Royal Victoria Country Park

The waterfront at Royal Victoria Country Park stretches across 200 acres of former dockland, transformed into something genuinely worth an afternoon. You get proper views across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight, and on a clear day the light hits the water just right - it's the kind of spot where you actually want to sit down with a coffee and stay put.

Walking the paths here feels purposeful rather than aimless. There's the old Victorian fort to poke around, remnants of the park's industrial past scattered about, and enough open grassland that families don't feel herded. Kids will enjoy the water views and space to run about, though it's not a full-day attraction unless you're serious about rambling or birdwatching. The Solent's a proper migration route, so bring binoculars if you're into that sort of thing.

It's barely a mile from Southampton's edge, which makes it ideal if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Bell Tent Glamping sits practically on the doorstep, while Sunnydale Farm and Mercury Holiday Park are a short drive away. Free to wander, and there's decent parking. Allow an hour to ninety minutes for a decent walk, longer if you settle in to watch the boats pass. Come when the wind's not howling straight off the water, which is most of the time November through February. Spring brings the migratory birds; summer's busier but the views are worth the company.