September 23 2024
Are you considering moving to Eastleigh? You’re not alone! Recently, the borough was named one of the best places in the country to live.
A small town located on the eastern side of Southampton, it borders the River Hamble and is just minutes away from the New Forest and South Downs National Parks. With a population of 55,000 households, Eastleigh is a family-friendly hot spot and the envy of many other regions.
If you’re keen to make this desirable setting your home, we’ve put together this guide – here’s what you need to know when relocating to Hampshire.
- Popular areas to live
- Cost of living in Eastleigh
- House prices
- Things to do in Eastleigh
- Travelling around Eastleigh
- Employment opportunities
- Moving to Eastleigh: checklist
- Why keep your belongings with us in Eastleigh?
Popular areas to live
A wide range of properties can be found in the Borough of Eastleigh. Whether you’re after a family home in the suburbs or a semi-rural village, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for in this thriving region:
Chandler’s Ford
A civil parish, Chandler’s Ford is located west of the M3 motorway and forms most of the Eastleigh urban area. This leafy suburb is ranked top for its residents’ good health and high income, not to mention its low crime rate too.
Hiltingbury
Sharing the desirable SO53 postcode with Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury is situated near Scantabout and Cranbury Park. It’s also home to the picturesque Hiltingbury Lakes which boasts 17 acres of wildlife, woodland and water. Perfect if you love a weekend walk.
Fair Oak
Set in a semi-rural location, Fair Oak offers a blend of modern convenience and blissful country living. Its amenities include a village bakery, a 19th-century church, tea rooms, a pub, a cricket club, and recreation parks.
Hamble-le-Rice
With its never-ending holiday vibe, Hamble-le-Rice is great for laid-back riverside living. Some people choose to downsize here, while others crave a bolthole, and the village is often referred to as a ‘yachting mecca’.
Cost of living in Eastleigh
According to Livingcost.org, Eastleigh’s average cost of living is £2,171 making it among the 17% most expensive places to live in the UK. 1.6 months’ worth of living expenses can be covered by £3,368 It is, however, ranked the 162nd most liveable location in England.
House prices
Eastleigh’s average property price is about £371,956 but detached homes sell for an average of £533,283. Semi-detached properties also generally go for around £357,243 while terraced properties sell for £306,494.
Things to do in Eastleigh
Eat and drink
There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Eastleigh, plus many low-key eateries and pubs. It provides the ultimate place to sample cuisines from all over the world and is renowned for being a magnet for foodies.
Shop
When it comes to shopping in Eastleigh, make sure you head to the Swan Shopping Centre – it features 700 parking spaces and many of the UK’s top high-street stores. As well as some unique town centre boutiques, there are also a few major stores at Hedge End that are useful for whatever you need.
Discover
Eastleigh has many fantastic attractions throughout the borough, and highlights include The Point, Eastleigh Lakeside Railway and Hensting Alpacas. It is, however, the country parks at Itchen Valley, Bursledon and Netley that add to the area’s popularity and serve as ideal areas for picnics, exercise and spending time with friends and family.
Travelling around Eastleigh
Using the M3, Eastleigh has quick and easy access to London, Gatwick, and Heathrow, as well as great travel connections to surrounding towns and villages. Commuters can also access regular train services into London Waterloo, Winchester, Portsmouth and Southampton from Eastleigh and Southampton Airport stations.
Employment opportunities
While Eastleigh was originally a railway town, one of its most famous historical associations is with the Spitfire (an iconic World War II fighter plane). Today, the town’s booming economy offers residents a wide range of employment options. It really is a fantastic area to live, work, or visit.
Moving to Eastleigh checklist
1. Choose a place to move to
With plenty of new developments and affordable housing across the borough, your family will be spoilt for choice in Eastleigh. Whether you prefer a leafy suburb or village, Eastleigh offers a welcoming vibe. You just need to decide which neighbourhood is right for you and why.
2. Pack up your things
If you’re getting ready to move, a declutter will simplify things. Unnecessary items don’t need to relocate too. This way, you’ll have a lot less to pack and more space in the van, plus you’ll start your new life with a lovely clean slate. For any fragile items, have a read of this post – here, we walk you through protecting things like glasses and vases for moving. If you also need some sturdy flat-pack boxes, we can help with these too. Check out our handy Box Shop for all your packing accessories.
3. Hire a professional to help with your move
Whether you’re relocating to Eastleigh from nearby or from afar, a removal firm can ease the stresses of moving house.
At Ready Steady Store, we’ve also partnered with Enterprise to offer a range of exclusive van deals. Check out the other services we can offer you here.
4. Free up space with a self storage unit
If you’ve just moved into your home and are planning to paint, using self storage can be an excellent option. After all, there’s nothing worse than redecorating a place with large household items all over. Find out how to organise your storage unit like a pro here.
5. Get exploring your new location!
Despite moving being a challenge, it’s also thrilling, especially if the location is entirely new. With its country parks and busy centre, we’ve no doubt you’ll have fun getting lost in Eastleigh. Who knows? You might even discover something unexpected.
Why keep your belongings with us in Eastleigh?
Have you decided to make Hampshire your home? Get in touch with our team; we can take away the stresses of relocating your things. Since 2007, more than 7000 Eastleigh residents have stored their belongings with us – here are some of the many reasons why:
- Conveniently located – our Eastleigh store is just off the M3 at Junction 13 on the M3 Trade Park and perfectly situated for customers based in Chandlers Ford, Romsey and Hedge End.
- 24-hour access – within an 8-mile radius, we are the only purpose-built storage facility you can access after 6 pm, seven days a week.
- Security as standard – our Eastleigh store offers 24-hour surveillance, keypad entry, plus individually alarmed units if needed.
- Remote registration and storage management – all of our self storage facilities now offer contactless sign-up and move-ins, plus the ability to monitor your unit online.
- Flexibility – no longer need a big space? We’ll happily change your unit. You needn’t pay for what you dont need.
- Those added extras – we offer racking and shelves to keep your storage unit tidy, along with trolleys and lifts to make moving things about easy.
Whether you’re moving home, decluttering or renovating and looking for safe and affordable Eastleigh storage, our Eastleigh team can help you; simply contact us at 0800 321 3211 or get your online quote here. In addition, we have lots of great offers such as up to 12 weeks half price – find out more about our Eastleigh store here.
