Hampshire

A perfect blend of city, coast and country (not to mention some fabulously quirky places to stay!), there is so much uniqueness to discover in Hampshire.

Home to the South Downs and the New Forest National Parks, you can enjoy an abundance of natural luxury...all accessed within just over 1.5 hours from London.

The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is located here too, so you'll need to keep adding to that itinerary for the most soothing countryside break imaginable.

North Hampshire is where you'll find the bustling town of Basingstoke - along with the setting for Downton Abbey! - while the gateway to the breathtaking South Downs is set in the heart of the county. It's here that you'll also find the former English capital city of Winchester, with its iconic cathedral and rolling rural scenery that was once gazed over by Jane Austen.

A former royal hunting ground for William the Conqueror, the New Forest covers 566 square kilometres, all bursting with unspoilt woodland, heathland and river valleys peppered with free-roaming wildlife.

Stroll around the traditional villages of Beaulieu and Brockenhurst, as you shop for antiques and transport yourself refreshingly back in time. Or head for the cliff tops at Barton-on-Sea, if you prefer the windswept coast.

Meanwhile, the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton - the cruise capital of Europe - lie in the south, both havens for shoppers and lovers of nightlife alike.

With all holiday tastes more than covered in Hampshire, it's time to indulge!