I don't actually know Alton itself very well as I've almost always driven straight past on the A31. I had friends who lived there for a few years but apart from visiting them, a Thai restaurant and Sainsburys I don't think I've ever been I really can't remember ever going anywhere else. I think it's a fairly quiet little town, not known for it's riotous punk rock festivals. Pleasant enough place to live and completely surrounded by picturesque rolling farmland and it's got good connections with the A31 running straight past, the wiggly road up to Basingstoke is motorbike heaven, and it's the end of the railway line from London with the old line heading off in the other direction now being a preserved steam railway, the Watercress Line.
Generally a very affluent area, the surrounding villages are generally still very nice small villages that haven't had much in the way of new development and I've certainly done quite a few private events in marquees in the area at houses that must be worth upwards of £1.5 million. No idea what the Alton schools are like but I believe Perins in Alresford (pronounced Allsford - uselful to know around here!) has a good reputation.
And you can take up gliding as the country's biggest gliding club is just up the road at Lasham so you often see gliders in the sky in the area! Alton's just outside the South Downs National Park, although the most picturesque parts of the park are still a fair way away and although there's nothing like some of the scenery in Scotland it's generally a very pretty area around the town. Chawton and Selbourne are the local tourist hotspots. And it's still can't be much more than an hour from Bournemouth (traffic dependent!) if you want to head down there.
Just thought - it might be worth you contacting Shakermaker on here as I think he's a Basingstoke man and may know a little more.
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Originally Posted by stormproductions
