Fareham is a market town in the south east of Hampshire with a population of over 56,000 people. Fareham is situated between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton. The town also lies at the North West tip of Portsmouth Harbour.
Fareham is known historically for its role in the manufacture and production of bricks, tiles and chimney pots due to the large amounts of clay soil within the area. Many buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, were constructed from the local 'Fareham Red Brick'.
Fareham has a strong retail centre creating much employment within the town. The retail industry is thought to employ around a quarter of the local population. Fareham is also the home of many call centres for a number of banks and other businesses providing many job opportunities for local residents.
Fareham is well connected to the rest of the UK; the M27 motorway lies towards the northern edge of the town, providing convenient access to the nearby cities of Portsmouth and Southampton amongst others. There is also a comprehensive bus network within the town as well as Fareham's own railway station.
Fareham's town centre has many fine examples of Georgian architecture. It has a large number of housing developments as well as lots of parks and open spaces. The town of Fareham has many shops, a cinema, nightclubs, restaurants and a theatre. Fareham is also home to a number of museums including The Hovercraft Museum and the Royal Armouries Museum.