Basingstoke

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.

Facilities

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).

Related Topics:
Festival Place - 2002 - Department stores - BHS - Debenhams - Marks and Spencer - Vue - Ster Century - 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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Leisure Centre

Outside of the town centre there is a leisure park featuring the Aquadrome swimming pool, an ice rink, Bowling Alley, and a Vue cinema. The leisure park is home to the Milestones Museum which contains a network of streets and buildings based on the history of Hampshire.

Related Topics:
Vue - Milestones Museum - Hampshire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sport

Basingstoke has its own football team, Basingstoke Town F.C. who currently play in the Nationwide Conference South. The rugby club play in Rugby Football Union's National 3 South League, and the Basingstoke Bisons hockey team play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League.

Related Topics:
Football - Basingstoke Town F.C. - Nationwide Conference South - Rugby club - Basingstoke Bisons - Hockey - British Elite Ice Hockey League

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Education

Basingstoke has two large further education colleges: a sixth form college, Queen Mary's College (QMC) and Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT). There are many large secondary schools in the area that are listed as part of a list of schools in Hampshire.

Related Topics:
Further education - Sixth form college - Queen Mary's College - Basingstoke College of Technology - Secondary schools - List of schools in Hampshire

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Media

Basingstoke recently gained its own radio station: Kestrel FM. 2-Ten FM, broadcast from Reading also provides local radio coverage. The town also has good coverage from digital radio; the BBC, Independent National and Now Reading multiplexes can be received in the town, and the outskirts can receive London and South Hampshire stations as well.

Related Topics:
Kestrel FM - 2-Ten FM - Reading - Digital radio - BBC - Multiplex

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Digital television is available from Freeview, Sky Digital and NTL cable services.

Related Topics:
Digital television - Freeview - Sky Digital - NTL

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are two local newspapers: the Basingstoke Gazette and the Basingstoke Observer, and the town is also covered by theHampshire Chronicle.

Related Topics:
Newspaper - Basingstoke Gazette - Basingstoke Observer - Hampshire Chronicle

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~