If you’re looking for a great region to visit while you’re in the UK, check out Southern England. Southern England consists of over fifteen different counties located near or on the English Channel. These counties include Bristol, Cornwall, Greater London, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, Devon and Dorset. Like much of Europe, Southern England is rich in history and culture, with plenty of historically significant sites and fascinating places to visit. At its widest point, this region on the south of England is around 300 miles wide from east to west. You can drive from one side of Southern England to the other in less than seven hours, depending on your starting point and destination. The fact that you can drive anywhere in south and return home the next day makes it a great region for taking day trips. Here are a couple of suggestions for day trips in Southern England.
Winchester
The city of Winchester is located in the country of Hampshire. It is best known as the home of the Mother Church of the Diocese of Winchester, the Winchester Cathedral. Some sort of church has been located on the site of the cathedral since the 7th century, and construction on the actual cathedral seen today started in the year 1079. One of the largest cathedrals in all of England, Winchester Cathedral is also the longest Gothic cathedral in Europe. Both visitors and religious pilgrims are welcome at the cathedral. Many people visit for religious reasons, while others are more interested in the fact that Jane Austen is buried here. After you’ve finished touring the cathedral, you can also check out several other historical buildings in the area such as Wolvesey Castle and Winchester Castle.
Isle of Wight
The largest island in England, the Isle of Wight is a neighbour to nearby Hampshire. The Isle of Wight has been a popular tourist destination since the Victorian era. Many people are attracted to the island due to its wildlife and geological wonders while others come for sailing and luxurious resorts. A popular thing to do on the Isle of Wight is to walk or bicycle through the landscape on the Isle of Wight Coastal Path. This path is a 67-mile long footpath that circles the island along the coast. For those with children, check out Dinosaur Isle, a museum designed in the shape of a giant pterosaur.
Bath
The city of Bath is located in the county of Somerset. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The Romans were the first to establish Bath – in the year 43 – as a spa resort. Ancient ruins from that era of history can be found in Bath. These ruins are in excellent condition and are a major tourist attraction. There are also several great examples of Georgian architecture in Bath, such as the Circus and the Royal Crescent. For those more interested in modern day tourism, take a trip to a spa like the Thermae Bath Spa, and relax in water from the natural hot springs.
Those are just a few of the wonderful destinations that you can explore on your next trip to the south of England.
Ryan Embly is the Marketing Director at Car Rental Express.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on the UKseries.com UK Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
One Comment
I was in Bristol, Cardiff and Aberdeen last year and had a blast. Can’t wait to go back and do it again. This time I am going to hit all the places mentioned above, all I have to do is divert the flight from Cardiff to Bath and the rest of the other cities.