Eastleigh

The Borough of Eastleigh contains the town of Eastleigh, and many small villages and hamlets, including Chandler's Ford to the north and Bishopstoke to the east.

Perhaps the best-known piece of history associated with Eastleigh is that it is the home of the Spitfire (a famous World War II fighter plane). The aircraft was built, designed and first flown from what is now Southampton Airport. During its military service, Southampton Airport was known as HMS Raven, before it was renamed to Eastleigh Airport in 1947. The name was changed again to its current name in 1994 to mark the opening of the new terminal constructed there the year before.

The town also boasts a link to one of the UK's best known comics, Benny Hill. Indeed it was his work as a milkman in the town that spawned his well known "Ernie - the fastest milkman in the west" tune. The cartoon character 'Jane' and musician Heinz Burt are also connected with the borough.

Since the Pirelli Cable Works closed down in 1990, Eastleigh became a dormitory town, meaning that it has become home to many people who live there, but work somewhere else.

In 2006, Eastleigh was named as the ninth best place to live in the UK by the Channel 4 television programme The Best and Worst Places to Live 2006. The abundance of jobs and excellent transport links (motorways, trains, buses and planes) were named as some of the primary reasons for this award. Nearby Winchester was named the best place to live in the UK by the same programme.

By train:

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Eastleigh has good national rail links; the three stations serving the area are all on the South Western Main Line from London to Weymouth.

1 Eastleigh Station, Southampton Rd, SO50 9FL. The South Western Railway service from London Waterloo runs every 30 min to 1 hr, and the journey takes 1 hr 20 min. There are also frequent rail services to Eastleigh station from Southampton Central (13 min), Winchester (10 min), Portsmouth & Southsea (40 min), and Basingstoke (30 min). (updated Jun 2021)

2 Chandler's Ford Station, Station Ln, SO53 4DD. Very similar service pattern to Eastleigh station. (updated Jun 2021)

3 Southampton Airport Parkway Station, Wide Ln, SO18 2HW. Crosscountry and South Western services from Bournemouth (45 min), Reading (45 min), Birmingham New Street (2 hr 30 min) and Manchester Piccadilly (4 hr) are available. (updated Jun 2021)

By plane:

Year-round services from many airports across the British Isles to 4 Southampton Airport (SOU IATA), and a handful of continental cities and resorts. Travelling to Eastleigh town centre from Southampton Airport is simple, travel up the A335 until you get to Leigh Road, then turn left.

By car:

Eastleigh is 5 mi (8.0 km) north of Southampton City Centre. To travel from Southampton to Eastleigh, simply follow the A335 for Eastleigh or A33 for Chandler's Ford. Another option is to take the M271 from Westquay Shopping Centre until Junction 1, then take the M27 to Junction 5.

Eastleigh is near the end point of the M3 connecting the South Coast and M27 with Winchester (10 mi (16 km) away) and the rest of the country's motorway network. London is 75 mi (121 km) away via the M3, while Birmingham is 140 mi (230 km) via the M40, A34 and M3. Use junction 13 for Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford towns, but junction 11 for Marwell Zoo. If travelling from Portsmouth 20 mi (32 km) away, use the M27 and come off at junction 5.