# Hedge End: Full Reference > Local news and community guide for Hedge End, Hampshire. A thriving town between Southampton and Fareham, with excellent transport links, good schools and a strong community spirit. ## Areas ### St John's The historic core of Hedge End, centred on St John the Evangelist Church, the oldest building in the town with twelfth-century origins. St John's Road runs through this area, connecting the church to the wider town. The residential streets here include some of the older properties in Hedge End, dati... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/st-johns ### Botley Road Centre The commercial heart of Hedge End, running along Botley Road between the junction with St John's Road and the approaches to Botley. This is the town's main shopping and services area, with a mix of independent shops, takeaways, cafes, a post office, estate agents, hairdressers and other service busi... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/botley-road-centre ### Wildern The eastern part of Hedge End, defined by the presence of Wildern School and Wildern Leisure Centre. The area is predominantly residential, with housing estates dating from the 1970s and 1980s arranged around quiet estate roads and cul-de-sacs. The school is one of the largest and most highly regard... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/wildern ### Grange Park A residential area in the central-northern part of Hedge End, developed primarily in the 1960s and 1970s during the first wave of large-scale housebuilding. Grange Park includes a public green space with a children's playground, open grass areas and seating, providing a valued recreation area for lo... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/grange-park ### Shamblehurst A residential area in the western part of Hedge End, developed from the 1970s onwards. The Shamblehurst estate is a conventional suburban development of detached and semi-detached houses with garages and gardens, arranged around curving estate roads and cul-de-sacs typical of the period. Shamblehurs... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/shamblehurst ### Turnpike Way A neighbourhood in the south-western part of Hedge End, centred on the road of the same name. The area developed primarily in the 1980s and 1990s, with housing that includes a mix of detached houses, townhouses and some flats. Turnpike Way connects Shamblehurst Lane to Tollbar Way and the retail par... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/turnpike-way ### Berrywood A residential area in the northern part of Hedge End, developed mainly during the 1980s. The housing is a mix of detached and semi-detached houses, with some terraces and smaller properties providing variety within the estate. Berrywood Primary School serves the local families and is well regarded b... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/berrywood ### Dowd's Farm The newest major development area in Hedge End, situated on the eastern edge of the town on former agricultural land. The Dowd's Farm development has been built in phases from the early twenty-first century onwards, providing a mix of family houses, smaller homes and flats built to modern design and... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/dowds-farm ### Kings Copse The southern part of Hedge End, taking its name from the small area of woodland that provides a natural feature within the built-up area. The residential streets around Kings Copse were developed mainly in the 1970s and 1980s, with detached and semi-detached family houses arranged along quiet estate... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/kings-copse ### Retail Park Area The area around the Hedge End Retail Park on Tollbar Way, near Junction 7 of the M27 motorway. This is a commercial rather than residential zone, dominated by the large retail units, car parks and access roads that serve the retail park. Marks and Spencer, Next, Boots, Argos, Hobbycraft and other na... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/areas/retail-park-area ## Guides ### Restaurants in Hedge End Hedge End has a reasonable selection of restaurants for a town of its size, with options spread between the Botley Road area, the retail park and the surrounding neighbourhood centres. The dining scen... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/restaurants ### Cafes in Hedge End Hedge End's cafe scene is practical and community-focused, with a mix of independent cafes and familiar chains serving the town's residents and workers. The main concentration is around the Botley Roa... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/cafes ### Pubs in Hedge End Hedge End has a handful of pubs serving the local community, covering the range from traditional locals to family-friendly dining pubs. The town's pubs reflect its suburban character, functioning as n... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/pubs ### Takeaways in Hedge End Hedge End has a solid selection of takeaway food outlets covering the standard cuisines that most households reach for on a Friday evening. The main concentration is along Botley Road and the surround... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/takeaways ### Farm Shops and Local Produce near Hedge End Hedge End sits in the heart of Hampshire's agricultural landscape, and while the town itself is suburban, the surrounding countryside supports a healthy network of farm shops and local food producers.... