Andover takes its name from an Anglo-Saxon ford across the River Anton, and the Saxon witan – England’s national council – is recorded meeting here more than once. A market charter followed in 1175, and by the 14th century the town ran its own sheep fair and wool trade. Much of today’s town centre dates from the 18th century, when Andover was a coaching stop on the road to London, Southampton and Oxford.

More recently, the town’s growth accelerated fast: from around 3,300 people in 1801 to roughly 51,000 by the 1980s, much of that after Andover was designated a London overspill town in the 1950s and 60s, with a 1961 plan aiming for tens of thousands of new residents and homes. Today it’s still growing, with newer estates like Picket Twenty and Augusta Park built on the town’s eastern edge since the 2000s.

The town’s other defining feature is the Army. Marlborough Lines – named for the Duke of Marlborough – sits on the site of the old RAF Andover airfield and has been the headquarters of the British Army since 2012. Andover’s military links go back further still: RAF Andover was home to the RAF Staff College, and in January 1945 the first British military helicopter unit was formed there. That connection also means a growing Nepalese community in the town, reflecting Andover’s links with the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Day to day, Andover punches above its weight for a town its size. The Chantry Centre anchors the town centre for shopping, alongside regular markets and independent shops; the Andover Leisure Centre, Charlton Lakes and the surrounding Test Valley countryside cover sport and the outdoors; the River Anton runs through town, and the Hawk Conservancy Trust is a popular family day out nearby. Healthcare is anchored by Andover War Memorial Hospital, with Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital close by for major services. For bigger shopping and nightlife, Basingstoke, Winchester and Salisbury are all within easy reach.