Are you looking for Bed and Breakfast in Basingstoke? Then call us at Andway Cottage.
We are set in a leafy lane on the outskirts of Basingstoke town and only minutes from junction 6 of the M3 in a small village of Old Basing.
Our bed & breakfast facilities include four en-suite rooms, of which you can be sure of a good night’s sleep and a hearty English breakfast.
Please visit our web-site for more information.
"Places of interest"
(Basing House) Old Basing's most exciting historic ruin was once the country's largest private house, the palace of the powerful courtier William Paulet, Marquess of Winchester. A rich servant of the Tudor sovereigns, his new buildings covered about 10 acres and formed the last of a succession of castles. The earthwork banks of the castle built by the Normans still dominate the ruins. The wealth and power of the Paulet family, their loyalty to the Crown and their nearness to London brought disaster to Basing in the Civil War. After long and stirring sieges, and bombardments by great armies the house fell to Oliver Cromwell in person. The ruins, the old and new houses, the riverside walk and the spectacular barn all help to make an attraction of beauty and charm. The recreated 17th century garden enhances this beauty and brings life back again to the long deserted ruins.
(Basing Fen) is a Countryside Heritage Site, is an extensive area of peatland that forms the headwaters of the River Loddon and can be found between the railway line and Redbridge Lane. The permanently wet ground supports a variety of habitats (including fens, reed-beds and alder woodland) and species (such as the southern marsh orchid and Loddon Lily or summer snowflake). The site is also an important bird and invertebrate site.
(Oliver's Battery) This spot, in the centre of Old Basing between the Village Hall and the Recreation Ground is the site of a Norman castle and is now protected as an ancient monument.
(The Mill Field) Rich in flora and fauna, the open space is long green strip stretching from the old mill house (now a pub and restaurant) to Pyotts Hill. The River Loddon flows along the eastern side of the site although much of the land is in private ownership and fishing rights are protected. The site is particularly popular with walkers and riders.
(River Loddon) The Loddon with its floodplains and water meadows provides a tranquil reminder of the parish history. The river was almost certainly a reason for the first settlers deciding this was a place to live, and was used for watercress beds, which still survive in the village.
The River Loddon rises at was once West Ham Farm, Basingstoke and is fed by springs that come from the upper chalk aquifer. It flows for 45.2km, in a north-easterly direction, over London Clay, to its junction with the River Thames just west of Wargrave. While the River Blackwater is the major tributary of the Loddon and joins it near Swallowfield, two other tributaries, Pettys Brook and the River Lyde both join the Loddon close to the north-east boundary of Old Basing parish. The River Lyde also rises within the parish close to Huish Lane.
(Basingstoke Town) Festival Place is a shopping centre, opened in autumn 2002, adding a huge boost to the town centre, transforming the former "The Walks Shopping Centre" and the "New Market Square".
Aside from a wide range of shops, there is also a range of cafés and restaurants as well as a large multiple-screen Vue cinema (formerly Ster Century until their takeover in 2005).
Central Basingstoke has two further shopping areas: The Malls and the Top of Town.
The Malls area has declined since the opening of Festival Place and the closure of its Allders department store, though it is still home to several major retailers. The leasehold was purchased in 2004 by the St Modwen development group in partnership with the Kuwait property investment company Salhia Real Estate, with provision for redevelopment and a Primark store is due to open on the Allders site in spring 2008.
The Top of Town is the historic heart of Basingstoke, housing the town's Willis Museum in the former Town Hall building and the Haymarket Theatre in the former Corn exchange. There are also several locally run shops, as well as the post office, and the market place.
The town's nightlife is split between the new Festival Square, and the traditional hostelries at the Top of Town, with a few local community pubs outside the central area. The town has four nightclubs, two in the town itself, one on the east side and one 2 miles (3 km) out to the west.
In Portchester Square is the 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 is also home to a modern concert hall, The Anvil.
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