Southampton Airport 1 hr 39
Carisbrooke Castle (22 min)
Fine medieval castle and museum, where Charles I was imprisoned by Cromwell's Roundheads. Compton Bay (13 min)
Brisk beach backed by sandstone cliffs & grass downs drawing surfers, bathers & fossil-hunters. National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (1 hr 14)
250-plus vehicles and World of Top Gear, plus each ticket gives access to Abbey and Palace House. The Needles Landmark Attraction (12 min)
Family-friendly rides and attractions by sand cliffs with a chairlift to the beach and a lighthouse. Palace House (1 hr 13)
Private 13th-century country manor with Victorian interiors, offering tours, exhibits & a gallery. Hurst Castle (2 hr 54)
At the end of a shingle spit, a fortress with 38-ton guns, a lighthouse exhibition and cafe. Highcliffe Castle (1 hr 23)
Gothic revival mansion dating from 1836, with restored exteriors, plus tearoom and gardens. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway (1 hr 20)
Expansive woodland gardens with abundant rhododendrons and azaleas, plus steam train rides. Colwell Bay (11 min)
Sand-&-shingle swimming cove with beach hut rentals, ice-cream spots, a bistro & Hurst Castle views. Alum Bay (17 min)
Tourist attraction named for its multi-colored sand cliffs & views of the Needles rock formation. Fort Victoria (6 min)
Remains of an 1855 fort featuring brick cannon casemates, a rooftop walkway with sea views & a cafe. Tapnell Farm Park (12 min)
Farm-themed amusement park with a petting zoo, plus go-kart rides, sledge slides & play areas. National Trust - The Needles Old Battery & New Battery (17 min)
A coastal fort dating from 1862 with recreated rooms, a tunnel, exhibition and the original guns. The Needles (17 min)
Picturesque set of chalk landforms with a lighthouse, chairlift, boat tours & other amenities. Osborne (31 min)
Italian-inspired mansion amid lush gardens and filled with Victoria and Albert's former possessions. | 
