Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Capital City

With a population of 78,716, Eastleigh is no sleepy English hamlet. This railway town has seen rapid development in recent years, transforming into a bustling commercial hub. However, the price of progress is a persistent bureaucratic headache - the town only recently became a civil parish, breaking free of the local borough's control. And while the transport links are excellent, with easy access to the M3 and M27 motorways as well as a dedicated airport station, the abundance of chain stores and shopping centers gives Eastleigh a rather generic, soulless vibe. If you're after a convenient commuter base with good infrastructure but little in the way of local character, Eastleigh may fit the bill.