Explore the UK
Bournemouth, Southampton & Portsmouth
In the county of Dorset at the edge of the popular South West holiday region, Bournemouth has a reputable and some may say enviable, seven miles of sand and sparkling sea. The resort is vibrant and cosmopolitan, with a wide variety of shops and restaurants. It might come as a surprise to some that Bournemouth has a buzzing nightlife, but there is plenty for the young and the young at heart to do and in the town there are pubs and bars galore with many nightclubs in the town. You will also find beautiful award-winning parks, gardens and countryside, top leisure and sporting facilities plus prestigious venues for entertainment, events and conferences. Close by the ancient New Forest is readily accessible from Bournemouth where you will step backwards in time to over nine centuries ago when William the Conqueror used to ride his horses through the Forest. You will find that the landscape is unique and traditions exist here that are unchanged since mediaeval times.
Southampton is one of the country’s best known sea ports famous in days past for ocean going cruises and transatlantic crossings in luxury liners. Now, whilst it is still the cruise capital of Europe, it is better known for its cross channel ferry operations. Southampton is a city rich in heritage from its time as a Roman seaport to today's modern, bustling, and vibrant cosmopolitan city offering a warm welcome to visitors. There is plenty of nightlife to be experienced in Southampton from traditional pubs to clubs where you can enjoy an intimate evening and party late. When eating out the visitor has a wonderful range of restaurants and café bars to choose from ranging through Greek Tavernas, Thai and Italian style cuisine, Indian and American diners. Having a quick snack if you are in a hurry is not a problem there being plenty of places to grab a bite. Southampton is one of the top sailing venues on the coast in the South East region and spending a weekend here will allow plenty of leisure with time to explore the surrounding Hampshire countryside.
Portsmouth is home to the Royal Navy and it prides itself in its well earned association and traditions connected with the service. A trip to Portsmouth would not be complete without a visit to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard where the visitor can take an exciting journey through 500 years of history here you will see why the Dockyard was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution that changed the world and the crucial role it has played in times of war and peace. The dockyard is one of the most visited attractions in the U.K. here you can see and visit Nelson’s flagship the Victory, go aboard the “ironclad” HMS Warrior, and look at the Tudor warship Mary Rose, viewing perfectly preserved artifacts from the ship. You will not be lost for things to do and see on a day spent here. The city has no less than twelve museums including Conan Doyle’s exhibits of Sherlock Holmes. Why not soak up some atmosphere and discover history for yourself in the narrow lanes and cobbled streets along the waterfront seeing where both heroes and convicts left the shores of England for the last time. You can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the pubs of Spice Island where once press gangs lined up new recruits. Why not enjoy lunch right on the waterside and watch the world float by, pick up dinner at the fish market on the Camber or head indoors to a cosy tea room. You will not be able to take in all of Portsmouth’s attractions and your quick weekend visit will have to be repeated again and again.
