Salisbury

The towering spire of Salisbury Cathedral dominates the skyline from miles around, but this medieval market town offers far more than just its famous 13th-century masterpiece. Ancient streets radiate out from the cathedral close, lined with timber-framed buildings and Georgian townhouses that house everything from independent bookshops to proper pubs serving local ales.

Salisbury sits at the confluence of five rivers in the heart of Wiltshire's rolling chalk downlands. The Wednesday and Saturday markets still pack the historic Market Square, much as they have for centuries. It's a proper working town rather than a tourist trap - locals go about their business while visitors marvel at the architecture.

Just outside town, the landscape opens up into some of England's most dramatic countryside. Stonehenge lies eight miles north, an obvious draw but hardly the only ancient monument worth your time. The area's littered with Iron Age hill forts and burial mounds, including the lesser-known but equally atmospheric Figsbury Ring.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Direct trains from London Waterloo take just 90 minutes, while the A303 provides straightforward access by car. Southampton's about 25 miles southeast if you're flying in.

Using one of the nearby holiday parks as your base makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Wiltshire. You're within striking distance of the New Forest to the south - several campsites like Hollands Wood and Matley Wood sit right on the forest edge. The kids will love Paultons Park Home of Peppa Pig World, practically on your doorstep, while golfers can choose between Paultons Golf Centre and Bramshaw Golf Course. From medieval cathedrals to prehistoric monuments, with proper countryside walks thrown in, you've got variety sorted.