Top Things to do in South East England
Top Hotels in South East England
- 1. Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal) Hotel
- 2. Forest Park Country Hotel & Inn
- 3. Hotel Pelirocco
- 4. The Grand Brighton
- 5. room2 Southampton hometel
- 6. Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel
- 7. The Holt Hotel
- 8. Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa
- 9. The Runnymede on Thames
- 10. The Crown Manor House Hotel
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in South East England That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in South East England, United Kingdom including St. George's Chapel, The Mary Rose, Great Cockcrow Railway, Canterbury Cathedral, University of Oxford, Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Winchester Cathedral, Bodleian Library, Isle Of Wight Coastal Footpath, Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Restaurants in South East England
1. St. George's Chapel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,699 reviews
Reviewed By sideboards
Inside the chapel you’ll find 10 different kings buried, beautiful ornate wood work commissioned by Henry V111 for Catherine of Aragon, and the stunning stained glass windows of this amazing church, inside is the final resting place of the queen mother and princess Margret along with princess Charlotte. This is a working church so you can listen to choirs and join the congregation for prayer.
2. The Mary Rose
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5,617 reviews
The Mary Rose is home to the Mary Rose and the thousands of artefacts that were recovered from the Solent. Built between 1509 and 1511, The Mary Rose was one of the first ships able to fire a broadside, and was a firm favourite of King Henry VIII. After a long and successful career, she sank accidentally during an engagement with the French fleet in 1545. Her rediscovery and raising were seminal events in the history of nautical archaeology. After a 34 year conservation project, the Mary Rose is now fully on display within her purpose-built museum. Please note that The Mary Rose is not included in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 11 Attraction Ticket. We currently offer a 10% discount to holders of a valid 11 Attraction Ticket upon its presentation at either our Visitor Centre at the main dockyard entrance (Victory Gate), or at our museum. Tickets purchased before 1st April 2018 will still be accepted until their expiration date.
Reviewed By 910adrianh - Frome, United Kingdom
Have visited this museum twice now and each time have been amazed at the restoration and historical background to life onboard in Tudor times that it provides and demonstrates. Attended a brilliant talk about the threat of French invasion at the time.
3. Great Cockcrow Railway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By bottomleybradley2015 - Hastings, United Kingdom
What a great railway, the staff are all extremely friendly and welcoming. My friend and I have never visited before, we got a really good welcome form one member of staff who on noticing we worked for a Heritage Railway got a great tour of the loco sheds and a ride before it opened to the public which was great. After this we bought ticket for another ride and bought on for the trip we had. The track layout is great, it’s a good 10 minute ride which is well worth the ticket price, will highly recommend friends to visit this railway, a true hidden gem.
4. Canterbury Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,899 reviews
The first Church of England, this historic gothic-style cathedral dates back to 597, which served as a rich and powerful monastery of Benedictine monks in the 12th century.
Reviewed By ianhB1787OH - Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Visited to explore the grounds and the interior, booked one of the local guides to take us on tour and this added such a nice insight into the history and fabric of the magnificent building. 100% enjoyable and well worth the charge, its a must for anyone visiting this part of the UK.
5. University of Oxford
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,610 reviews
Starting as early as 1096 with some form of teaching, Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world.
Reviewed By Onleaveagain - Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
The university is formed from almost forty individual colleges. The grandest buildings are located in the colleges which are the oldest. The majority of buildings are built in sandstone with ornate door and window surrounds, towers and huge pillars. Access to several colleges can be gained for a small fee. Oxford is known as the ‘city of dreaming spires’ and just looking around the skyline it is easy to see why.
6. Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,850 reviews
The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Our world famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. The Museum is open every day, 10am–5pm. Admission is free.
Reviewed By alisonccooper - London, United Kingdom
The artefacts in the Ashmolean have survived the rise and fall of several Empires, and the museum has adapted to change, moving from its original venue to the current site a decade ago. Undeterred by the corona virus pandemic it has reopened its doors. Climbing the stairs from the buried urns of Ancient Egypt and Greece towards modern European Art, the spotlight trail mobile phone download takes the visit right up to the present day. Lower visitor numbers mean it is quiet and still with ample opportunity to get up close to the objects. Staff maintain a discreet distance and the status provide plenty of company.
