HMS VICTORY, THE MARY ROSE AND ROYAL NAVAL MUSEUM Three important historic sites at one location. The Royal Naval Museum is an archive of naval history. The HMS Victory exhibition covers the history of the ship and the Battle of Trafalgar. Link - http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/hmsvictory Link - http://www.hmsvictory.ngfl.gov.uk STURMINSTER NEWTON Thomas Hardy settled in a cottage here after his travels to Paris and London. Whilst living here he wrote `Return of the Sender'. Link -http://www.thomashardy.co.uk/Places.htm OSBORNE HOUSE In 1845 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House and its 1000 acres. Osborne House was a retreat for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They greatly enjoyed the Isle of Wight, far from the pressures court life at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Queen Victoria, after Albert died, spent most of her time at Osborne House and she died there in 1901. The longest reigning english monarch (1837 to 1901). Since her death little has changed at Osborne and many of the royal couple's possessions, photographs and paintings are still at Osborne. Link - http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/osborne-house.htm EXBURY GARDENS This is a spectacular 200-acre woodland garden, world famous for the Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas & camellias. A wonderful way of seeing the gardens is to use the steam railway that follows a one and a quarter mile circular route through a series of individual themed gardens based on the plants character, texture and colour. The location has excellent facilities for disabled visitors together with gift shop, plant centre and tearooms Link - http://www.exbury.co.uk WINCHESTER, SALISBURY & CHICHESTER CATHEDRALS Winchester is the ancient capital of Anglo-Saxon kingdom Wessex and the cathedral has its origins in the 7th Century. One of the most important cities in all of medieval England. Link - http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk Salisbury is the epitome of an English market town. It boasts a staggeringly beautiful cathedral. Link - http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk Chichester, for over 900 years, worship has taken place at the great Norman cathedral in Chichester. Link - http://www.chichestercathedral.org.uk