SS Persia Commemorative Sundial

The SS Persia Commemorative Sundial sits in Hampshire as a quiet memorial to a ship torpedoed during World War One. It's not flashy - just a sundial marking where the vessel went down in the Solent, visible from the shore near Southampton. The real draw here is the story: the Persia was a P&O liner carrying passengers and crew when a German U-boat struck in 1915. Over 300 people died. Walking out to find this marker feels respectful, intimate even, away from the usual tourist circuits.

This one's for history buffs and anyone with an interest in maritime tragedy. You won't need long - ten minutes to locate it, maybe another ten to sit with what it represents. The location itself, looking out across the water towards where the ship sank, gives the memorial proper weight. It's the kind of place that rewards a quiet moment rather than a rushed visit.

The nearest proper base is Southampton, which has several caravan parks within striking distance - Lepe Beach Campsite is closest at just three miles. If you're camping in the area and want to string together a few historical visits, this works well as part of a broader Solent exploration. The New Forest is a short drive north if you need something cheerier afterwards. There's no visitor centre here, no facilities - it's just a sundial and the water. That's rather the point.