7. Winchester Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,333 reviews
Winchester Cathedral is one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe, nestled at the heart of historic Winchester. It has been a place of worship and welcome for over 900 years and is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. Step inside to marvel at the longest medieval Nave in Europe, admire stunning architecture and encounter priceless treasures including the 12th-century Winchester Bible. Winchester Cathedral is the resting place of Saxon royalty and Jane Austen, the much-loved English novelist. Don't miss the new exhibition Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation which takes visitors through 1,000 years of history from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day. One of the best ways to explore is with a guided tour, available from 10am - 3pm Monday to Saturday. After your visit, take time to enjoy delicious home-cooked food in the Cathedral Refectory with its medieval walled garden or browse the Cathedral Shop for souvenirs and exclusive gifts.
Reviewed By JaneB2282
We visited Winchester Cathedral today and can throughly recommend the 1 hour guided tour, it gave great insights into the history and stories behind this beautiful Cathedral and our tour guide Lorraine Estelle was wonderful and definitely deserves a special mention ..
8. Bodleian Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,263 reviews
The world-famous Bodleian Libraries is a must-see cultural destination in the heart of Oxford. It founded by Sir Thomas Bodley and officially opened in 1602. Since then the Bodleian libraries has grown to be the largest academic library system in the UK. In its reading rooms generations of famous scholars have studied through the ages, amongst them monarchs, Nobel Prize winners, British Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. At the site, you can explore historic spaces that you might recognise from popular films and TV series such as Harry Potter and A Discovery of Witches. We also offer free, inspiring exhibitions featuring the libraries’ rich collections, two unique gift shops and a lovely café.
Reviewed By SCagray - Santa Cruz, United States
This was a wonderful way to experience the library! We took the 90 minute tour which including going inside Radcliff Camera, highly recommend!! Our guide was very knowledgeable and she was witty as week. We thoroughly enjoyed it and learned so much more than we would have without the tour.
9. Isle Of Wight Coastal Footpath
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 181 reviews
Reviewed By stewartc640 - Chatham, United Kingdom
We have been walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path in sections with an ambition of completing the complete circuit in time. The coastal paths are generally well signposted (though not always strictly ‘coastal’), and due to the coastal erosion in some areas of the island not there at all! Nether the less we enjoy taking these paths as we see parts of the island and views from the coast that we have not seen before and self-initiated impromptu diversions add to the experience for us. We completed the following sections on our most recent visit: Niton to Ventnor One of our most recent walks around the island Coastal path was between Niton and Ventnor, walking towards the latter as we had parked our car here. We started at Niton (‘Baptist Church’ bus stop), catching the bus (service 6) to there from Ventnor. Our walk started a short distance from here and we soon found ourselves skirting a large field high up on the cliffs giving fantastic views over the area known as the ‘Undercliff’. St Catherine’s lighthouse can also be seen from this vantage point. A bit later the path drops down the side of the cliffs into the pretty village of St Lawrence and from here to Steephill Cove the path literally runs along the edge of the cliffs right next to the sea. Looking back, the walker can see the cliff tops from which they have just descended. Fantastic views can be gained on this part of the walk as you pass Woody Bay, Mount Bay and Orchard Bay and photographers can get some good pictures though don’t get too near the edge! After passing by the Ventnor cricket ground and Steephill Gardens, the very pretty Steephill Cove is reached and here you can get refreshments if required and there are also toilet facilities available. From Steephill Cove, the path follows the coast as you approach Ventnor and some nice shots of this beach resort can be taken and also look out for the large ‘Ventnor’ sign cut into the grass bank. Our walk ended in the ‘La Falaise’ car park in Ventnor but the Coastal Park continues from here onto Bonchurch, Luccombe and Shanklin via the ‘Landslip’ which is also an interesting walk. Although not a particularly long walk (about 4.5 miles), we enjoyed it nethertheless and it was nice passing the time with some fellow walkers along the way. Bembridge to Ryde Another of our walks around the island Coastal path was