Southern England

Rich in maritime heritage and historical attractions, the Southern region comprises tranquil English countryside boasting picture-postcard villages, ancient cities and towns, formidable castles and grand stately homes, coupled with a beautiful coastline and lively seaside resorts.

This region includes Hampshire, Isle Of Wight, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

What to see in Southern England

Rural Southern England comprises green, rolling hills and scenic wooded valleys, with numerous walking and bridle paths passing through picturesque villages with quintessential English pubs. The New Forest, well known for its wild roaming ponies, is a distinctive, peaceful retreat. Across the water is the Isle of Wight, easily reached via a short ferry trip across the Solent. It has always been a popular destination for those seeking a traditional beach holiday in one of the bucket-and-spade resorts. The long stretches of sand at Shanklin and Sandown are family favourites and have plenty of other attractions.

Don’t miss historic Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House, the favourite retreat of Queen Victoria. The River Thames weaves its way through the Thames basin and Chilterns area, passing charming riverside villages, castles, stately homes and beautiful countryside, including that around Oxford. This ‘city of dreaming spires’ has lovely scenic walks, old university buildings to explore, plus a huge selection of restaurants, pubs and shops. Along the river, you can go punting, hire a rowing boat, or take one of the many river-boat trips available.

The south coast is a popular holiday destination for those looking for a beach holiday. Seaside resorts include Swanage, and Bournemouth, with seven miles of golden sand. Also along this coastal stretch is Durdle Door, a natural arch that has been cut by the sea, and Europe’s largest natural harbour at Poole Bay. Nearby, the Isle of Purbeck is not actually an island but a promontory of low hills and heathland that juts out below Poole Harbour.

Places of interest

Hampshire: Winchester, the ancient capital of England; Portsmouth’s historic dockyard and Spinnaker Tower; Southampton’s West Quay shopping complex and city art gallery.

Isle of Wight: Cowes; Sandown with Dinosaur Isle; Shipwreck Centre in Ryde; Smuggling Museum in Ventnor; Carisbrooke Castle in Newport.

Oxfordshire: Blenheim Palace; Oxford University buildings; Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; River and Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames; Bicester Shopping Village.

Berkshire: Windsor, with Legoland, Windsor Castle; Reading.

Buckinghamshire: Bletchley Park and Stowe Landscape Gardens near Milton Keynes; Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury; Bekonscot Model Village and Railway, Beaconsfield.

Did you know?

• The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, was the first museum to be opened to the public in 1683.
• There are over 200 scheduled ancient monuments within the New Forest National Park.
• The first Cowes regatta was held in 1812, and ‘Cowes Week’ is now the world’s biggest international yachting event.
• Quarr stone from the Isle of Wight was used in the construction of the Tower of London.
• The Spitfire aircraft, used to great effect during the Battle of Britain, was devised in Southampton.
• The first ever dry dock was constructed in Portsmouth in 1495.