Southampton

Three train stations within a few miles tell you everything about this corner of Hampshire - it's proper commuter territory, but with surprising pockets of maritime history scattered about. The Hamble estuary cuts through the landscape here, creating a world where yacht services sit alongside suburban housing estates and ancient windmills.

Bursledon Windmill stands as the area's most striking landmark, a restored 18th-century tower mill that's one of the few working examples left in Hampshire. It's a bit of a trek up the hill, but the views across the Hamble River are well worth it. Down by the water, Hamble Yacht Services hints at the area's sailing credentials - this stretch of coast has been launching boats for centuries.

The wartime connections run deep here. HMS Cricket might sound like a joke, but it's a proper memorial to a naval training establishment. The Air Transport Auxiliary Memorial pays tribute to the ferry pilots who delivered aircraft during the Second World War, many of them women. TS Mercury memorial plinth marks another piece of naval history that shaped this landscape.

For families staying nearby, Hamble Sports Complex and Hamble Swimming Pool provide decent facilities, while Dynamo School of Gymnastics keeps the kids active. Foord Road Woods offers proper woodland walks when you need to escape the suburbia.

Getting here couldn't be easier - Hedge End and Bursledon stations put you on the main Southampton line, with regular services into the city centre. Southampton itself is barely ten minutes by car, making this area an excellent base for exploring both the New Forest to the west and Portsmouth to the east. The holiday parks scattered around here give you that countryside feel while keeping you connected to everything Hampshire's south coast offers.