The Furlong, then and now

Did you know that The Furlong used to be a horse and cattle market, granary and trading place for countryfolk to sell their produce?

The Furlong is now an upmarket shopping centre; set around a sprawling, leafy courtyard with signature horse-shoe bench seating and a beautiful bronze sculpture of a New Forest pony and her foal. The centre boasts an enviable range of high-end shops, cosmopolitan cafes, salons and independent boutiques.

The open space also hosts The Hampshire Farmers’ Market on the last Saturday of the month for home-made delicacies, artisan dishes, vegetarian foods, and stalls laden with local produce.

It’s easy to spend an afternoon here sipping a coffee while watching the world go by, or browsing through Waterstones books and looking through the rails of fashion shops such as Crew Clothing, Phase Eight, Fat Face, Osprey London and many more. There’s also a large Waitrose supermarket and free same-level parking for all customers.