England

If you are visiting Britain for the first time no doubt you will want to sample everything that London has to offer - Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. But when you're through with the crowds and traffic the peaceful south is the place to escape to.

From the leafy lanes, traditional pubs and village greens of Surrey and Sussex to the beautiful south coast with its rich naval history and great water sports you'll find something for all the family in this historic part of England. Just a short drive from London you can enjoy a weekend walking, cycling, horse riding or sailing in the Surrey Hills, the South Downs or the ancient New Forest.

Surrey is dotted with pretty, historic villages, such as Farnham with its narrow streets and 12th century castle. Farnham Park dates back to the middle ages and has ancient oak trees and Roe Deer. Frensham Common is another great area for walking, cycling and horse riding - there's a cycle trail and 19km of bridleways.

The River Wey winds its way through Surrey's villages and you can take a trip on a narrow boat from Farncombe Boat House. The 12th century ruins of Waverley Abbey are on the banks of the river. At Hindhead, to the south-west, you can visit the Devil's Punchbowl, a huge natural area with nature trails and spectacular views.

Sussex is divided into east and west. In the east is the fairytale Bodiam Castle, north of Hastings. It stands in the middle of a lake and has a moat, spiral staircases and ancient battlements. Nearby Rye is one of the best preserved old towns in England with cobbled streets, Tudor houses and the Mermaid Inn, which opened in 1420!

Just outside the lively resort of Eastbourne is Beachy Head, an area of beautiful cliffs, forest and farmland. Rottingdean is a quintessential English village - complete with village green and duck pond.

West Sussex countryside
(picture courtesy of West Sussex Council)

West Sussex is great walking country - some of the south's best known long distance paths, including the 100-mile South Downs Way, pass through its hidden valleys, dense woodland and lively coastal resorts. At East Grinstead is Deers Leap Park, 230 acres of outstandng farmland with 8 miles of off-road tracks and trails for cyclists. North of Horsham there's Warnham Nature Reserve, a 36-acre reserve, with ponds, bird hides and a visitor centre.

At the heart of West Sussex is Pulborough, home to an RSPB nature reserve and one of the largest Roman villas in Britain. West of Pulborough is Petworth House, a 17th century house, with its own water-wheel driven pump built in 1782.

Brighton seaside
(picture courtesy of Brighton & Hove Council)

Brighton is undoubtedly the fun capital of the south coast -the city where anything goes! There's a Victorian pier, the 17th century Lanes area, Regency architecture and the extraordinary Royal Pavilion with its onion domes and soaring minarets. The beachfront is alive with action - rollerblading, volleyball, basketball, windsurfing and waterskiing. Around Brighton are the pretty downland villages of Alfriston, Burwash, Mayfield, East Dean and Ditchling.

Royal Pavilion
(picture courtesy of Brighton & Hove Council)

Hove is home to a lagoon which is popular with water sports enthusiasts and the Foredown Tower Countryside Centre, with its rare Camera Obscura with views of the Sussex Downs. Woods Watermill, near Shoreham-on-Sea, is surrounded by a nature reserve where you can see nightingales, woodpeckers and bluebells.

Arundel is famous for its Norman castle, which has a 1000-year history but there's also the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Conservation Centre where visitors are encouraged to interact with wildlife. At Chichester you can hire canoes, row boats or narrow boats and navigate the pretty Chichester Canal. There's also the ancient Roman palace of Fishbourne and famous Chichester Cathedral.

Hampshire has both beautiful countryside and a rich naval history. The Hayling Island and Havent area is a tranquil piece of rural coastline with good beaches and clean, clear water which is great for water sports.

Portsmouth is steeped in naval history. It is home to Lord Nelson's flagship, Victory, as well as the hull of the Tudor warship the Mary Rose, which sank in 1545 and was raised in 1982. Ferries leave from Gosport and Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight and France. The Isle of Wight is home to Osbourne House, Queen Victoria's retreat, overlooking the busy Solent. It was here in 1901 that Queen Victoria died.

The Hampshire towns of Fareham and Warsash and the River Hamble are popular centres for watersports. Southhampton is a busy university town and also the gateway to William the Conqueror's "new hunting forest". Today the New Forest retains its air of mystery and old-world romance. To the north of the forest is the ancient capital of England, Winchester. It's a historic town with a Norman Cathedral where many of the early English Kings and novelist Jane Austen are buried.

The River Test runs through the picturesque rural Hampshire market towns of Romsey, Stockbridge and Andover. There are thatched houses, vineyards and the famed Watership Down, just south of Newbury. Nearby Eversley Forest is great for walking, cycling and horse riding.

The medieval city of Salisbury is famous for its Cathedral and of course Britain's most enchanted and mysterious ancient site of Stonehenge. The inspiring 4,000 year-old, 25ft-high stones attract thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. Old Sarum Castle, 2 miles north of Salisbury, is an Iron Age hill fort, great for picnics and walking. The Kennet and Avon canal, which runs through the Wiltshire Downs, is a tranquil area for walking, cycling, canoeing, boating and fishing.