Southampton Airport 1 hr 45
Alum Bay (13 min) Tourist attraction named for its multi-colored sand cliffs & views of the Needles rock formation. Tapnell Farm Park (7 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 (13 min) A coastal fort dating from 1862 with recreated rooms, a tunnel, exhibition and the original guns. Blackgang Chine (19 min) Cowboys, pirates, dinosaurs and fairies in themed spaces, along with roller-coasters and rides. National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (1 hr 21) 250-plus vehicles and World of Top Gear, plus each ticket gives access to Abbey and Palace House. Carisbrooke Castle (19 min) Fine medieval castle and museum, where Charles I was imprisoned by Cromwell's Roundheads. The Needles Landmark Attraction (8 min) Family-friendly rides and attractions by sand cliffs with a chairlift to the beach and a lighthouse. Tennyson Down (7 min) Panoramic views are the highlight at this verdant hillside, which also features a 19th-century fort. Osborne (32 min) Italian-inspired mansion amid lush gardens and filled with Victoria and Albert's former possessions. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway (1 hr 27) Expansive woodland gardens with abundant rhododendrons and azaleas, plus steam train rides. Colwell Bay (12 min) Sand-&-shingle swimming cove with beach hut rentals, ice-cream spots, a bistro & Hurst Castle views. Compton Bay (5 min) Brisk beach backed by sandstone cliffs & grass downs drawing surfers, bathers & fossil-hunters. Hurst Castle (3 hr 55) At the end of a shingle spit, a fortress with 38-ton guns, a lighthouse exhibition and cafe. Fort Victoria (10 min) Remains of an 1855 fort featuring brick cannon casemates, a rooftop walkway with sea views & a cafe. The Needles (13 min) Picturesque set of chalk landforms with a lighthouse, chairlift, boat tours & other amenities. |