What's It Like To Live in Fleet?

The town of Fleet is a commuter town situated in North East Hampshire and is part of the Hart District. The town developed as a market town after the London and South West Railway Station. A 2008 census revealed Hart to be the area of England with the best quality of life. Fleet is surrounded by beautiful countryside, ideal for refreshing walks. The Fleet Pond nature reserve , the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire, is a notable beauty spot on the northern edge of the town. Fleet has expanded in the past few decades with new residential areas built in Church Crookham and Elvetham Heath. Fleet is also home to several business parks which are mainly occupied by Information technology companies. Fleet town did not exist until the last century. In 1840 the railway from London was completed and Fleet Pond station was built for the benefit of day-trippers. Many Londoners decided to settle in the area, and houses were built along Fleet Road. By 1860 there were 300 inhabitants of whom 30 or 40 were children. There was no school until 1860 and no church until 1861, as Fleet was still in the parish of Crondall. In 1878 several acres of land were sold to a property developer from Farnborough, and a housing estate was planned in the American style with the roads in a grid pattern. Many building plots were sold on a hire-purchase system, shops and pubs appeared and tradesmen moved in to make the community complete.

Entertainment and Leisure

Fleet shopping is focussed around the Hart shopping centre which offers a good selection of both independent shops and chain stores like Next, Clarks & Boots plus a selection Waitrose, M&S food plus a Sainsburys. The main High Street (Fleet Road) has a large choice of independent shops plus numerous cafes, bars and restaurants offering foods from all around the world. In the evening when the shops close Fleet is popular with all ages dining out, socialising and meeting with friends and has something for everyone right through until the early hours. The Hart leisure centre is also located close to the town centre & offers a teaching pool, competition pool, a fully equipped Gym, dance and aerobics studio, squash courts and crèche. Fleet also hosts an annual half marathon & carnival in the summer. Next years carnival procession is confirmed for Saturday 2nd of June 2012 to tie in with Queens Diamond Jubilee. The Carnival is always a big event in with lots of local business, organisations & local residents taking part: including Leaders. For people looking for a bit more, The Atrium leisure complex in Camberley is only a 15 minute drive and offers a Vue cinema, Bowlplex and a selection of restaurants including Chiquitos, Nandos, Frankie & Bennys and Prezzo. Fleet is surrounded by beautiful countryside in various directions. Fleet pond set in a nature reserve just a couple of minutes walk from the train station and the Basingstoke canal which also offer beautiful walks in rural surroundings is easily accessible from both central Fleet and Church Crookham.