between Bembridge and Ryde we chose to walk towards the latter town as we would have views across the Solent towards the mainland as we went. We started at Bembridge (‘Bembridge Point’ bus stop), catching the bus (service 8) to there from Lake. The walk starts off skirting the harbour area at Bembridge passing a number of small boatyards along the way and then enters the town of St Helens with its picturesque town sign. Just past the old St. Helens mill there is a lovely walk across the mill dam wall and on the other side we crossed to the beach at Duver with its ruined church and what appears to be old railway carriage bodies being used as beach huts. After leaving Duver beach, the coastal path heads inland to pass around the Nodes Point holiday camp and after passing through some countryside the path re-joins the coast again at the picturesque Seagrove Bay. The coastal path now diverts along an alley way by some public toilets, but if the tide is out it is possible to walk along the shingle beach to Seaview. We stopped here for refreshments before continuing on past Nettlestone Point and Puckpool Point following the sea wall getting some fine views of the Solent forts and also the mainland just across the water. There were regular public toilets along this stretch should you need them. Puckpool Park is worth a passing visit sited in an old Victorian coastal battery and here you will also find refreshments and toilet facilities. The walk continues into Ryde passing Appley beach and its tower and we ended it with a walk along the ½ mile long Ryde Pier to catch the train back to Shanklin. A pleasant and good length walk (about 8 miles) mixing a vibrant harbour scene, an inland walk through fields and tree lined paths and finally along the coast with some picturesque bays and as you approach Ryde, expansive beaches. The walk is mostly flat but with some minor climbs as you pass around Nodes point. Bembridge to Shanklin Another of our walks around the island Coastal path was between Bembridge and Shanklin we chose to walk towards the latter town as we would returning to our accommodation. We started at Bembridge (‘Bembridge Point’ bus stop), catching the bus (service 8) to there from Lake. The walk starts off skirting the beach at Bembridge although we chose to divert from the coastal path and walked along the seashore itself. Regaining the path at Bembridge lifeboat station we were then diverted away from the coast firstly along a tree lined path and then through a housing estate emerging at the Crab & Lobster Inn. Between here and White Cliff Bay, sections of the coastal path have been lost to a landslip and is impassable. We chose to take to the beach and because the tide was going out walked along to White Cliff Bay on the shoreline. Note that this route requires the walker to pass over rocky and slippery terrain and is not recommended for those with mobility issues. We reached White Cliff bay with some sense of relief having kept our eye on the tide and climbed up the very steep tarmac path to regain the coastal path once more. The path now skirts a large caravan park before ascending up to Culver Down with its tall Yarborough monument on top, this is quite a climb although the paths are easy to follow but the views from the Down are very rewarding. There is a small café on the summit and also a public house and we chose the former for a cup of tea and a snack before continuing along the path now taking the long descent from Culver Down into Yaverland where there are public toilets in the car park. From Yaverland we followed the promenade through Sandown and passing its pier and once again diverged from the path which climbs up onto the cliffs, choosing instead to continue along the promenade to Shanklin. Certainly an interesting and good length walk (about 7 miles) especially if like us you take the shoreline in places instead of the formal coastal path. The missing section between Bembridge and White Cliff Bay could be a problem if you are seeking a path with a good surface and the alternative would be to follow the public roads that run parallel with the coast. The walk requires a significant climb from sea level up to Culver Down about 104m so bear this in mind if you are undertaking this route. Alternatively the approach from Yaverland in the opposite direction is shallower but longer.
10. Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,362 reviews
The Museum of Natural History houses the University's scientific collections of geological and zoological specimens. The Museum itself is a Grade 1 listed building, renowned for its spectacular neo-Gothic architecture. Among its most famous features are the Oxfordshire dinosaurs, the dodo, and the swifts in the tower.
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
The exterior is stunning the interior is fabulous like a movie designed museum, the T-Rex is there to greet you when you enter and the interior design is just spectacular, a sheer joy to visit and look at the exhibits, make sure you make a donation.
