EXCLUSIVE: Locals say their city is artistic and pleasant, with an ideal number of outlets.
The gorgeous city with a number of unbiased outlets (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
One fairly market city in Hampshire doesn’t make you select between countryside, seaside or metropolis. Right here, you get entry to all three, with a vibrant dose of unbiased outlets thrown in.
Set on the sting of the South Downs Nationwide Park, you’ll be able to meander the rolling Hampshire hills within the morning earlier than a day swim on the chilled beachtown of Southsea, simply 20 miles away, and head to London for an evening within the metropolis, an hour away by prepare. However sufficient of the exploring. Again within the centre of Petersfield, there’s loads to maintain you busy for a weekend escape. At its coronary heart is a standard market sq., nonetheless used for buying and selling twice per week, surrounded by greater than 80 unbiased outlets, cafes and eating places.
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may occasionally embrace adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
The market sq. nonetheless trades twice per week (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
Peony, 85, loves the group out there city (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
For Peony, 85, Petersfield is outlined by its historical past, location and group. Sitting on a bench within the solar, she rightly describes it as “a stunning place”.
“It was voted among the finest cities to dwell within the south,” she factors out, smiling. Gesturing to the city sq., which is circled by eating places, she explains: “Up there, initially it was a cattle market, now they’ve a market twice per week. Oh it is a pretty place. It’s an historic city.”
Her hometown featured within the annual Sunday Instances Finest Locations to Reside information for 2026, due to its outlets, location and array of issues to do, like mountain climbing and biking.
She additionally appreciates the transport and commuting hyperlinks, so her household can go to. “When you work in London there’s an excellent prepare service,” she tells us.
Lynda, who has lived in Petersfield for round 9 years, appreciates the bustling excessive avenue, which has managed to outlive regardless of widespread closures throughout the UK.
“It’s very good,” she says. “You’ve received a prepare station, you’re near the ocean, there’s good outlets. We don’t see empty outlets for very lengthy,” she says. “That’s one good factor. We don’t appear to have that vacancy that different locations get.”
There are a number of fairly pubs and eating places in Petersfield (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
James Crush, 28, believes there’s sufficient for younger individuals right here (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
Ron Albuery, who lives about three miles from the city and has lived within the space for many years, informed us merely “I find it irresistible”.
However he admits there’s much less for youthful individuals inside Petersfield itself, equally to Lynda. When requested about youth provision, he provides: “I don’t assume there’s, to be trustworthy. We used to have a nightclub. I haven’t received a nightclub anymore.”
Nevertheless, 28-year-old James Crush moved to Petersfield along with his household just lately and is proud of what’s on provide, together with a mountain bike course close by.
“We moved from Waterlooville, Portsmouth means. We a lot choose it. A bit extra space and a it is bit extra quiet.”
At Petersfield Museum, employees say the city’s identification is carefully tied to its historic centre. The market sq., they be aware, has operated on the identical website for the reason that twelfth century and stays one of many defining options.
“It’s one of many few ones that also exists within the south of England,” says Louise Weller, head of collections. “It makes it far more of a communal house.”
Louise Weller head of collections on the museum says it’s a artistic city (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
There are many group teams and occasions within the city (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
She says Petersfield additionally has a robust artistic and unbiased streak, mirrored in group teams and workshops, alongside a gentle presence of distinctive outlets.
“There’s a variety of people that dwell right here. We’ve received under-fives teams, individuals all for worldwide artwork contexts. It’s a really artistic city,” she says. “We’ve received quite a lot of unbiased outlets with a pleasant combine of larger outlets.”
It additionally additionally sustains 4 bookstores, with Waterstones and Oxfam chains alongside the much-loved Petersfield Bookshop and One Tree Books.
Volunteer Frances Press, who has just lately moved to the centre, describes them as a “labrynth”, including that guests additionally love the charity outlets on provide. “I’m so excited to be within the city centre,” she says enthusiastically.
All of the extra importantly, there are many pubs, cafes and eating places, many with chairs spilling onto the road to lap up the early spring solar. One in all which is the local-hero chain Josie’s, serving up brunch and hearty lunches.
If that is not sufficient to tempt you, Frances earnestly factors out: “We’ve received a really good Wetherspoons.”
Every day Categorical – Petersfield function Sarah Barltrop. Frances Press. (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
Petersfield is positioned close to the South Downs Nationwide Park (Picture: Adam Gerrard / Every day Categorical)
Leave a Reply