Southampton

Southampton is a port city with a rich heritage, superb sea front, award winning museums and art galleries, and plenty of parks and gardens. Bournemouth is a short distance away with sandy beaches and fish and chips. Southampton is home to some of the most prominent maritime events and has entered the 21st century as the region's capital of leisure and culture.

Sports facilities in the city are under recent large scale improvement with key international events, innumerable new pubs and nightclubs, and improved restaurants.

The recently redeveloped Ocean Village is situated around one of the main marinas and accommodates cafes, bars and a number of cinemas. Dozens of weird and wonderfully shaped hot air balloons take to the sky during the Balloon festival and tens of thousands of visitors come to see the Southampton International Boat Show each September.

With a student population of around 40,000, the city has developed many bars, pubs, cafes, and restaurants around the city centre and campus. Located in the Southampton city centre, Leisureworld has bars, nightclubs, restaurants and a multiplex cinema making it one of the biggest entertainment developments in the UK. A selection of plays can also be seen at The Nuffield Theatre in the city centre.

For shopping, WestQuay shopping centre is a premier shopping destination for the region, offering a spacious environment with a combination of varying retail brands, located in the heart of Southampton City Centre.

The Royal Victoria Country Park is set in over 200 acres of woods and parkland. Facilities including Heritage Centre shop, historical exhibition, tower views, tea rooms, play areas, miniature railway and regular events.

Europe's largest gathering of Otters, Owls and other indigenous wildlife are set in their natural surroundings in 25 acres of secluded woodland at the New Forest Otter Owl & Wildlife Park.

Something for all ages can be found at Paultons Park for an action-packed day out. Over 40 different attractions include fascinating museums, bird gardens, thrilling rides, and a maze. A historic working farm museum can be found at Manor Farm Country Park, other included attractions are vintage machinery, a gift shop and tea rooms.