Southern Region

Southern England has so much to offer in the way of things to do and places to visit. From beautiful countryside and breathtaking coastline to royal palaces and stately homes, there's something to suite every person. With impressive towns and cities, including Bournemouth, Gosport, Oxford, Portsmouth, Salisbury, Southampton, Winchester and Windsor, the area is worth a few days. Attractions include Avebury Stone Circle, the largest megalithic stone circle in Europe, King Arthur's Round Table, situated in the Great Hall in Winchester, and royal castles and palaces such as Windsor Castle, the official residence of HM The Queen and the Great Hall in Winchester where a pair of ornate iron gates stand to commemorate the marriage of Charles and Diana, Prince and the late Princess of Wales. The Isle of Wight, also, makes for a great break or day trip and is only a short ferry ride from Portsmouth. Short breaks in the isle of wight are often available - see our 'short breaks' page for more information. Brighton is based on the southern most coast of Britain and is a wonderful base for touring the south coast. Brighton tourist board and tourist information centres will be able to give you all the information you could want regarding things to do in the area. Brighton itself has many world famous piers, one of which was destroyed in a recent fire, and offers daytime and evening entertainment. More information is available from Brighton tourist board and tourist information centres.

History

There are many different aspects of history to see in the South of England. The area is host to the official residence of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor Castle and in this Golden Jubilee year the Castle will be opening a new Golden Jubilee Garden in which will be displayed photographs of the Queen throughout her reign. You can also take a tour of the famous Eton College which was founded in 1440 and which has educated 18 former British Prime Ministers including the Duke of Wellington and Pit the Elder. Other interesting buildings include Salisbury cathedral which boasts the tallest medieval spire in the world at over 400 feet constructed in the 14th century, and Winchester's Norman cathedral which is said to have the longest perpendicular nave in the world. The city of Oxford is, also, well worth a visit as it houses many beautiful buildings including the presitgious Oxford University. Also of interest is the Avebury megalithic stone circle in Oxfordshire which is the largest stone circle in Europe. The site was constructed from 200 stones but was destroyed in medieval times by local people. It has since been restored and is now a World Heritage site managed by the national trust. Even more famous is the stone circle at Stonehenge which is surrounded by both ceremonial and domestic structures from the past. Built between 3050BC and 1600BC the stone circle is still shrouded in great mystery as to its past purpose and even how it was built by Neolithic man as some of the stones used weighed in excess of 25 tonnes.

Culture

Many great writers were based in this area of the country using the nearby moors and rural lifestyles as inspiration. Thomas Hardy was born and lived in Dorset and set many of his novels, including Tess of the D'Urvervilles, in the Dorset countryside that he called Wessex. Jane Austen was born in Steventon near Basingstoke and her house in Chawton near Alton is now a museum comemorating her memory. John Keats wrote his Ode to Autumn after some time spent in Winchester and Sir William Golding, author of The Lord of the Flies, studied English at Oxford University. Alfred Lord Tennyson lived in what is now the Farringford Hotel on the Isle of Wight and Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth where his house has now been turned into a museum. Short breaks in the isle of wight or Portsmouth would make an ideal retreat for literary research or investigation. Mary Shelley, Lewis Carroll, J R R Tolkien, CS Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton have also spent a significant amount of time in the Southern region of England. The tourist information centres within each town will be able to provide you with further information about each of the above attractions. Brighton tourist board and tourist information centres also have detailed information about many things to do in the area.

The South of England has played host to many film and TV productions and many of the same buildings are accessible to the public. The Double Cube Room at Wilton House in Salisbury has been used in many films, including Bounty with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson, The Madness of King George with Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren, and Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thomson. Hamble was the setting for Howard's Way in the 1980s and Osborne House on the Isle of White was the setting of Mrs Brown starring Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly. Mapledurham Corn Mill near Reading is the oldest working mill on the Thames and was used in The Eagle Has Landed and Broughton Castle, near Branbury was the setting for much of Shakespeare in Love. The Crown Hotel in Amersham featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral and much of the Inspector More series was filmed in and around Oxford.

Walking

The Isle of Wight is the largest island off the coast of England and has more footpaths than roads. Short breaks in the isle of wight provide the base for a great relaxing retreat and a break away from the world. Half the island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Beauty and much of the coastline has been dedicated as Heritage Coast meaning it is a beach of the highest quality. Hotels guest houses and restaurants in the isle of wight tend to fill up very early in the season so it's advisable to book early to avoid disappointment. Hotels guest houses and restaurants in the isle of wight are varied and full of character and will allow you to stay on the island rather than just having to make the visit as a day trip. There is so much to see and do on the island that hotels guest houses and restaurants in the isle of wight make an ideal base for touring the area. The Chiltern district is unbelievably only 25 miles from the centre of London and provides for a wonderful break in the country with stunning hills and vast open countryside spotted with picturesque villages. With the New Forest, Bracknell Forest, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Hamble Valley and Wycombe, the walks on offer are both beautiful and informative. Brighton tourist board and tourist information centres and the tourist centres of the entire region will have information regarding all the walks that are available and when the best times are to complete them.

Sports

A host of sporting activities are on offer throughout this region. There are several golf courses for a relaxing round and many marinas which offer watersports activities, including water-skiing, windsurfing and sailing. Cowes Week is held annually on the Isle of Wight and is the second largest sporting event in the country with up to 1,000 amateur and professional sailors taking part in the festival. Hotels guest houses and restaurants in the isle of wight will book up very quickly for this event so it's worth while booking up early. Short breaks in the isle of wight are often available and can be combined with events such as Cowes Week to create the perfect break away. The Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race begins from Portsmouth in August where young people from around the world will learn to sail whilst competing to win the race. Alongside this, Hayling Island is said to be the home of windsurfing where it was invented by Peter Chilvers in 1958 and the island still offers a range of facilities for the beginner and more experienced windsurfer.

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