Fareham

Fareham sits on the Solent between Portsmouth and Southampton, and the range of places to stay here reflects a town that works for more than one kind of visit. There are straightforward town-centre options like the Red Lion Hotel by Greene King Inns and the Roundabout Hotel, business-friendly stops such as the Travelrest Fareham Solent Gateway, and something more polished at the Solent Hotel and Spa or the Georgian-fronted Lysses House Hotel. The Bugle Hotel and Trevarner Guest House add a couple of smaller, more personal options into the mix.

That variety makes sense once you look at what surrounds the town. Portchester Castle, with its Roman walls and view over the harbour, is one of the area's standout sights, and history continues at Fort Nelson, one of the Palmerston forts turned into a museum of artillery on the hill above the town. For time outdoors, Hill Head Beach gives access to the coast, while the Forest of Bere offers a green, quieter contrast inland.

Families and younger visitors are well catered for too, with Rock Up Whiteley and Red Spider Climbing offering indoor climbing, Cineworld Whiteley nearby for a rainy afternoon, and Blackbrook Park Play Area a good option for children needing to burn off energy outside.