Hampshire History

The county town is Winchester, it is an historic city and was formerly the capital of England during the 10th and early 11th centuries, and the capital of Wessex, Hampshire has a long maritime history two of England's largest ports lie on its coast. Portsmouth, on the southern coast has been a significant naval port for centuries and is home to the world's oldest dry dock still in use, today being used for commercial use serving destinations on the continent for freight and passenger traffic,  Southampton is situated on the south coast it is the closest city to the New Forest National Park here you will find  the famous wagon rides at Burley village, see ponies and majestic herds of wild deer, even a wild boar, the world famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, can be found here, the yachting marinas at Lymington, horse riding, walks along the cliff tops with spectacular views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight visit  Bournemouth and Christchurch too, with the historic Priory & Castle ruins, a must for any history buff,  the new forest lies within the borders, as does a large area of the South Downs, it is situated approximately halfway between Portsmouth and Bournemouth where it is joined by the River Test and River Itchen, with the River Hamble. Hampshire is a popular holiday destination, with its many tourist attractions and stunning  seaside resorts. The county is famed as home of the writers Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.