Basingstoke is a prosperous and busy town that plays host to a variety of large companies, including the AA, whose conspicuous headquarters can be seen from the A33/M3 as you drive by the town. The town has grown steadily since it was expanded as a London overspill town in the 1960s and today the Basingstoke and Deane district is home to more than 150,000 people.

Central Basingstoke is a popular shopping area and the Festival Place centre, which opened in 2002, offers not only a wide range of leading shops but also a multiplex cinema and a range of cafes and restaurants.

For a taste of old Basingstoke, the Top of Town centre houses the town's Willis Museum and includes the old Town Hall and Corn Exchange sites. For anyone who fancies stretching their legs and relaxing in the outdoors, Basingstoke's Eastrop Park was awarded the coveted Green Flag award in 2007 in recognition of the high quality green space it provides.

Basingstoke also has a fantastic Walled Garden. Located just outside the town, it was once the kitchen garden of Down Grange House but today is open to the public and available for private functions such as weddings. The garden itself occupies 8 hectares and is of course completely enclosed, creating a memorable and peaceful environment in which to relax or celebrate a special event.

As befits such a busy town, hire vans are readily available in Basingstoke. There are a mixture of local and national van rental companies in the town, each providing a wide selection of hire vans:

• Medium / short wheelbase vans - e.g. Ford Transit, Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault Trafic, Volkswagen Transporter
• Small vans - e.g. Vauxhall Combo, Ford Transit Connect, VW Caddy
• Large / long wheelbase vans - e.g. Mercedes Sprinter XLWB, Ford Transit LWB, Renault Master, LDV Maxus
• Luton vans & box vans (3.5 tonne / 3.5t).