London is an extremely popular choice for tourists in summer, so much so that it’s often swamped with visitors and can become hard to make your way through the crowds. London is a top choice for obvious reasons, it’s vibrant, it’s cultural, and it has fantastic landmarks steeped in history and intrigue.
It would be a challenge to be bored while visiting London, especially if you’ve organized a busy schedule. However, there are many gems peppered along the south coast that you shouldn’t forget about or skim over.
Taking It Easy In Chichester
If you have an idea of traveling through the south coast of England to see the highlights, then you should most definitely include a visit to the cathedral city of Chichester. It can be reached by train from London in just over an hour and a half, and by doing so, you can glimpse at some of the green and undulating countryside from your train carriage on your way there.
The cathedral gardens are well worth a wander as are the various parks dotted in and around the city. Priory park enjoys a wealth of green lawn, as well as a wooden playpark for children, a popular café, an aviary of tweeting budgies.
For a relaxed afternoon of watching the cricket, or bowls, visit theholeinthewall-pub.co.uk to decide what you’re having from the menu of the small and insular pub that overlooks Priory park.
Southampton and Hamble-le-Rice
Southampton is a large port city, and there are a plethora of activities to get involved in. There’s a SeaCity museum, as well as a large Tudor house and garden, and St Mary’s Stadium if you’re a big sports fan.
Southampton Common is teeming with wildlife, as in the small village of Hamble. Reach Hamble by exiting the dual carriageway about twenty minutes before you would if you were carrying on to Southampton.
Hamble-le-Rice is a popular yachting location, and there are plenty of woodland walks to enjoy. Small wildlife is in abundance in Hamble, and it’s peaceful enough to sit and hear every chirp and lark of the birds by the harbor. If it’s green space you’re after, then you’ll be pleased to know that The New Forest is only a short drive from Southampton.
Take The Train To Brighton
A short train journey away from the capital is Brighton. It should take just less than one hour to reach, and you won’t be disappointed.
Brighton is lively, fun, and there’s something for everyone. As always, ensure you have a plan to go by when you visit Brighton, but be sure to go to the famous pier, as well as take a ride in British Airways i360 to gaze out to the coastline and see Brighton from a bird’s eye view. Walk then through the lanes and be sure to take regular refreshment breaks in many of the weird and wonderful cafes and bars around. Top your visit to Brighton off by swinging by the grand Royal pavilion.
Beachy Head is a famous and infamous chalk headland and is just east of Seven Sisters – it is an area of outstanding natural beauty and attracts droves of visitors from near and far each year. Impressively, it is also the highest chalk cliff in all of Britain.
