2 Best Sights in The South, England

With a ruined 13th-century abbey, a stately home, and an automobile museum, Beaulieu appeals to several different interests. Beaulieu Abbey was founded in 1204 by Cistercian monks on land given to them by King John (the name means "beautiful place" in French). You can still see the ruins of the cloister and the herb garden, as well as two remaining buildings, one containing an exhibition re-creating daily life in the monastery. Palace House and Gardens incorporates the abbey's original 14th-century gatehouse and has been the home of the Montagu family since they purchased it in 1538, after the dissolution of the monasteries when the abbey was badly damaged. You can explore the drawing rooms, dining halls, fine family portraits, and the beautiful grounds. The father of the present Lord Montagu established the National Motor Museum, which traces the history of British motoring. The collection contains more than 280 classic cars and motorcycles, from late-19th-century vehicles to futuristic F1 racing cars, rally cars, and luxury cars, plus famous film cars like the flying Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and James Bond's Aston Martin from No Time to Die. Other museum attractions include interactive experiences, audiovisual displays, the World of Top Gear exhibit devoted to the popular British TV show, and rides in vehicles ranging from a monorail to a 1912 London bus. Admission is by pre-booked time slot only.

This restored 18th-century shipbuilding village, two miles south of Beaulieu, is home to a re-created Shipwright's Cottage along with a Shipwright School in a replica 18th-century timber workshop, where courses are given in traditional shipbuilding techniques. There's also a fascinating Maritime Museum, which traces the village's role in British history, including the building of Nelson's warships (the New Forest lost many of its trees from the 16th to 18th centuries, when it served as the principal source of timber for British Navy ships). From Easter through October, you can cruise down the privately owned Beaulieu River. The Master Builder's House Hotel has a bar and restaurant.