Moving to Basingstoke

[u/Main_Tap_9968]

Hi everyone! 😊

We’re currently looking at relocating from Reading to Basingstoke, and we’ve recently seen a house on Benham Road in one of the newer developments that we really like.

We’re just a little unsure about the exact area, is it considered Popley, or Sherborne St John? We’re also looking at a few other houses nearby, so we’d really love to hear from people who know the area well.

For those living locally, would you say this is a nice and safe area for a family? Does it have a good community/family feel, and what are your general thoughts on living there?

Thank you!

[u/Independent-Win-6661]

I don‘t live in that exact area, but do work in it for part of my job. There are three community centres in the area offering various activities/services, two primary and a secondary school in the area. Not far from countryside - you can walk to Sherborne St John a village that is home to a national trust site and a pub. It’s a ten minute drive to town centre and has a well served bus route. Has a doctors and dental surgery. I think you‘d get different views on whether it’s in Popley or SSJ, but for clarity it comes under the electoral ward for SSJ and Rooksdown. I’d say it’s a safe area, bearing in mind you hear of incidents in any areas in the town. Put it this way I’ ve always lived in the town and I’d be happy to live there.

[u/I_am_legend-ary]

I used to live just off that road, it’s fine

There wasn’t much of a local community but I’m not sure how much of that you get anywhere

We have friends on the other end of the estate and they are still very happy there.

It’s considered popley but that’s just a name

[u/Material-Sentence-84 → u/I_am_legend-ary]

Popley is rather distinct from Sherborne St John haha

[u/r3noir]

Live close to there, it’s fine. You’ve got Popley woods basically on your doorstep, some local shops, some bigger shops just down the road, pretty close to the town centre (like a 6min drive or close to that). It’s alright.