SOUTHAMPTON IS SITUATED ON THE SOUTH COAST OF THE UK.
IT IS A VERY BUSY PORT, WITH CRUISE LINERS, PASSENGER FERRIES, AND COMMERCIAL SHIPPING, ALL DEPARTING DOWN THE RIVER SOLENT AND OUT INTO THE ENGLISH SEA

AS A CITY, IT HAS MANY LARGE SHOPPING CENTRES.
NUMEROUS CITY CENTRE PARKS, THAT ARE BLOOMING WITH FLOWERS IN THE SUMMERTIME.

IT IS THE HOME OF THE "GLOBAL CHALLENGE"
A MAJOR YACHTING RACE.

AND HAS AN ANNUAL HOT-AIR BALLOON SHOW ON THE LARGEST OF IT'S PARKLANDS CALLED SOUTHAMPTON COMMON. I LOVE TO GO AND WATCH MY FAVOURITE BALLOON   " BERTIE BASSETT"

IT HAS A TRAIN AND COACH STATION PROVIDING LINKS TO THE UK CAPITAL CITY OF LONDON, AND TO ALL OTHER MAJOR CITIES OF THE UK.

SOUTHAMPTON IS COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND RESIDENTIAL.
A VERY MULTICULTURAL CITY!

IT IS ALSO THE DEPARTURE POINT FOR THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL SHIPS "THE TITANIC" WHOSE MAIDEN VOYAGE, AS WE ALL KNOW, WAS SADLY DESTINED TO BE IT'S LAST!
A MEMORIAL STATUE, AND MUSEUM TO THE  ILL-FATED LINER CAN BOTH BE FOUND IN THE CITY CENTRE.

THE "MAYFLOWER" ALSO SET SAIL FROM SOUTHAMPTON
ON IT'S VOYAGE TO AMERICA.

TO THE EAST IS THE NEIGHBOURING CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, ANOTHER FAMOUS BRITISH PORT,
AND HOME OF LORD NELSONS FLAGSHIP "THE VICTORY"

THE REMAINS OF KING HENRY V111  FLAGSHIP
"THE MARY ROSE". CAN ALSO BE SEEN HERE.

PORTSMOUTH ALSO HAS CONTINENTAL FERRIES TO FRANCE. AND IS A BUSY NAVAL PORT.

TO THE WEST IS "THE NEW FOREST" HUNDREDS OF MILES OF FOREST AND SMALL VILLAGES. AN EXTREMELY PRETTY PLACE IN BOTH SUMMER AND WINTER TIMES.

THE NEW FOREST PONIES ARE A BIG ATTRACTION.
HERE PEOPLE KNOWN AS "COMMONERS" ARE ALLOWED TO GRAZE THEIR PONIES, COWS, AND EVEN PIGS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS!( THEY CLEAR UP ALL THE FALLEN ACORNS THAT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE PONIES )

THERE ARE SEVERAL CAMPSITES ON THE NEW FOREST THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION.
A CHEAP AND HANDY WAY TO HOLIDAY!

THE NEW FOREST IS THE GATEWAY TO THE WEST COAST!

NEVER VERY FAR AWAY ARE MANY SAFE SANDY BEACHES,
THE LARGEST BEING BOURNEMOUTH. HOME TO THE B.I.C.
A VENUE USED BY ALL THE BRITISH POLITICAL PARTIES AT CONFERRENCE TIMES

I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE,
THAT I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A WEALTH OF PLACES OF INTEREST AND BEAUTY RIGHT HERE ON MY DOORSTEP!