Basingstoke

[BlueWhale47]

Hi,

Just wondering whether anyone currently lives in Basingstoke & can advise on what it's like in terms of diversity.

I have visited a few times and have seen a variety of ethnicities in the area surrounding the station which I know doesn't necessarily mean these people live there.

Even better if anyone has any comments on primary schools in the area, insights into inclusion good or bad.

Saw a thread on here a while back about people who had moved into white majority areas but don't remember seeing anything specific to this area.

I have visited a few times and have seen a variety of ethnicities in the area surrounding the station

That's because there are businesses in and around Basingstoke, which people commute to.

I live in a nearby village and I’m white so I hope you don’t mind me responding. It is a very white area, the surrounding villages aren’t diverse at all. I don’t know as much about Basingstoke but going shopping etc there isn’t a lot of diversity.

As someone who lives in the town centre (I'm white but have a diverse bunch of friends) there are lots of ethnicities, we are looking at a primary school in town with 37 different nationalities! My daughter is also best friends with a little girl from Uganda and I know there is a big Ugandan and Nigerian community around.

I live in Basingstoke and hope you don't mind me commenting as I'm white. I live in a new build area and it's very multi-cultural. Mostly white and Eastern European, and many black, asian and mixed-race families around. The school is a reflection of this. People are friendly round here (in my experience of school gate and school run conversations) and neighbours are all friendly with each other. But may be because it's a new build estate so we're all 'new' and everyone's making an effort!
The school is very mixed with many students who have English as a second language.
In my daughter's year specifically (60 kids) I'd estimate about 10 black children as well as other ethnicities . It's a lovely school. Hope that helps!

My friend moved from Barnet to Basingstoke a couple of years ago. She went for the space, lifestyle for her daughter and ease of commute to work in the city. She has a daughter and is enjoying life there.

With the amount of posts asking similar, in my opinion it's high time we all move to where we aspire and wish to live and in time we'll build our village there.

I think I will end up going for it if I'm honest. @Delectable I would be moving for similar reasons to your friend. Plus in terms of budget a lot more is available within budget.

My main concern with moving is mainly around my daughter and diversity rather than myself. I grew up in London in such a diverse area - in my school white people were the minority! So it is weird for me to think about her going to a school where that wouldn't be the case & impact it could have.

It does have a nice balance between getting into London and access to countryside and, relatively good value.

I hope you find somewhere you like and you and your daughter are happy.

Go for it! You'll be fine.

Another friend bought a house in Welwyn Garden City last year. She moved from her flat in Harrow because it had changed over the 15years she'd lived there.
She was very reluctant to leave NW London but wanted a house to host family and friends and just live more comfortably. She was shocked to find that her neighbours are a very warm W.African Christian couple. She's W.African and Christian, single, late 40s.
She very happy with her move now but was anxious and uneasy even after she'd completed.

Another friend bought in Hoddesdon about 7yrs ago, moving from near Croydon. She cried all the way up on the M25 on her final drive after handing over the keys. She was single too but met someone within a year and moved to the Midlands where he lived.

I hear the Elizabeth Line might be extended to Staines. People are having to move further out. Small towns in the SE might not be as diverse as inner London but they provide a broadly speaking better quality of life.

I lived in Basingstoke for a while, now live in a nearby village. There are areas which are quite diverse and the nurseries our kids went to had diverse staff and kids. My husband is from London but Kenyan descent and he has even found a barber that specialises in his hair type in popley.

I live in the centre of Basingstoke in one of a row of Victorian terraces. I love the fact that my neighbours are all so diverse. We have three branches of an asian family living in separate households. They are wonderful neighbours who took care of a very posh, elderly gentleman after his wife died. He had been born in the house in 1929.
Two American middle aged ladies. A Polish family, also lovely people. Irish, Hungarian and Swedish and a black guy who lives with his teenage son.
We moved here as step to our forever home. We have been here for over 40 year!

I recently moved to Hampshire (Winchester)but work in Basingstoke. I seriously considered Basingstoke as it is clearly much more diverse. I understand the area is changing. It is definitely a consideration if you want better value for money and quick access to London.