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Region of England
Photo: Oliver Newbury, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
South East England is one of the most visited regions of the United Kingdom, being situated around the English capital city London and located closest to continental Europe. But don't think that geographical convenience is the only reason for its popularity; there is much here of interest to the traveller, from varied natural landscapes to historic towns and cities, refined stately homes, globally-renowned gardens and adrenaline-pumping theme parks. Together with London, the South East is the main economic powerhouse of the country and is one of the most densely populated regions of Europe.
By train
The Eurostar runs passenger trains from major cities in mainland Europe to London St. Pancras.
By boat
The South's major ferry ports are (clockwise from the east) Dover (ferries from Calais and Dunkirk in France), Newhaven (ferries from Dieppe in France) and Portsmouth (ferries from the Channel…
By bus
Every town has a bus service, although these are privatised and you need to contact the right company for information. Away from the bigger towns, bus services may be limited or non-existent.
By car
With excellent public transport links, it is not necessary to have access to a car in the South East.
By ferry
In order to get to the Isle of Wight, it is necessary to make a short ferry crossing from either Southampton (Red Funnel) or Portsmouth (Wight Link).
By taxi
There are taxi firms operating everywhere, although many must be booked in advance: find the phone number of the local company in telephone directories, at railway stations or online and phone ahead.
By train
South East England has one of the highest densities of railway lines per square mile in the world, so rail travel is a very viable option, but much of it dates back to the early 20th century and…
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super-trendy town on the south coast boasting the best cultural events in the south outside of London
England's premier cathedral city
ancient Roman city located on a natural harbour
Britain's gateway to Europe with its famous castle and white cliffs
historic seaside resort with cliffs and medieval old town
world-renowned historic university city
the "Waterfront City", home to Lord Nelson's HMS Victory and the Spinnaker Tower, one of the UK's newest icons
thriving student city with excellent nightlife and shopping
location of Windsor Castle and Eton College
in Woodstock, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a World Heritage site
a range of rolling hills in central Buckinghamshire
a countryside of hills and 'chocolate box' villages, primarily in the separate regions of the West Country and West Midlands, but also runs into Oxfordshire
childhood home of Anne Boleyn in Kent, where Henry VIII spent his honeymoon(s)
Lego-themed amusement park and resort near Windsor, known for its 'Miniland' model cities.
not particularly new (William the Conqueror designated it a royal forest over 900 years ago), this national park is home to wild ponies and beautiful woods and heathland.
sweeping through Hampshire, East Sussex, and West Sussex (the South Downs) and Surrey, Sussex and Kent (the North Downs) these majestic chalk hills are popular with walkers, cyclists and people trying to escape hectic urban lives
Articles and travel topics about South East England and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsCut London travel costs with contactless transit capping, avoid airport rail traps, and explore renowned national museums completely free of charge.
6 min read
Nature & adventureMaster driving single-track roads in the Scottish Highlands and Skye. Navigate passing places, explore Glencoe and the Quiraing, and manage summer midges.
6 min read
ItinerariesLeave London behind on easy direct train day trips. Discover Roman baths in Bath, honey-stone colleges in Oxford, and the royal castle in Windsor.
6 min read
InspirationFive small towns where you can unpack for a few days, walk everywhere, and hear yourself think, all reachable without a car.
7 min read
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