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/farm-shops ### Sunday Lunch in Hedge End Sunday lunch remains a strong tradition in the pubs and eateries around Hedge End, and several local venues serve a proper roast with all the trimmings. The Barleycorn on St John's Road is a popular c... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/sunday-lunch ### Breakfast Spots in Hedge End Hedge End's breakfast options are centred on the cafes along Botley Road and the nearby shopping areas, with additional choices at the retail park. The town caters well to the early morning crowd, whe... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/breakfast-spots ### Shops in Hedge End Hedge End's shopping provision falls into two distinct categories: the local shops along Botley Road and the larger retail units at the Hedge End Retail Park on Tollbar Way. Between them, they cover m... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/shops ### Supermarkets in Hedge End Hedge End is well served by supermarkets, with several major chains represented either in the town itself or within a short drive. The competition between them means that residents have genuine choice... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/supermarkets ### Hedge End Retail Park The Hedge End Retail Park on Tollbar Way is one of the defining features of the town, bringing major national retailers to an out-of-town location alongside the M27 motorway near Junction 7. The park ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/retail-park ### Trains from Hedge End Hedge End Railway Station sits on the line between Eastleigh and Fareham, providing the town with direct rail connections to both. The station is operated by South Western Railway and serves as an imp... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/trains ### Buses in Hedge End Bus services connect Hedge End with the surrounding towns and cities, providing an alternative to the car and the train for local journeys. Several routes run through the town, linking it with Southam... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/buses ### Cycling in Hedge End Cycling in Hedge End is a practical transport option for some journeys and a pleasant recreational activity for those who enjoy riding through the Hampshire countryside. The town's relatively flat ter... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/cycling ### Driving and Roads in Hedge End Hedge End's road connections are one of its defining advantages. The M27 motorway runs along the southern edge of the town, and Junction 7 provides direct access to the national motorway network. This... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/driving ### GP Surgeries in Hedge End Hedge End is served by several GP surgeries providing primary healthcare to the town's population. The surgeries are part of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System and provide the stan... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/gp-surgeries ### Dentists in Hedge End Hedge End has dental practices serving both NHS and private patients. Finding an NHS dentist accepting new patients can be challenging, a problem that is not unique to Hedge End but reflects a nationa... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/dentists ### Pharmacies in Hedge End Pharmacies in Hedge End provide essential healthcare services alongside prescription dispensing. The town has several pharmacies serving the local population, located along Botley Road, within superma... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/pharmacies ### Mental Health Support in Hedge End Mental health support in Hedge End is provided through a combination of NHS services, voluntary organisations, helplines and community groups. The national framework for mental health care applies in ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/mental-health ### Primary Schools in Hedge End Hedge End has several primary schools serving the town's families, covering both the infant (ages 4-7) and junior (ages 7-11) phases of education. The schools are a mix of community schools, academies... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/primary-schools ### Secondary Schools in Hedge End Hedge End is home to Wildern School, one of the largest and most highly regarded secondary schools in Hampshire. Wildern is a comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 16, with a large student body... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/secondary-schools ### Nurseries and Childcare in Hedge End Hedge End has a good range of nurseries and childcare providers serving the town's families with young children. The options cover the full spectrum from childminders and small home-based settings to ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/nurseries ### Adult Education in Hedge End Adult education in Hedge End is available through a combination of formal courses, community learning programmes and the facilities at the Berry Theatre and local community centres. The town does not ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/adult-education ### Housing in Hedge End Hedge End's housing stock reflects the town's rapid growth from the 1960s onwards. The majority of residential properties date from the second half of the twentieth century, with significant further d... