Andover: Hampshire Market Town That Quietly Grew Into a Major Distribution Hub
Andover is a market town in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, about 18 miles northwest of Winchester and 65 miles southwest of London. The population is around 52,000, which is substantially larger than it was a generation ago; Andover was designated for major expansion in the 1960s as a London overspill town, and the housing estates on the eastern and northern edges date from that programme. The town centre on the High Street and the Chantry Centre has been pedestrianised. The Guildhall, dating to 1825, dominates the top of the High Street. The River Anton, a chalk stream, flows through the town and supports brown trout. The Museum of the Iron Age on Church Close covers the nearby Danebury hillfort, one of the best-preserved Iron Age hillforts in southern England.
Andover's economy has been reshaped by logistics. The Walworth and East Portway industrial estates host distribution centres for major retailers. The army has a significant presence: the Headquarters of the Army Air Corps is at Middle Wallop, a few miles south. Andover station is on the line to London Waterloo via Basingstoke, taking about 70 minutes. The A303 passes just south of town, connecting to the M3 eastbound and the A30 westbound toward Salisbury and Exeter. For those interested in adult companionship in the Test Valley, Andover's position on the A303 corridor puts Winchester, Basingstoke, and Salisbury all within a short drive.
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Andover is a market town in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, about 18 miles northwest of Winchester and 65 miles southwest of London. The population is around 52,000, which is substantially larger than it was a generation ago; Andover was designated for major expansion in the 1960s as a London overspill town, and the housing estates on the eastern and northern edges date from that programme. The town centre on the High Street and the Chantry Centre has been pedestrianised. The Guildhall, dating to 1825, dominates the top of the High Street. The River Anton, a chalk stream, flows through the town and supports brown trout. The Museum of the Iron Age on Church Close covers the nearby Danebury hillfort, one of the best-preserved Iron Age hillforts in southern England.
Andover's economy has been reshaped by logistics. The Walworth and East Portway industrial estates host distribution centres for major retailers. The army has a significant presence: the Headquarters of the Army Air Corps is at Middle Wallop, a few miles south. Andover station is on the line to London Waterloo via Basingstoke, taking about 70 minutes. The A303 passes just south of town, connecting to the M3 eastbound and the A30 westbound toward Salisbury and Exeter. For those interested in adult companionship in the Test Valley, Andover's position on the A303 corridor puts Winchester, Basingstoke, and Salisbury all within a short drive.
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