The GoUK.com Guide to areas in the UK

Southern England ¦ South West England ¦ Central Southern England ¦ South East England

Southern England 

The South West of England covers the counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. It includes the national parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor, quaint villages with thatched cottages set in rolling countryside and the historic Roman city of Bath. The coast has excellent beaches, famous seaside resorts, unspoilt fishing harbours and stunning sea view walks. The South West often enjoys an “Indian summer” – a long, warm and sunny autumn and tropical plants like palm trees flourish on the coastal areas.

The counties in Central Southern England include Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire. The region includes areas of outstanding beauty – the Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs. The ‘Royal’ River Thames winds its way through Oxford, past traditional English villages, and then through London on its journey out to the sea. The New Forest in Hampshire is famous for its ponies and villages with thatched cottages. Portsmouth, the historic naval dockyard and flagship of maritime England, lies on the south coast in Hampshire.

The South East of England, which borders London, covers the four counties of Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, and West Sussex each with its own distinctive character. It includes beautiful countryside, chalk downlands, wooded valleys, world-famous gardens, historic cities and quaint villages. The south coast has safe beaches, magnificent cliffs and beautiful sea view walks. The south coast of England has the most sunshine in the UK. July is the warmest month in England.