Attractions in

South Central England

Bedfordshire         Berkshire        Buckinghamshire        Hampshire        Isle of Wight      Oxfordshire

Bedfordshire

The county of Bedfordshire is found just north of London, and consists of lovely country as well as commercialism and industry in the urban centres. Luton airport is a main transportation hub.  

Attractions In Bedfordshire:

 Bedford Butterfly Park, Bedford

 Bedford Museum, Bedford

 Bromham Mill, Bromham

 Bushmead Priory, Colmworth

 Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford  

 Elstow Moot Hall, Elstow

 Houghton House, Ampthill

 John Bunyan Museum and Bunyan Meeting Free Church, Bedford  

  Stevington Windmill, Stevington

 The Gallery, Cardington

 The Marston Vale Millennium Country Park, Marston Moretaine 

 Woburn Abbey, Woburn

 Woburn Safari Park, Woburn

Berkshire

The Thames flows through Berkshire giving the county its character. Much of the countryside is still used for farming, and walking paths are in abundance. The Ridgeway Path, and ancient trackway, crosses the downs south of Thames River. Another method of travel through the county is by boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal.  The main tourist centre seems to be focussed around Windsor, with Windsor Castle and Legoland being two popular attractions.

  Attractions in Berkshire:

 Ascot Racecourse, Ascot  

 Basildon Park, Lower Basildon 

 Beale Park,  Lower Basildon 

 Cliveden, Maidenhead 

 Cole Museum of Zoology, University of Reading

 Coral Reef Waterworld, Bracknell  

 Englefield House & Garden, Reading

 Eton College,  Windsor

 Kennet Horse Boat Co., Newbury

 Legoland, Windsor

 Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading

 Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley 

 Savill Garden, Windsor

 Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, University of Reading

 Windsor Castle, Windsor

Buckinghamshire

This county lies northwest of London and is within easy reach for tourists and commuters alike. There are several historic homes worth visiting, including Waddesdon Manor and Claydon House. Many quaint and charming villages are found in the area, particularly along the Thames. The Chiltern Hills are found in southern Buckinghamshire, and are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Ridgeway Path runs along the Chilterns, and it is possible to view Chequers, the country residence of the Prime Minister, from the path.

 Attractions in Buckinghamshire:

Ascott House, Wing   

Bekonscot Model Village, Beaconsfield

Bletchley Park, nr Milton Keynes

Buckinghamshire County Museum, Aylesbury 

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Aylesbury

Chicheley Hall Conference Centre, Newport Pagnell

Chiltern Open Air Museum, nr Chalfont St Giles

Claydon House, Middle Claydon    

Cowper and Newton Museum, Olney  

Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe

Milton’s Cottage, Chalfont St. Giles   

Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckingham

Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, nr. Aylesbury

Hampshire

The county of Hampshire is a lovely mix of urban centres and unspoilt countryside.  The port cities of Portsmouth and Southampton are found on the coast, and the large New Forest area is on the western side of the county. The New Forest was historically designed as a royal hunting domain and has remained protected for centuries. Animals roam at large while cars pass through or stop for picnics. There are excellent hiking and cycling trails throughout the region.

Attractions in Hampshire:

 Airborne Forces Museum, Aldershot 

 Army Medical Services Museum, Aldershot

 Avington Park, Winchester 

 Basing House Ruins, Basingstoke 

 Bear Museum (The), Petersfield 

 Beaulieu, Beaulieu 

 Breamore House and Museum, near Fordingbridge  

 Broadlands, Romsey 

 Charles Dickens Birthplace, Portsmouth 

 D-Day Museum & Overlord Embroidery, Southsea 

 Exbury Gardens & Railway, nr Southampton 

 Gilbert White's House & The Oates Museum, near Alton 

 Gurkha Museum, Winchester 

 Hinton Ampner Garden, nr Alresford 

 Hospital of St Cross (The), Winchester

 Houghton Lodge Gardens and Hydroponicum, Stockbridge 

 Jane Austen House, Chawton

 Longdown Activity Farm, nr Southampton 

 Marwell Zoological Park, Winchester  

 Mottisfont Abbey, nr Romsey 

 Museum of Army Flying, Stockbridge 

 New Forest Museum & Visitor Centre, Lyndhurst 

 Royal Armouries, Fareham 

 Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum, Winchester 

 Royal Marines Museum, Southsea

 Royal Navy Museum and Dockyards, Portsmouth

 Sammy Miller Museum Trust, New Milton 

 Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle 

 Staunton Country Park, Havant 

 The Vyne, Basingstoke

 The Watercress Line, Alresford  

 Willis Museum, Basingstoke 

 Winchester Cathedral, Winchester

 Isle of Wight   

The Isle of Wight can be found in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire. It is accessible by ferry from several mainland ports. Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight is a major yachting event. This is a very popular vacation destination as it is only two hours away from London and has wonderful clean beaches and peaceful countryside.

 Attractions in the Isle of Wight:

Appuldurcombe House Ventnor 

Barton Manor Gardens, East Cwes

 Bembridge Maritime Museum Isle of Wight Shipwreck ,Bembridge

 Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Ventnor

 Isle of Wight Glass, St Lawrence

 Isle of Wight Pearl, Brighstone

 Isle of Wight Rare Breeds and Waterfowl Park, St Lawrence

 Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Havenstreet

 Isle of Wight Wax Works, Brading

 Isle of Wight Zoo, Home of the Tiger Sanctuary ..., Sandown

 Needles Park, (The)

 Shanklin Chine, Shanklin

 Yafford Mill, Newport

  Oxfordshire

One of the biggest attractions in the county is the city of Oxford itself, the city of “Dreaming Spires”.  The university dominates the town, with its wonderful old buildings. The Thames meanders through the city and countryside beyond. West of Oxford lie the Cotswolds, an area of quaint villages, and yellow stone houses. There are many historical buildings in Oxfordshire including Blenheim Palace, the home of Winston Churchill, and Sulgrave Manor, the home of George Washington’s family. The Henley Royal Regatta is run in Henley-on-Thames.

 Attractions in Oxfordshire:

Ashmolean Museum (of Art and Archaeology), Oxford

 Carfax Tower, Oxford  

 Charlbury Museum, Charlbury  

 Chiltern Sculpture Trail, Watlington  

 Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor   

  Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford  

 Cogges Manor Farm Museum Witney

 Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford

 Greys Court, Henley on Thames

 Harcourt Arboretum, Nuneham Courtenay  

 Isis Ceramics, Horton cum Studley  

 Kingston Bagpuize House, Abingdon

 Mansfield College, Oxford  

 Mapledurham House and Watermill, nr Reading

 Minster Lovell Hall and Dovecote, Minster

 Museum of Oxford, Oxford  

 Museum of the History of Science, Oxford

 Oxford University Museum of Natural History

 Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock,

 Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford  

 Regimental Museum Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light ..., Headington  

 River & Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames

 Rousham Park House and Garden, Bicester

 Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford  

 Stanton Harcourt Manor House and Gardens, Witney

 Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames

 Sulgrave Manor, near Banbury

 The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, Oxford

 The Oxford Story, Oxford

 The Tolsey Museum, Burford  

 Town Hall Plate Room-The Crypt, Oxford,

 University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Oxford  

  Waterperry Gardens Limited, Waterperry,

 Buscot Park Faringdon