Hampton City Guide

United States

Hampton City Guide

New Hampshire

Hampton, New Hampshire, is a coastal town famous for Hampton Beach. It blends a classic New England beach vibe with year-round living. It's quiet outside summer but close to Portsmouth and Boston for city trips.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Seafood dominates with lobster and clam chowder. Limited international options like Italian and Chinese. Vegan and vegetarian choices growing. Late-night food mainly in summer at the beach.

Local Dishes:
Lobster, Fried clams, Clam chowder
International Cuisine:
Italian, Chinese, Mexican
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
6

Nightlife peaks in summer with bars, live music, and arcades. Quieter rest of the year.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Developing coffee scene with local cafes and some specialty roasters. No major coffee events.

💰
Tipping
Required
18%

Tipping is expected in most service areas, usually 15-20%.

Top Attractions
Hampton Beach State Park
Nature
Sandy beach and ocean views with facilities.
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Entertainment
Live entertainment venue.
Blue Ocean Discovery Center
Museum
Marine education center.
Tuck Museum of Hampton History
Museum
Local history exhibits.
Strawbery Banke Museum (Portsmouth)
Museum
Historic outdoor museum about 20 minutes away.
Odiorne Point State Park
Nature
Coastal trails and science center nearby.
SIM Cards

SIM cards from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile can be bought in nearby towns. No ID usually needed for prepaid plans. eSIM depends on provider and phone.

Available at:
AT&T store
Verizon store
T-Mobile store
Recommended Apps
Google Maps(Navigation)
Yelp(Food & Drink)
Uber/Lyft(Transport)
WMUR News 9(News)
OpenTable(Food & Drink)
Airbnb/Booking.com(Travel)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Beach and town are kept clean, especially during the tourist season.

24/7 Services
Poor
3

Limited 24/7 services. Few late-night pharmacies and no night clinics outside summer season.

Groceries
Hannaford
Market Basket

Groceries are available at Hannaford and Market Basket, open 7 AM to around 10 PM. Limited international products, mostly found in bigger nearby supermarkets.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most businesses accept credit and debit cards. Cash isn't needed for daily purchases.

ATMs

ATMs are common at banks like Bank of America, Citizens Bank, and TD Bank, plus convenience stores. Expect $2.50 to $5.00 fees at out-of-network machines.

Schools
Local only

Local schools include Hampton Academy and Winnacunnet High, teaching in English. No international schools nearby.

Available Schools:
Hampton Academy
Winnacunnet High School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
3
Available Spaces:
The Hangar (Rye)
Offers daily and monthly passes, fast Wi-Fi, and phone booths. About 10 min drive from Hampton.
Cooperative Venture Workspace (Portsmouth)
Coworking and office spaces in Portsmouth about 20-30 min away.
Regus (NH Locations)
Various coworking and private office options in the region.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
The Coffee Break
Local cafe with Wi-Fi and seating.
Aroma Joe's
Chain cafe with Wi-Fi.
Blue Harbor Coffee
Local roaster and cafe.
Flamingo's Coffee Bar
Seasonal cafe at Hampton Beach.
Alternatives:
Lane Memorial Library
Quiet public Wi-Fi and study space.
Hotel lobbies
Check availability of Wi-Fi and seating.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
2

Small, informal nomad community. Few meetups or coworking spots in Hampton itself.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Hampton Beach State Park and other parks offer green space for walks and recreation.

Running
Excellent
8

Popular running spots include the beach boardwalk and residential areas. Routes are safe and scenic.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms and sports clubs nearby offering various facilities.

Available Gyms:
Planet Fitness
Anytime Fitness
Vanguard Key Club
Seacoast Athletics
R3VAMP Athletic Performance Training
Tennis
Limited
5

Public tennis courts are available with varying booking rules. Equipment rentals are uncommon.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel courts are not available.

Yoga
Good
6

Multiple studios offering various styles with drop-in classes and English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Several schools teaching karate, taekwondo, and jiu-jitsu. English-speaking instructors.

Skiing
Limited
5

Ski resorts like Gunstock and King Pine are within 2 hours. Season December to March, with rentals available.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and parasailing are common in summer. Rentals and guided tours available.

Surfing
Good
6

Surfing available at Hampton Beach, best in spring and fall. Wetsuits needed outside summer. Schools and rentals in summer.

Diving
Poor
3

Diving is limited due to low visibility nearshore. Better sites are offshore, requiring boat access.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Nearby hospitals Exeter and Portsmouth Regional have English-speaking staff. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are common. Healthcare is private and accessible.

Hospitals:
Exeter Hospital
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Pharmacies:
CVS
Walgreens
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water meets federal and state standards. Some contaminants exceed health group guidelines but remain below legal limits.

Common Scams
Online and financial scams are common. Avoid aggressive street vendors and suspicious deals.

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Playgrounds, a discovery center, and mini-golf offer family fun. Baby supplies are easy to find.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

Generally LGBTQ+ friendly with legal protections. Inclusive spaces exist though few specific venues.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly town with outdoor areas and off-season beach access for dogs. Vet services available.

Communities
Hampton Beach NH Facebook Group (Social)
Town of Hampton, NH Facebook Page (Official)
Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce (Business)
Seacoast Online (News)
Reddit r/newhampshire (Social)

Quick Facts

Population
16,214
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power is generally reliable with rare outages during storms. Restoration is usually quick.

Beach Access
Available

Hampton Beach is long and sandy, popular especially in summer with year-round access at Hampton Beach State Park.

Mountains
Available

The White Mountains are about 1.5-2 hours north with many hiking trails.

Languages
English(95%)
Emergency
911
All Emergencies
(603) 929-4444
Hampton Police Department (non-emergency)
(603) 926-3316
Hampton Fire Department (non-emergency)
1-800-222-1222
Poison Control

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
1

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Winter weather
December, January, February, March
Cold, snow, and ice storms can affect travel and outdoor plans.
Peak summer crowds
July, August
Beaches and town get busy with tourists, and prices rise.

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