Gosport

Gosport sits across the water from Portsmouth, and it's this stretch of harbour that shapes the town - naval history on one side, a proper working food scene on the other. With 87 restaurants and cafes listed, there's far more here than the town's size might suggest, from neighbourhood spots to community-run kitchens.

That range shows in names like 33 Green Bottles, Bakers Basket, Arty'S and Blake'S, alongside Brookes Deli for something more casual. There's also Alver Valley Gardeners Kitchen and the Woodcot Com. Assoc. Brwca, which point to a food scene with genuine local roots rather than one built purely for visitors. Bostin Choice Cafe and Bridgemary, Rowner add to the spread across the town's different pockets, so wherever you're staying you're not far from somewhere decent to eat.

For a place to stay, Gosport's options lean towards comfortable and unfussy: The Alverbank Hotel and The Anglesey Hotel both make the most of the waterside setting, while A Gosport Inn, Milvil and Spring Garden Guest House offer smaller-scale bases in town. Bridgemary Manor Hotel & Pub combines the two, and there's a Premier Inn for straightforward convenience. If you'd rather self-cater, Number 1 Admiralty Cottages is the pick, with its nod to the town's naval past built into the name.

That naval history is very much worth exploring while you're here. The Royal Navy Submarine Museum and Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower both dig into Gosport's long relationship with the sea and the services, and Little Woodham Living History Village takes things further back in time. For something more active, there's Down Range Axe Throwing, TeamSport Indoor Karting Gosport, Planet Ice Gosport and Monkey Bizness Gosport, plus craft sessions at Get Crafty with Mismatch if you fancy something calmer.

It all adds up to a town that rewards a bit of wandering - work up an appetite at one of the attractions, then let the sheer number of restaurants do the rest. Whether you end up at a harbourside hotel or a self-catering cottage, you're never short of somewhere new to try for your next meal.