SouthEngland vacation

[Nicky]

Sorry to help here as the post is very old and I just discovered it, but I do know a thing or two about the South coast 'cos I grew-up there.

Start at Brighton, a huge village that thinks it's a town. University-Vibrant and very busy at any time of the year. Don't miss the Lanes for shopping. Stay away from their nudist beach out of the summer season!

Move along the coast keeping the sea to port (the left). Aim for Dorset. The New Forest is worth exploring and is steeped in history. Keeping coastal, try Bournemouth and any villages along the way. After Bournemouth, head towards Poole, then Lulworth. Then, Durdle door, Kimmeridge Bay, Lulworth cove. All World heritage stuff there. Brownsea Island is a visit if you can still visit there - wild Peacocks, red-squirrels etc.

Sandbanks ?  Total deliciousness when the sun is shining. The Sandbanks Hotel when we last stayed there in 2001 was £200 a double-room per night. The hotel is just inches from a sandy shore and that's just a few steps from your hotel room. Awesome. You can also take the chain-link ferry from the mainland to Sandbanks which is a nature and naturist reserve.

Devon and Cornwall are very nice, been there, but during the Summer it is heaving with tourists.

The bottom-line. I reside less than 45 minutes from the French Mediterranean sea and sand which is a regular visit for lunch and to give the children some fun time in the water and messing about in the sand.

Moving back to the UK is not an option. However, if forced, our family would move to near between Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset and/or perhaps a bit further East along the coast, but near a University.

I'm 54. 
 
Ahh! I very nearly forgot (age!) The Black Bear hotel in Wareham High-Street. Choose the very best suite - not expensive. It offers a pub, restaurant and a good but humble hotel. Superb English breakfast. In the evening, take a stroll down to the river and have a drink, watch the local boat-ferry try and turn itself in the water which is often difficult ! Later, go for an Indian, Chinese, or Fish & Chips in the High-Street. Or try a posh restaurant nearby.

Why do I feel jealous writing this. It should be kept very secret!     

[Argos]

Many parts of England have less rain than The Netherlands in general
We went early summer and had a few rainy days like you can have anywhere, but for the most part we had great weather. Have a look here: http://www.klimaatinfo.nl/engeland/

[kweitzel]

Just back from 1 week of London ... but work though. Still, weather was fairly warm but quite wet. Visiting GB is still worth it, especially if you find the right time for decent weather.

cheers

Klaus

[pcwacht]

Didn't went, and am not going...

I will go foir 2 short breaks to the Moezel and Winterberg in Germany instead.

At the end I didn't trust the Brittish weather ...

Thanks for the info though, do you reckon there is a period when it is dry enough to enjoy the days there?

[Argos]

Dunno if you're already went, but we (slightly pre-50-ish) spent a vacation in South-West of England. It was absolutely great. We drove around mostly in Cornwall and Devon, using B&B's all the time. We did reserve 1 night in the beginning and in the end, but all other nights we just drove around were we felt like. There are plenty good B&B's! Some are rooms in private houses, and some are actually small hotels. We liked it! It's useful though to have a (paper) guide to B&B's, so if you don't stumble upon a nice on, you can always look one up in the guide.

The countryside is beautiful, the climate sub-tropical in the far soutwest, the old cities are nice (but expensive).

[kweitzel]

I'd say Glasgow ... But that'son the other end of the county ... ... So not really helpful.

Cheers

Klaus

[pcwacht]

Hmmm.

bump?

[pcwacht]

Now this is really, really Off-Topic but I hope there are some English balers out here as well.

We are Dutch (53-ish of age). We (my misses and me) want to go to SouthEngland this summer on vacation. It'll be our first visit to England.

My current thoughts are taking the boat from Calais to Dover and taking our car with us so we'll be mobile
We want to stay about a week somewhere around the area of Southhampton and Exeter

Purpose of the stay is to see what SouthEngland has to offer. My wife likes markets etc.

We want to stay at a hotel or something like that, near pubs and restaurants

Anyone an advice?

Thanks,
John