Havant

Havant sits where Hampshire meets the coast, and the way people stay here tells you most of what you need to know about it. There are a handful of dependable hotels and b&bs for a straightforward stopover, but the real character of the place shows up in its self-catering cottages, most of them clustered towards Hayling Island and the water. Names like Cockles Beach House, Hayling Island Retreat and Salty Lodge give the game away: this is a coastal escape as much as a town break, somewhere people come for a week by the sea rather than a single night in a chain hotel.

For that quick, no-fuss visit, Havant has the usual reliable options: the Bear Hotel by Greene King Inns and Comfort House sit closer into town, while the Premier Inn Portsmouth Havant and Travelodge Chichester Emsworth cover the practical end of things for anyone passing through or working nearby. But it's the cottages that dominate the listings, and they lean heavily seaside - Anchor Cottage, Dreamcatcher, Poppy's by the sea and Kota@Cockle Warren all point towards Hayling Island's beaches rather than the town centre itself.

That coastal pull doesn't mean Havant is short of things to do inland. Staunton Country Park gives space for a proper walk, and Stansted Park adds a grander, more historic day out. Families travelling with children have Super Games World and Wonder World of Imagination to fall back on for a rainy afternoon, while The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre offers a more cultural stop for anyone wanting to break up the beach days. Havant Leisure Centre rounds things out for a more active visit.