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Sitting right at the head of Southampton Water, Totton often describes itself as the gateway to the New Forest, though it feels more like a bridge between the city and the woods. Historically, the town’s identity was tied to the Eling tide mill - one of the few in the world still producing flour by the power of the tides - and the timber trade that once bustled along the Rumbridge Street wharves. Geographically, it is hemmed in by the River Test to the east and the open gorse-lands of the National Park to the west, making it a very practical spot if you work in Southampton but want to be able to walk into the forest within ten minutes. Much of the daily life revolves around the long stretch of the A35, which connects the town to Bournemouth and the M27, but the real character is found in the quieter pockets like Testwood Lakes or the salmon-rich waters of the lower Test. It is a functional, unpretentious place that has grown significantly from its village roots, yet it still manages to feel like a distinct community separate from the sprawl of the city next door.