Created largely in the 1970s, modern Basingstoke centres round Festival Place with nearly 200 shops, restaurants, bars, nightclub, cinema and sports centre. The outlying rural area includes the Test Valley, one of Britains most exclusive fishing areas, and two stately homes; Highclere Castle, famous for its Egyptian relics, and Stratfield Saye, seat of the Dukes of Wellington. Direct trains reach London Waterloo in around 50 minutes.
