Southampton, Hampshire & New Forest Guide

Guide to Southampton and the South of England

Southampton

Southampton is a modern vibrant city with a historic and rich maritime past dating back to medieval times. It is the south coast's largest city with a population over 228,000. The city offers a huge variety of shopping, eating out and entertainment options. 

The city of Southampton ranks in the top 15 for UK retail; shoppers have a wide choice of big name, big brand stores (including the new IKEA) as well as small speciality shops stocking unusual and often hard to find items. Food lovers can revitalise their taste buds at one of the cities many contemporary restaurants offering world class cuisine and enjoy drinks at bars overlooking the water or offering roof top views across the city.

The New Forest

The New Forest National Park offers a haven of peace and beautiful scenery, as well as an extensive array of things to see and do. Enjoy a walk through the forest along some of the many miles of peaceful pathways, or find a cosy New Forest pub and enjoy a delicious meal.

For the more energetic, there are bicycles for hire, horse riding and an array of watersports available. Alternatively, treat the family to a day out at one of the New Forest's top attractions such as Beaulieu or Marwell Zoological Park.  

South East England

If your looking for a day out or a longer stay holiday then South East England offers plenty of things to do and places to visit that will interest the whole family. It is a region of contrasting landscapes with a rich and diverse historical past.

The constantly changing seasonal gardens of South East England provide many unique holiday ideas, as do the region’s iconic landscapes. In addition, some of the English language’s most celebrated authors, comedians, musicians and actors have called South East England home at some point in their lives. The houses and towns connected with the likes of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Kenneth Grahame and the Royal Family provide interesting places to visit as do the places connected to Britain’s military past.