Romantic breaks in the South East

The nine counties that make up South East England are the perfect place for a romantic break this summer. Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are packed with a number of exciting events, activities and special offers for couples of all ages to enjoy.

There’s a special Stanley Spencer art exhibition in Cookham; step back to the 50s and 60s at glamorous Goodwood in Chichester; and board some of the most famous navy ships from our history’s past at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard; as well as numerous parties, parades and festivals in Brighton and Surrey.

Events

Guildford Summer Festival, Surrey
19th June – 1st August 2009
This year’s festival features over 100 separate events covering music, theatre, sports, comedy, art and a whole host of other events. There will also be village fairs, farmer’s markets, craft fairs, barbeques, exhibitions, walks and tours. The Guildford Summer Festival will also be celebrating the 350th anniversary of Guildford House, Surrey’s most visited art gallery. The majority of events at the Guildford Summer Festival are free to attend.
visitsurrey.com

Glamour and excitement at Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex
July-September 2009
The ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’ (3rd-5th July 2009) is the only occasion where motoring lovers can see the greatest classic and modern sports cars and star drivers from the history of motor sort in action. Day tickets start from £59 per adult.

‘Glorious Goodwood’ (28th July-1st August 2009) is one of the most important sporting occasions in the horseracing calendar. Set on South Downs with stunning views of the Solent, it offers some of the best racing in Europe. Day tickets start from £32 per person.

This year, ‘Goodwood Revival’ (18th-20th September 2009) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit. This historic motor race meeting is staged in the 50s and 60s and sees cars and motorcycles that would have competed at Goodwood during 1948-1966 race around a classic car circuit. Prices start from £26 per person per day.
visitchichester.org

Royal Navy Past and Present at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire
18th-19th July 2009
History lovers can discover the past, present and future of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard this July. Visitors to the dockyard can board naval vessels, be entertained by the world-renowned Band of HM Royal Marines as they perform in Victory Arena, enjoy a miniature Battle of Trafalgar and Fleet Review and much more. The star attraction this summer is Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Daring, the Royal Navy’s newest warship which will be throwing open its hatches to the public for the first time. Entry to the event is free with an all-inclusive ticket to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – adult prices start from £12.50. Access to HMS Daring is free.
historicdockyard.co.uk

Summer festival fun in Brighton, East Sussex
August-September 2009
Visitors to Brighton will find plenty of vibrant festivals to enjoy this summer, including ‘Brighton Pride – Beside the Seaside’ (25th July – 2nd August 2009), which is the biggest free gay pride festival in the UK. There will be events and parties running over a week-long celebration, which culminates in a colourful carnival parade and party attended by over 100,000 party lovers in Preston Park on 1st August 2009.

Brighton Beach is also playing host to the White Air Extreme Sports Festival from 18th-20th September 2009. White Air is an international multi-sports festival with windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing making up some of the extreme watersports events. Mountain boarding, skate boarding and BMX riding provide plenty of action on land as well as water. Visitors can take advantage of the free ‘Have a Go’ taster sport sessions. Early bird weekend tickets are on sale now and start from £55 per person.
visitbrighton.com

Exhibitions

Stanley Spencer 50th anniversary exhibition, Cookham, Berkshire
Now until 1st November 2009
To mark the 50th anniversary since the death of British artist Stanley Spencer, an exhibition entitled ‘Heaven’ is running between now and 1st November 2009 at The Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham. The exhibition will feature some of his most famous works including ‘Swan Upping’, which will be on loan from London’s Tate Britain, alongside his unfinished masterpiece ‘Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta.’
visitthames.co.uk

Discounts and Offers

Term-time ferry & camping packages to the Isle of Wight
June, July, September & October 2009
June, July and September are the perfect months to enjoy a kid-free break in the South East. To promote this, ferry operator Red Funnel is offering some great value camping packages from as little as £104. The price includes return ferry travel from Southampton for up to four people; a camping pitch at either Appuldurcombe Gardens, Orchards Holiday Park, Waverley Park or Whitefield Forest Touring Park; and a 10% discount voucher to use at the popular camping store Towsure in Southampton. What’s more, Red Funnel is also offering impressively priced packages to some of the Isle of Wight’s most popular events, including Bestival. The term-time ferry offers are valid from now until 16th July 2009 and from 1st September to 2nd October 2009.
redfunnel.co.uk

Discounted tickets to the Isle of Wight’s top attractions with Wightlink
Throughout the summer
Loved ones holidaying on a budget can make the most of Wightlink’s Isle of Wight offers this summer and enjoy discounted rates and ferry travel to some of the island’s most popular attractions. Prices start from just £42 for a car and up to four people and include return ferry travel and entry to a great visitor attraction, including Osborne House, which was used as a summer retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845; Carisbrooke Castle, a medieval castle where King Charles I was held prisoner before his execution; and much more. Couples can also take a discounted steam railway trip through 10 miles of picturesque countryside on a vintage locomotive. Wightlink is also offering 2-for-1 travel for foot passengers amongst other great online deals.
wightlink.co.uk

2-for-1 deals to Oxford
Now until 30th September 2009
This summer, First Great Western has some fantastic deals allowing 2-for-1 accommodation and entry to many of Oxford’s attractions, when booking train travel. The offer includes historic landmarks like Blenheim Palace, as well as 2-for-1 accommodation at luxurious hotels like the Randolph Hotel in central Oxford. There is no limit to how many 2-for-1 offers that train travellers can take advantage of in one visit. See First Great Western’s website for more details.
firstgreatwestern.co.uk

For more information on romantic breaks and days out in South East England, visitsoutheastengland.com/timeforus.