Hampshire

The county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England, mainly attracts day tourists, but now also receives five million staying tourists each year. This is less than before covid, and last year the numbers decreased again. Perhaps this is the time to enjoy the many national parks, such as the New Forest National Park, the Tudor architecture, and cities like Winchester and Portsmouth.

The main attraction for 2025 is the 250th anniversary celebration of author Jane Austen, who lived here and set books like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility in this location. Her birthplace in Chawton is a museum, and special exhibitions will be on display this summer in Winchester, Basingstoke, and Southampton. Compared to the over-visited nearby cities of London and Bath, Hampshire allows for a more peaceful enjoyment of a mix of heritage, natural beauty, and art.

Pascal Brackman