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The earliest settlement in the area of Basingstoke dates from the iron age with a hillfort at Winklebury, a couple of miles west of the town centre. There is evidence for some later occupation by the Romans, although this was limited. The Roman route from Winchester to Silbury ran through the area. Deposits of Roman archaeology have been found, including a villa on the north bank of the River Loddon which runs past the town. Many of the Roman treasures excavated from Basingstoke and the surrounding area are on display in the town's Willis Museum.
The town that was to provide the seed for modern Basingstoke was Saxon, founded by the Basingas tribe and their leader Basa. This was not actually Basingstoke itself, but the older, nearby settlement that is now the village of Old Basing. As this settlement expanded so did demand for land. Some of the inhabitants relocated a few miles to the West and Basingstoke was founded. Recorded in the Domesday Book as “Basingestoches”, this name is thought to derive from the fact that the town was the western most settlement of the Basingas.
During the English Civil War the people of Basingstoke were supporters of Cromwell and the Parliamentarians. However, nearby Basing House was owned by John Paulet, 5th Marquis of Winchester and loyal to the king. This imposing Tudor palace was used as a Royalist garrison and thus became a target for Cromwell's forces. Twice the house withstood Roundhead sieges, but fell during a third siege in 1645 led by Cromwell himself. Stormed by Roundhead soldiers, the palace was looted and razed to the ground. The ruins of Basing House are now open to the public as a tourist attraction.
The 19th century saw the arrival of the railway in Basingstoke, and within a few years lines connected the town to London, Winchester, Southampton and Salisbury. Industrial manufacturing began to grow in the town, including agricultural machines such as threshers and steam engines. Brewing was a major industry in Basingstoke, and was to earn the town a certain degree of notoriety. When Salvation Army evangelists arrived in Basingstoke the local population feared the teetotallers would attempt to close the breweries. Clashes between brewery workers and the Salvation Army became increasingly tense, culminating on 27th March 1881. The mayor was literally required to read The Riot Act to the mob which was finally broken up by troops.
In 1856 a business was to open in Basingstoke whose name lives on today. A 21 year-old former draper's apprentice opened a clothing store that sealed its reputation with hardy, outdoor wear. The name of that young man was Thomas Burberry.
The latter half of the 20th century saw rapid development in Basingstoke as it was designated as an expanded town. It had been government policy since the 1930s to move population away from London to other towns in the south east, the destruction of so many homes during World War 2 only exacerbated this problem. Many nearby villages were swallowed up as Basingstoke expanded, and today exist as suburbs of the town. Basingstoke town centre was effectively entirely rebuilt, unfortunately losing many historic buildings in the process. The central shopping area was rebuilt again in 2002 and is now an impressive modern indoor mall called Festival Place.
Basingstoke is ideally suited for accessing the south-east of England. The M3 runs past the town's southern edge, providing direct road links to London, Winchester and Southampton. Basingstoke railway station is located in the centre of the town and offers a direct connection to London, with the journey to London Waterloo taking as little as 44 minutes. Southampton Airport lies 25 miles to the south for visitors to Basingstoke arriving by air, although those lucky enough to own private light-aircraft could opt for the nearer Blackbushe Airport, just 9 miles away.