5 Best Places To Visit In The South Of England

Last Updated on 22nd October 2022

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Our South Coast England road trip was one of the best UK adventures we’ve ever experienced. As soon as we bought and self-converted our own campervan, I knew that I wanted to explore more of the south of England as it’s a place that I’d never really dedicated much time to.

When it comes to things to do in the south of England, you’re truly spoiled for choice and with regards to places to stay, thanks to Classic Cottage’s abundance of awesome holiday cottages in the UK, there are so many excellent accommodation options for your south England trip.

Below, I’m sharing my top 5 best places to visit in the south of England, including the iconic Jurassic Coast from Devon to Dorset, plus all the best coastal holiday cottages to enjoy a relaxing seaside break in between.

1. Devon – best places to visit in the south of England

Day 14 - Woolacombe & Ilfracombe - South Coast England Road Trip

Devon is undoubtedly one of the best places to go on holiday in England, particularly if you’re looking for a combination of cities and beaches. You’ve got the gorgeous city of Exeter with its beautiful cathedral, plus lovely seaside towns such as Woolacombe, Plymouth, Salcombe and more.

On our South England road trip in the summer of 2021, we drove through numerous places in Devon after our time on the iconic Jurassic Coast and while I didn’t love Devon quite as much as Cornwall or Dorset (more on those below!), I do still think that Devon is worth adding to your South England bucket list.

There are so many beautiful places to visit in Devon and it’s definitely one of the best seaside towns in England, making it an idyllic summer holiday spot for the whole family.

Best places to visit in Devon

Exeter
Plymouth
Woolacombe
Salcombe
Seaton

Where to stay in Devon

If you’re looking for the best places in Devon, look no further than the gorgeous seaside towns of Woolacombe, Plymouth and more.

There are some truly stunning places to stay in Devon, so whether you’re looking for a beautiful cottage with a hot tub or you’d prefer a more homely stay with spectacular views of a marina, Devon’s accommodation options are limitless.

Devon is such a huge county that you really do get the best of both worlds when looking for somewhere to stay and even if you’re staying inland in Exeter, for example, you can easily get to the seaside and harbourside towns in Devon in less than 45-minutes.

2. Cornwall

Be blown away by the landscape at Tintagel Castle

While I did really enjoy Devon, I personally much prefer Cornwall and if you’re looking for somewhere in the south of England to spend your summer holidays, Cornwall is undoubtedly the place to be.

Cornwall is home to some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches, with my personal favourites being Lantic Bay, Perranporth and Gwithian Beach. In the summertime, Cornwall gets positively heaving with locals and holidaymakers, so I’d recommend trying to visit in the shoulder season in either May or September so that you can still enjoy the British sunshine somewhat, but you won’t be overwhelmed by the vast crowds of other holidaymakers.

It’s definitely one of the best places to visit along the south coast of England thanks to its bountiful beaches and gorgeous seaside towns and I could quite happily return to Cornwall every single year for a British summer holiday.

Best things to see/do in Cornwall

Soak up the sunshine at Porthcurno Beach

Polperro
Lantic Bay
Lizard Point
Kynance Cove
Land’s End

Where to stay in Cornwall

Located on the southwestern tip of England, Cornwall is a vast county with some of the UK’s best seaside towns and beaches. A visit to the iconic Land’s End is a must while you’re in the area which is the most westerly point of mainland England and a trip to one of Cornwall’s best beaches should also be on your itinerary.

Stay in a stunning holiday home in the village of St Agnes, just a short 10-minute drive from the gorgeous beach of Perranporth is an idyllic place to stay in Cornwall. If you’re looking for a family-friendly home that can sleep up to ten people, complete with its very own hot tub and barbecue, this is the perfect place for you.

3. Dorset

Home to the beloved Jurassic Coast, Dorset is unquestionably one of the best places to visit in the south of England. Even if you’ve never been to Dorset, you’ll have likely heard of the infamous Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove which is some of the most beautiful feats of nature I’ve ever seen.

Durdle Door is even more magnificent in real life than I expected and despite it being incredibly busy when we visited during August, it was worth tackling the crowds for the marvellous views.

Things to see/do in Dorset – best places to visit in the south of England

Durdle Door
Lulworth Cove
Old Harry Rocks
Corfe Castle
Swanage

Where to stay in Dorset

Corfe Castle is one of the best places to stay in Dorset as it’s so conveniently located in Dorset with the likes of Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole all being less than a half an hour drive from the adorable village. This adorable home makes for the perfect family getaway, whether you’re visiting during the summer months when you can enjoy dinner on the outdoor patio or during the cosier autumn and winter months when you can cosy up in front of the fire in the spacious living area.

4. The Cotswolds

I’ve only spent a brief amount of time in the remarkable area of the Cotswolds but it’s a place that I’m very eager to return to, hopefully at some point during this year. The Cotswolds spans an enormous 800 square miles and runs through numerous counties in England, including Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and is home to some of the prettiest towns and villages in the UK.

Speaking of the prettiest villages in the UK, Castle Combe is an absolute must-visit while you’re in the Cotswolds. While there aren’t tonnes of things to see or do in the village, apart from a couple of pubs and tea rooms, the village itself is just so beautiful and photogenic that it’s hard not to love it!

Best things to see/do in the Cotswolds

Castle Combe
Bourton-on-the-Water
Malmesbury
Cirencester
Winchcombe

Where to stay in the Cotswolds – best places to visit in the south of England

As the Cotswolds is so huge, it can be tricky to choose a place to base yourself while you’re there. Thankfully, there are dozens of wonderful villages, towns and cities to welcome you to the Cotswolds, so you’ll truly be spoiled for choice.

One of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds is this beautiful cottage in Stow-on-the-Wold, a tiny village right in the heart of the AONB. It’s the perfect place to base yourself so that you can explore as much of the Cotswolds as possible and Stow-on-the-Wold is a gorgeous, quaint village in itself as well.

5. Sussex – best places to visit in the south of England

Yet another one of the best places to visit in the south of England is Sussex. Comprising a huge area that’s home to one of the best British seaside cities, Brighton, Sussex is a fantastic place for a family holiday, a trip with friends or a romantic weekend away.

We visited a fair few places in Sussex on a road trip in 2021 and even though I’d never been before, I was super happy to discover this awesome part of the country. Of course, there are hundreds of places to visit, but the likes of Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne are all firm favourites.

Things to see/do in Sussex

Day 4 UK road trip - Eastbourne, Seven Sisters & Brighton

Seven Sisters
Brighton
Hastings
Eastbourne
Chichester

Where to stay in Sussex

Less than a 20-minute drive from Hastings, you’ll find the small town of Battle which is home to The Roost, a gloriously cosy and beautifully-decorated family home that’s utterly perfect for exploring many places around the area. Not only is the property itself stunning, but it also boasts unparalleled views of Battle Abbey which makes it a truly awesome place to stay in Sussex; you definitely need to add it to your south England bucket list!

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