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/housing ### New Housing Developments in Hedge End Hedge End has seen significant new housing development in recent years, continuing the pattern of growth that has defined the town since the 1960s. The most notable recent development is at Dowd's Far... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/new-developments ### Parks and Green Spaces in Hedge End Hedge End has a reasonable provision of parks and green spaces for a suburban town, providing outdoor recreation and breathing room within the built-up area. The green spaces range from formal parks w... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/parks ### Walks around Hedge End Hedge End is well placed for walking, with a network of footpaths within the town and easy access to the Hampshire countryside beyond. The surrounding landscape of farmland, woodland, river valleys an... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/walks ### Wildlife and Nature in Hedge End Hedge End sits in a landscape that supports a reasonable variety of wildlife, from the birds and butterflies of the garden suburbs to the richer habitats of the surrounding countryside. The town's gre... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/wildlife ### Gardening in Hedge End Gardening is a popular pastime in Hedge End, and the town's predominantly suburban housing stock, with its front and rear gardens, provides ample scope for growing flowers, vegetables and fruit. The l... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/gardening ### The Berry Theatre in Hedge End The Berry Theatre is Hedge End's principal arts and community venue, opened in 2010 to provide the town with a purpose-built performance and events space. The theatre sits in the heart of Hedge End an... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/berry-theatre ### Community Groups in Hedge End Hedge End has an active community sector, with numerous clubs, societies and volunteer groups serving the interests and needs of the town's residents. The community groups cover a wide range of activi... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/community-groups ### Hedge End Village Hall Hedge End Village Hall is one of the main community venues in the town, providing a space for meetings, events, classes, parties and community activities. The hall has been serving the area for many y... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/village-hall ### Churches in Hedge End Hedge End has several churches serving the town's Christian communities, covering the main denominations. The churches provide religious services, pastoral care and a range of community activities tha... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/churches ### Sports in Hedge End Hedge End has a good range of sports facilities and clubs for a town of its size, reflecting the family-orientated character of the community. The Wildern Leisure Centre is the main indoor sports faci... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/sports ### Football in Hedge End Football is the most popular team sport in Hedge End, with the town supporting several clubs and teams across different age groups and levels of competition. The grassroots football scene is healthy, ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/football ### Swimming in Hedge End Swimming is available at the Wildern Leisure Centre, the main pool facility serving Hedge End residents. The centre provides a pool that caters for lane swimming, family swimming, swimming lessons, aq... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/swimming ### History of Hedge End Hedge End's history is a story of gradual transformation from dispersed rural settlement to thriving suburban town. For most of its recorded history, the area that is now Hedge End was farmland and sc... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/history ### Medieval Hedge End The area that is now Hedge End was, through the medieval period, an agricultural landscape of fields, hedgerows, woodland and scattered farms on the edge of the parish of Botley. There was no village ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/medieval-history ### Victorian and Edwardian Hedge End The Victorian and Edwardian periods brought the first hints of the transformation that would eventually turn Hedge End from a rural backwater into a suburban town. The catalyst was the railway, which ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/victorian-edwardian ### Postwar Growth in Hedge End The story of modern Hedge End is essentially a postwar story. The rapid suburban expansion that transformed the area from farmland to town took place primarily between the 1960s and the 1990s, driven ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/postwar-growth ### Hedge End Library Hedge End Library is a branch of the Hampshire Library Service, providing books, audiobooks, e-books, DVDs, internet access and community space to the town's residents. The library is free to join and... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/library ### Post Office in Hedge End Hedge End has a Post Office branch providing the range of services that the network offers across the country. The Post Office handles Royal Mail posting and collection, parcel services, recorded and ... