962 771318
• Wykeham Arms,Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9PE.  01962 853834
• The Running Horse, Littleton, Hampshire SO22 6QS.  01962 880218