Finding the perfect honeymoon can be a challenge. Rest and relaxation are almost always high priorities after the stress and excitement of the big day, but you’ll also want to put together a trip that is memorable, romantic, and a little bit adventurous.
Luckily, Southampton is the perfect place to start your post-wedding bliss. Surrounded by gorgeous Hampshire countryside and classic English getaways, it’s not hard to discover your bliss.
Whether you are based in a country mansion and looking to explore the historic towns, monuments, and landscapes nearby, or planning to sail from Southampton to a more exotic destination, it is a great place to begin the most romantic trip of your life.
Here are the best honeymoon experiences and excursions from Southampton to help get you started.
Take a dip in the Solent
You don’t have to go far from Southampton to start having charming and romantic experiences. So if you are staying in the city or in accommodation nearby, the first stop on your honeymoon should be a dip in the Solent, one of the UK’s most beautiful stretches of water. With its crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches, the Solent is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some quality time with your new spouse.
Visit the Isle of Wight
Just a short ferry ride from Southampton lies the Isle of Wight, a gorgeous island that is perfect for a romantic getaway. With its picturesque villages and stunning coastline, the Isle of Wight is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Things move at a slower pace on the Isle of Wight, and it can feel like you’ve gone back in time, to a simpler, more traditional era of High Tea and classic English charm, but there’s a lot more to the island than meets the eye. From the stunning colored sand formations at the Needles to finding dinosaur remains and fossils at Compton Bay and Yaverland Beach, the Isle of Wight is full of surprises.
Explore the New Forest
For couples who love the outdoors, hiking around the New Forest is the perfect way to explore the best countryside Hampshire has to offer. With its abundance of wildlife and walking trails, the New Forest is the perfect place to unwind and take in the natural beauty of the UK. The New Forest, despite its name, is one of the oldest tracts of unenclosed forest land in the country, having been proclaimed as a royal forest by William the Conqueror in 1079! It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the UK, with its rolling hills, leafy woodland, and trickling brooks and streams, as well as its delightful wildlife, from the iconic New Forest ponies to several rare bird species.
Visit Stonehenge
No trip to Southampton would be complete without a visit to Stonehenge, one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks. As one of the most magical and mysterious tourist destinations in the country, Stonehenge is the perfect place to get to grips with your spiritual side on a Southampton honeymoon. These vast, ancient, and enigmatic standing stones have been used in Druidic rituals for centuries, although the mystery of where they came from, how they were erected, and what they were used for exactly remains shrouded in the mists of time.
Discover the Mediterranean
For couples who want to add a bit of adventure to their honeymoon, a sailing trip from Southampton is the perfect way to discover the Mediterranean. With its stunning coastline and beautiful islands, the Mediterranean is the perfect place to enjoy some quality time together. From gorgeous Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos to extravagant Italian culture in Rome and Naples, a Mediterranean cruise is one of the most perfect ways to spend a special vacation with your new spouse.