Basingstoke to home to a modern concert hall: The Anvil, which is renowned for its accoustics. Basingstoke has its own football team, Basingstoke Town F.C. who currently play in the Nationwide Conference South. The rugby club plays in Rugby Football Union's National 3 South League, and the Basingstoke Bison ice hockey team play in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Basingstoke also has a swimming team, known as the Basingstoke Bluefins.

The diversity of sporting activity in the area is illustrated by organisations such as Basingstoke Demons Floorball Club and Basingstoke Bulls Korfball Club. The home ground of Basingstoke & North Hants Cricket Club, Mays Bounty was until 2000 used once a season by Hampshire County Cricket Club. Cricket legends such as Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar as well as Ashes winners Michael Vaughan, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard have graced the ground.

The borough is also a centre of the horse racing industry, with two racing stables and several studs. Newbury racecourse is just outside the northern boundary of the Borough. The town's nightlife is split fairly evenly between the new Festival Square, and the traditional hostelries at the Top of Town, with a few local community pubs outside the central area.