Moving to Hampshire: Getting to know your new county

If you’re thinking of moving to Hampshire, we’re here to help. Getting to know your new county is key to enjoying a seamless, stress-free move.

Hampshire is a large county in the south of England. The county’s bordered by Dorset to the west, Wilshire to the north West, Berkshire to the north, Surrey to the north east, and West Sussex to the East. The county town is the city of Winchester.

Hampshire is the most populated county outside of London, with a population of over 1.8 million. With a mix of rural, urban and coastal locations, the county has a real mix of places to live and explore. And you’ll want to explore more because of the milder than average weather enjoyed across the county.

Our secure storage facilities can make a move to Hampshire even easier, giving you more time to find the perfect new home or to take some time to explore between homes. At Santa Fe, we make moving home easy for you.

 

The history of Hampshire

The county of Hampshire has a strong agricultural history, as well as strong military links, with three key military bases found in the county to this day. In Aldershot you will find an Army base, the Royal Navy base sits on the coastal port of Portsmouth, and Farnborough is home to the Royal Air Force.

The county also has a rich sporting history. If you choose to move to Southampton, you’ll discover the oldest bowling green on record (recorded use from 1299).

There is also plenty of historical buildings, artefacts and ruins to discover after a move to Hampshire. Winchester Cathedral is famed for its historical importance, whilst the Beaulieu offers visitors the opportunity to walk through the ruins and grounds of an 800-year-old Abbey.

 

Hampshire’s highlights

There are plenty of reasons to fall in love with Hampshire. There’s a wealth of green outdoor space, the New Forest is on your doorstep, and you’re a stone’s throw from the coast. The county also has a strong arts, music, and museum culture, with plenty of live events and exhibitions to attend.

Due to the coastal location of much of the county, and its strong networks of rivers and canals, there’s an impressive boating and yachting culture throughout. You can also enjoy a range of other water sports, like windsurfing, kayaking or surfing.

Hampshire is a sports lover’s dream destination. The Premier League cricket team Hampshire County Cricket Club are based at the Ageas Bowl, where they play domestic and international matches. If you’re a football fan there’s the Premier League Football team Southampton FC, with their home at the St Mary’s Southampton stadium. For the thrill seekers, why not try your hand at Gliding at Lasham airfield? Or head over to the Thuxton Circuit for karting and other motorsports. We can also help you relocate your prized cars and bikes when you move to Hampshire. At Santa Fe, we pride ourselves on making every element of moving easy for you.

 

Things to do in Hampshire

So you’re moved in, our Sant Fe team have unpacked your boxes and your new place feels like home. Now it’s time to explore. Here’s our favourite things to do in Hampshire:
• A visit to the Hawk Conservatory trust and Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary is a must for animal lovers.
• History buffs will love the living museum at Milestone.
• Take a long leisurely stroll around Winchester Cathedral. Take a picnic or enjoy a spot of lunch at the 18th century Inn, The Old Vine.
• Go horseback riding through the New Forest.
• No literary lover should miss a visit to Jane Austen’s house at Chawton.
• Take in a deer safari in the New Forest.
• Visit Portsmouth’s docklands, where you can admire the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, followed by lunch at the marina overlooking the sea.

Relocating to Hampshire: where to live

Choosing where to live in Hampshire can be tricky, as there is such a vast range of locations and lifestyles on offer. The average cost of a detached home in Hampshire is between £520-£560,000 (accurate as of March 2019), but this does fluctuate depending on where you’re looking.

Some popular locations, especially for those moving from London to Hampshire, are Southampton, Portsmouth and Basingstoke. The county town of Winchester remains ever popular, especially as it has such excellent schools and is steeped in history.

If you are struggling our experts can help provide a house finding service. At Santa Fe, our local knowledge means we can help with personalised recommendations.

 

Family life and education in Hampshire

Families moving to Hampshire have a wealth of great schools to choose from. The state school system is two-tier, with most secondary schools providing education up to age 16. There are 24 independent schools across the county, with several in both Southampton and Portsmouth. Hampshire’s also home to the world-famous boys school Winchester College, as well as the prestigious Sherbourne House School and Chandlers Ford.

Hampshire has 14 colleges providing 16-18 education, many of which receive ‘outstanding’ reports from Ofsted year on year.

If you or your family are interested in further education, Hampshire is home to four excellent Universities. There is the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, University of Portsmouth and the University of Winchester.

With so many education providers to choose from, why not let out local experts help you with a personalised school search. The personalised advice from Santa Fe’s experts can often help inform where in Hampshire you choose to live. We make moving home easy for you.

 

Travel information: getting to and from Hampshire

The county benefits from great transport links. Travel from London to Hampshire, and vice versa, can be done by train or car. With excellent motorway links, such as the M3 and M25, many choose to drive into the capital. However, the rail links provided by South Western Main Line rail to London from Winchester and Southampton, are quick, frequent and reliable. The trains are also very good from Portsmouth into London, provided by Wessex main line and a direct line, with travel times under 2 hours.

The closest airport to most of Hampshire is Southampton, but you remain close to the UK’s busiest main airports (Heathrow and Gatwick). For day trips or short European breaks, Hampshire residents can enjoy short journeys by ferry to the Isle of Wight, Channel Islands and Europe.

 

How can Santa Fe Relocation help my move to Hampshire?

From full-service removals, to added extras to get you feeling at home, we pride ourselves in making every move easy. We offer a complete packing, unpacking and storage service, so you can focus on the things that matter most – enjoying your new home and exploring your new location. With years of experience (not to brag, but we’ve been doing this for 120 years), we make sure you have everything you need, when you need it.

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