film location
Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)
The Jacobethan country house in Hampshire that is Downton Abbey itself; the estate opens to visitors for parts of the year.
20 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Basingstoke
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Basingstoke
Basingstoke works well as a base: 5 minutes from Old Basing, 36km from Thruxton Circuit.
Basingstoke is in England, United Kingdom, with about 110,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Old Basing, about 4 km away.
Basingstoke ( BAY-zing-stohk) is a town in Hampshire, situated in south-central England across a valley at the source of the River Loddon on the western edge of the North Downs. It is the largest settlement in Hampshire without city status. It is located 30 miles (48 km) north-east of Southampton, 48 miles (77 km)Read more
south-west of London, 27 miles (43 km) west of Guildford, 22 miles (35 km) south of Reading and 20 miles (32 km) north-east of the county town and former capital Winchester. According to the 2021 population estimate, the town had a population of 107,642. It is part of the borough of Basingstoke and Deane and part of the parliamentary constituency of Basingstoke.
Basingstoke is an old market town and was mentioned in Domesday Book. At the start of the Second World War, the population was little more than 13,000, and it remained a small market town until the early 1960s. It still has a regular market, but is now larger than Hampshire County Council's definition of a market town.
Basingstoke became an important economic centre during the Second World War. It expanded further in the mid-1960s as a result of an agreement between London County Council and Hampshire County Council. It was developed rapidly along with various other towns in the United Kingdom, in order to accommodate part of the London 'overspill' as perceived under the Greater London Plan in 1944.
It now houses the UK headquarters of Motorola, The Automobile Association, De La Rue, Sun Life Financial, ST Ericsson, Barracuda Networks, Eli Lilly and Company, FCB Halesway part of FCB, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions (the leasing arm of BNP Paribas in the UK) and Sony Professional Solutions. It is also the location of the European headquarters of the TaylorMade Golf Company. Other industries include IT, telecommunications, insurance and electronics.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Basingstoke?
Within an hour or so of Basingstoke: Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) (20 km), Bourne Wood, Surrey (Gladiator opening battle) (23 km), Loomies Moto Cafe (26 km), Caffeine & Machine: The Hut (26 km).
Are there any good drives near Basingstoke?
The nearest famous roads are Goodwood Festival of Speed, Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and Crystal Palace Circuit.
Where is Basingstoke?
Basingstoke is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Old Basing.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 107,642
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.2625, -1.0871
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Basingstoke
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
Bourne Wood, Surrey (Gladiator opening battle)
The Forestry England woodland near Farnham is where Gladiator's Germania battle was shot, and later Robin Hood, Thor and the Harry Potter finale.
23 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Loomies Moto Cafe
A beloved biker cafe on the A32 in Hampshire that draws motorcyclists from across southern England with its welcoming atmosphere and hearty food.
26 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Caffeine & Machine: The Hut
The Hampshire outpost near the South Downs, 45 minutes from Goodwood and close to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.
26 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Hankley Common, Surrey (Skyfall Lodge site)
The Skyfall Lodge exterior was built and burned on this MoD heath in Surrey; the location is walkable, though only the ground remains.
27 km · about 30 min drive
racetrack
Thruxton Circuit
The fastest circuit in the UK, a former airfield in Hampshire with high-speed sweeping corners that test car and driver to the limit.
36 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
LEGOLAND Windsor
Family-friendly theme park near London with LEGO-themed rides, building workshops, and Miniland models.
38 km · about 45 min drive
film location
Virginia Water Lake, Surrey (Forbidden Forest)
The lakeside and woods of Windsor Great Park doubled for the Forbidden Forest and the Hogwarts grounds in Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire.
39 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Basingstoke
- 50 kmGoodwood Festival of SpeedThe hillclimb course on the Goodwood estate driveway where Formula One cars, prewar Grand Prix machinery and rally legends run flat out past a country house each summer. The 1.16-mile course is estate road year-round.
- 51 kmLeith HillThe highest point in south-east England at 294 m, its 18th-century tower taking visitors just above the 1,000-foot mark.
- 54 kmBox HillA steep chalk escarpment above the Mole valley, the Zig Zag Road on its flank made famous by the 2012 Olympic road race.
- 60 kmRhinefield Ornamental DriveA New Forest road lined with giant redwoods and Douglas firs planted in 1859, running between Brockenhurst and the A35.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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