This road trip is something special, combining two regions that would each be worth a trip in their own right: the “holiday island” of the Isle of Wight and the beautiful New Forest, with its varied landscapes of woodland, heathland and grassland – and its famous wild ponies.
Allow at least 7 days for this road trip. Twelve days would be even better, allowing you to spend a full week in one of the wonderful cosy self-catering cottages on the Isle of Wight.
Overview
Trip duration: Allow 8–10 days for this road trip, although spending a full week on the Isle of Wight makes for a wonderful summer holiday. Since most cottages are rented by the week, this length of stay often works out naturally. |
Destinations to be visited here: These are primarily Hampshire and the Isle of Wight |
Does one arrive at the coast with the particularly nice places? The Isle of Wight is an island and therefore surrounded by coastline. However, it doesn’t have the same charming fishing villages as Cornwall, but it’s definitely worth a visit! |
Is it possible to move around on this tour, e.g., hike? The Isle of Wight is a hiker’s paradise, and so is the New Forest. Whether short strolls or extended hikes through the hills and along the coast – it’s perfect for active people. And of course, cycling is great too!. |
Is this tour suitable for beginners traveling to England for the first time? We believe not, it’s more of an advanced tour for those who have already seen quite a bit of England and now want to delve deeper. |
Do I need a car for this trip? The Isle of Wight is relatively easy to visit even without a car. Take the train from London to Portsmouth and then continue by ferry to the Isle of Wight. There, you’ll find the Island Line railway and fairly good bus connections. The New Forest, on the other hand, is difficult to explore without a car. |
I come from a country where they drive on the right. Is it difficult to drive on the left? No – the British would say. But seriously, driving on the left does take a little getting used to if you’re visiting from abroad. The good news is that, after leaving the airport, you’ll usually join a motorway almost immediately. Since the carriageways are physically separated, there’s virtually no chance of ending up on the wrong side of the road. That gives you plenty of time to settle in and realise that driving on the left isn’t actually difficult—it’s just unfamiliar. The first roundabout can feel a little daunting, and so can your first turn at a junction in a town or village. But after just a few days, it all starts to feel completely natural. |
Here are some of the places along the route:
London Heathrow Airport
The London Eye from above
Wisley Gardens (Surrey)
Wisley Gardens (Surrey)
West Dean Gardens (West Sussex)
West Dean Gardens in West Sussex
Arundel (West Sussex)
Arundel in West Sussex (England)
Chichester (West Sussex)
The Market Cross in Chichester (West Sussex, England)
Bosham (West Sussex)
Bosham in West Sussex – here the waterfront road is flooded by the tide every day.
Portsmouth (Hampshire)
Portsmouth (Hampshire, England) with the Spinnaker Tower in the background and the historic HMS Victory in the foreground
Osborne House (Isle of Wight)
Osborne House on the Isle of Wight was once Queen Victoria’s favorite place.
Ryde (Isle of Wight)
Ryde Esplanade on the Isle of Wight with a now historic subway car on the Island Line
Shanklin (Isle of Wight)
Shanklin on the Isle of Wight is one of the main tourist destinations there
Godshill (Isle of Wight)
The Model Village in Godshill (Isle of Wight)
Ventnor (Isle of Wight)
Ventnor on the Isle of Wight – supposedly the sunniest place in England
Calbourne (Isle of Wight)
Calbourne on the Isle of Wight with its magnificent Winkle Street (and sheep-washing station)
St Catherine’s Lighthouse (Isle of Wight)
St. Catherine’s Lighthouse (Isle of Wight) in the evening
St Catherine’s Oratory (Isle of Wight)
View of the Isle of Wight and the sea from St. Catherine’s Oratory
Mottistone Manor Garden (Isle of Wight)
Mottistone Manor Garden on the Isle of Wight
Freshwater Bay (Isle of Wight)
Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight
Tennyson Down (Isle of Wight)
Tennyson Down on the Isle of Wight
The Needles & Battery (Isle of Wight)
The Needles on the Isle of Wight, as seen from the Battery
Yarmouth (Isle of Wight)
Pier at Yarmouth (Isle of Wight)
Lymington (Hampshire)
Lymington (Hampshire) is one of the starting points for the ferry trip to the Isle of Wight.
Buckler’s Hard (New Forest, Hampshire)
Buckler’s Hard in the New Forest (Hampshire) was once one of England’s most important shipyards.
New Forest (Hampshire)
The New Forest in Hampshire – ancient woodland, heathland and open meadows
Exbury Gardens (Hampshire)
Exbury Gardens in Hampshire
Hythe (Hampshire)
The rustic pier tram in Hythe, Hampshire
Furzey Gardens (New Forest, Hampshire)
Furzey Garden (New Forest, Hampshire) in full bloom
Compton Acres (Dorset)
Compton Acres in Dorset – a very unusual garden for England
We have personally visited all the places, sights and gardens featured in our itineraries and have written about them in detail on this website. We hope that, after exploring Southern England for yourself, you will be just as captivated by this beautiful part of England as we are!