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/post-office ### Recycling and Waste in Hedge End Waste collection and recycling in Hedge End are managed by Eastleigh Borough Council, which provides a regular kerbside collection service to all households in the town. The council operates a multi-b... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/recycling ### Local Government in Hedge End Hedge End is served by two tiers of local government: Hedge End Town Council and Eastleigh Borough Council. Hampshire County Council provides the upper tier of services. Together, these three levels o... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/council ### Volunteering in Hedge End Volunteering is an important part of community life in Hedge End, with opportunities available across a wide range of organisations, from sports clubs and the Berry Theatre to church groups, schools a... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/volunteering ### Christmas in Hedge End Christmas in Hedge End follows the patterns of suburban south Hampshire life, with a mix of community events, retail activity and family traditions marking the season. The town does not have the medie... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/christmas ### Summer Activities in Hedge End The summer months bring a shift in the rhythm of life in Hedge End, with longer days, warmer weather and the six-week school holiday creating demand for activities and days out. The town and its surro... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/summer-activities ### Arts and Culture in Hedge End Hedge End's arts and cultural scene is centred on the Berry Theatre, which has served as the town's creative hub since its opening in 2010. Before the theatre arrived, Hedge End had limited cultural p... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/arts ### Dog Walking in Hedge End Hedge End is a popular area for dog owners, with a good selection of parks, green spaces, footpaths and countryside walks within and around the town. The suburban character of the area, with its garde... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/dog-walking ### Crime and Safety in Hedge End Hedge End is generally a safe place to live, with crime rates that are broadly in line with or below the average for south Hampshire suburban areas. The town's residential character, its active commun... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/crime-safety ### Energy and Environment in Hedge End Environmental awareness in Hedge End has grown in line with national trends, and the town faces the same challenges of energy use, carbon emissions, air quality and waste management that affect suburb... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/energy-environment ### Internet and Broadband in Hedge End Hedge End has good broadband coverage, with most properties able to access superfast broadband and an increasing number having access to full fibre connections. The town's suburban character and its p... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/internet-broadband ### Commuting from Hedge End Commuting is central to Hedge End's identity. The town was built, in large part, to house people who work elsewhere, and its transport connections remain one of its primary attractions. The M27 motorw... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/commuting ### Vets and Pet Care in Hedge End Hedge End has veterinary practices serving the town's pet owners, providing routine and emergency care for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other domestic animals. The town's suburban character, w... URL: https://www.hedgeend.news/guide/vets ## History - 1086: Domesday Book Records the Manor of Botley - c. 1150: St John the Evangelist Church Founded - 1200-1500: Medieval Agricultural Settlement - 1700s: Enclosure of Open Fields - 1842: Hedge End Railway Station Opens - c. 1860: Brickworks and Small Industry - 1868: Hedge End Becomes a Separate Parish - 1914-1918: First World War - 1920s-1930s: Interwar Ribbon Development - 1939-1945: Second World War - 1960s: Housing Boom Transforms the Landscape - 1975: M27 Motorway Constructed - 1987: Hedge End Town Council Established - 1990s: Hedge End Retail Park Opens - 2010: Berry Theatre Opens - 2010s-2020s: Dowd's Farm Development ## Streets - Botley Road - St John's Road - Upper New Road - Turnpike Way - Grange Road - Wildern Lane - Bursledon Road - Kings Copse Road - Shamblehurst Lane - Tollbar Way - Victoria Road - Cedar Road - Beech Road - Berrywood Gardens - Hazel Road - Heath Road - Drummond Road - Locke Road - Harvest Road - Dowd's Farm Road - Foxcote Close - Foord Road - Charles Watts Way - Maunsell Way - Station Road ## Places - Berry Theatre (Community) - Wildern Leisure Centre (Sport) - St John the Evangelist Church (Church) - Hedge End Railway Station (Transport) - Hedge End Retail Park (Shops) - The Barleycorn (Pub) - The Bald Forester (Pub) - Grange Park (Park) - Kings Copse (Nature) - Hedge End Village Hall (Community) - Wildern School (School) - Hedge End Medical Centre (Healthcare) - Hedge End Library (Library) - Dowd's Farm Open Space (Park) - Marks and Spencer (Food Hall) (Supermarket) - Shamblehurst Primary School (School)