Places to Visit in England: The South
London is relatively near to the coast to the east and to the south. So the seaside is never too far away. Many Londoners head off during the bank holidays to enjoy the sea air – even if the weather is not so inviting! There are plenty of places to visit in England especially if you love the countryside.
Southern England is the home of wonderful counties all with sea-coasts these include, Devonshire, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, West and East Sussex, and Kent. Travelling along the coast of the English Channel and the Celtic sea is very interesting and full of ancient history. Each county has its own character and identity.
Cornwall, for example, has a strong nationalist self-rule movement who are calling for greater autonomy. The Cornish people are recognised as a national minority and a distinct ethnic group within the UK. They speak their own language and work hard to keep local traditions alive. Cornwall is an incredibly beautiful part of the UK and it attracts many visitors. There are spectacular coastal walks there as it is surrounded on three sides by the English Channel. It also has miles of beaches. There is a very interesting museum of witchcraft in Boscastle is really worth a visit, as are the remains of Tintagel Castle, which as folklore tells us, is where King Arthur was born. It is one of the most magical places in the UK. There is also the Minack Theatre, which is an outdoor theatre that nestles on the cliffs with an amazing view of the sea as a backdrop. There’s no doubt that anyone visiting Cornwall will want to return.
Then there is Dorset, which borders with Devon to the West and Hampshire to the east. It is incredibly beautiful too and, among other historical sites, it is home to Corfe Castle, which was captured and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1646, and is now a most romantic ruin. Dorset has miles of beaches, including the incredible Durdle Door, and most of its coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast where many very important fossils have been found. I actually found a dinosaur bone on Kimmeridge beach many years ago, which is in a museum now.
In south Devon you’ll find the Dartmoor National Park, which was the setting for the famous Sherlock Holmes novel, ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’. It is a vast expanse of moorland complete with tors, standing stones, rivers and bogs. Its main visitor’s centre is in Princetown.
There are very interesting coastal cities in this part of the UK too, such as Portsmouth and Brighton and Bristol. Bristol lies between Somerset and Gloucester, and has a long history linked with the sea. During the 15th Century it was an important port trading with Ireland and Iceland. Many important sea voyages started in Bristol including major expeditions to the Atlantic. It is a city that is full of theatre and art. Amazing architecture and, well, it’s just the place to be!
There is so many places to visit in England and the south has an atmosphere all of its own. I hope I have whetted your appetite.
To read more about trips in the UK click here.
Macs Adventure are experts in walking and cycling holidays and have very special trips all around this part of the UK.
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