London & South East England
Counties: London, Kent, East Sussex, West Suusex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight.
Principal towns: London, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton, Canterbury.
London - what need one say? One of the world's great cities, it abounds
with interesting historical sites. It is also a major commercial and
cultural centre, with many famous museums, art galleries, theatres,
restaurants, shops and sporting venues.
Due to its proximity to London, the South East is the most densely
populated and prosperous area of Britain. This prosperity, and its
proximity to mainland Europe (and therefore its propensity to invasion
in times past) makes for an historically interesting area, with an
abundance of stately homes, castles and cathedrals.
Kent is known as the 'Garden of England' as the flat land and the mild
climate are conducive to fruit growing. The North and South Downs are
chalk ridges that offer opportunities for easy walking.
At the coast the land generally gently shelves into the sea, with a few
exceptions, such as the famous white cliffs of Dover. The Victorian
seaside town of Brighton is where, reputedly, sea bathing was first
practised and established the British tradition of holidaying by the
sea.