Fareham

The pedestrianised area of West Street, in the town centre, is home to a permanent exhibition of the work of 12 blacksmith artists celebrating the achievements of Henry Cort, the 18th-century 'man of iron' who pioneered the iron refining process at Funtley near Fareham. The puddled wrought iron sculptures are themed on Fareham's market town history and the exhibition is the largest of its type in Britain.

Locks Heath is a suburb of Fareham on the seaside. It started off as a hotspot for growing and moving strawberries, due to its positioning. This industry hit its peak in the 1920s, before it started sliding down. Due to these strawberry farms, most houses are built in small housing areas, leading to a unique look not many towns have.

Local information:

Fareham Council website

Fareham is well served by the major road and rail networks. The M27 motorway passes around the northern edge of Fareham, and is the main traffic artery into the area. It provides easy access to both Portsmouth and Southampton, and from there to London via the M3 and A3(M).

The A27 is a route that passes through the centre of Fareham, from west to east, with good connections from Southampton and Portsmouth. The A32 passes through Fareham at the Quay Street roundabout, it runs north to south, on its way from Gosport in the south, with the north passing through the picturesque Meon Valley to Alton.

Fareham railway station is on the West Coastway Line, with regular services from Portsmouth, Southampton, Cardiff and London.