South East

Miles of glorious countryside liberally scattered with interesting heritage sites, delightful gardens and majestic parks to visit. Historic cities full of impressive architecture, museums, galleries, shops and award-winning restaurants. Fun-filled South Coast resorts and picturesque harbours dotted along 257 miles of stunning coastline and the Isle of Wight only a brief ferry ride away. The enchanting South East of England is an area of great beauty that will entice you to return again and again. 

Berkshire

Sitting as it does right next door to London, the romantic county of Berkshire is renowned for its royal connections, and counts Windsor Castle as its most famous building. Highclere Castle (the setting for Downton Abbey), Eton College, Ascot Racecourse, The Savill Garden and Cliveden House (former seat of the Astor family) can be found here too. Explore the beautiful open countryside - the broad, graceful curves of the majestic Thames sweep along the northern edge of the county - and discover interesting towns, pretty villages, glorious gardens, quaint hidden inns and a charming history.

Buckinghamshire

To the North East of the region, Buckinghamshire is home to the most National Trust properties in the country as well as the magnificent ‘Capability Brown’ landscape at Stowe, now a famous public school. The modern city of Milton Keynes has a vast shopping centre and an excellent theatre as well as its infamous concrete cows, but for a gentler pace enjoy a tranquil bike ride through beautiful countryside along the Thames as it cuts through the beeches of the Chiltern Hills. Visit the fairytale Waddesdon Manor, experience a hands-on history lesson at the fascinating Chiltern Open Air Museum or stop for tea at Hughenden Manor where you can walk in the footsteps of Benjamin Disraeli as you explore his German forest and elegant garden.

Hampshire & Isle Of Wight

There’s plenty to tempt lovers of the great outdoors here. Explore beautiful greenland and forest walks, the cliffs along the coast and the wildlife of the North Solent National Nature Reserve. Deer, ponies and cattle roam free in the ancient heaths and woodlands of the New Forest National Park, once a royal hunting ground for William the Conqueror. 
The tranquil car-free environment is the perfect place for walking, cycling and horseriding. There are some exciting visitor attractions and splendid historic houses including Beaulieu and Avington Park for a great day out and Winchester with its charming medieval streets, imposing Cathedral, vibrant galleries and stylish, independent shops is a must-visit. There are also plenty of opportunities for a round of golf, a spot of fishing and of course sailing.

This stretch of coast has a rich maritime history and The Solent, Southampton Water and the Isle of Wight are among the great sailing playgrounds of England, whether you take part or just spectate. Stroll gently around the picturesque Georgian town of Lymington, or discover Nelson’s Victory, the Mary Rose and the ironclad HMS Warrior at nearby Portsmouth Harbour. Fort Nelson, with its imposing guns overlooking Portsmouth Harbour, and Portchester Castle will also keep keen military buffs happy.

The Isle of Wight can be reached by ferry and is a great destination for amazing beaches, exciting events, or a step back in time, counting Queen Victoria’s favourite country home, Osborne House, and Carisbrooke Castle among its treasures.

Kent

Margate, on the North East coast of the county where stunning sea and skyscapes inspired JMW Turner, is home to the brilliant Turner Contemporary art gallery, while Broadstairs hosts an acclaimed annual folk festival and Ramsgate is a firm favourite with its sophisticated café culture, marina and award-winning sandy beach.

Inland, the Garden of England is a county of romantic villages and exceptional heritage. Explore the history of rural Kent with a scenic cruise along the River Medway to Kent Life, a museum and working farm with animals galore, or visit the National Trust’s Ightham Mote, a medieval moated manor house and gardens close to the village of Ightham, near Sevenoaks. Dover Castle is the most iconic of all English fortresses - roam through centuries of history from the Romans to the Cold War, climb the Great Tower and immerse yourself in magnificent medieval interiors.

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire’s quiet paths and roads are perfect for walking and cycling, with charming picture-postcard towns and villages for afternoon tea or a hearty pub lunch. Just North of Oxford magnificent Blenheim Palace, seat of the Duke of Marlborough, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and one of the finest baroque houses in England, sits in over 2,000 acres of stunning landscaped gardens. Oxford’s famous dreaming spires, echoing quads and cloistered college lawns have a timeless beauty and should not be missed. Visit The Ashmolean Museum, Britain’s oldest public museum, opened in 1683, and the restored Castle Quarter for shopping, restaurants and bars, arts events and 1000 years of Heritage.

Surrey

Nature lovers will find plenty to enjoy in Surrey including the 6,400 acre Ashdown Forest with its large deer, badger and rare bird population. The Devil’s Punchbowl, near Hindhead, is a two mile long sandstone valley overlooked by the 900-ft Gibbet Hill, while Box Hill and Leith Hill rise above the North Downs overlooking the richly wooded countryside and well preserved villages.

The National Trust’s Polesden Lacey is a beautiful Edwardian country retreat located on the North Downs at Great Bookham, near Dorking and well worth a visit, or explore Farnham, with its 12th century castle and Tudor and Georgian houses. Aldershot is the home of the British Army and county town Guildford is a contemporary business and shopping centre with a modern cathedral and university. Visit Loseley Park for guided tours of the house, gardens and period furnishings, or Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village, a unique Arts & Crafts gem nestled in the Surrey Hills, dedicated to the work of the Victorian-era painter and sculptor George Frederic Watt.

The Northern most edge of the county borders Greater London with a rich variety of attractions including the 2400 acre Richmond Park, Hampton Court Palace and Kew Gardens.

Sussex

Within easy reach of London, Sussex has much to offer holidaymakers and day trippers alike. Heritage buffs and garden enthusiasts can enjoy a range of historic houses and gardens, and three of the historic cinque ports. Rye in particular, with its cobbled streets, transports the visitor back three centuries, plus the 1066 Story is told at Battle, near Hastings, while Groombridge Place, Great Dixter and Borde Hill all feature stunning heritage gardens.

At the heart of the Sussex coastline, cosmopolitan Brighton oozes culture, boutique hotels, marina, shops and a sophisticated ‘buzz’. The eccentric Royal Pavilion was the Regency summer capital of Britain and still delights visitors today. Impressive Arundel Castle to the west is famous for its drama festival, and nearby popular marinas and Wittering sands. While Bognor Regis is a traditional resort with a blue flag beach and the usual seaside attractions.

Imposing Beachy Head and Seven Sisters cliffs provide a dramatic backdrop for Eastbourne and there are miles of open chalk grassland, lush river valleys and ancient forests to explore. The Sussex section of the South Downs National Park stretches all the way from Beachy Head to Harting Down for a splendid walk.

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