A Guide to Living in South East England

Where is South East England?

South East England stretches from Kent – the south-easterly tip of the UK – and curls around London and up into Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It stretches south west along the south coast as far as the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, including Portsmouth and Southampton.

South East England counties

Buckinghamshire

Home County Buckinghamshire shares a border with London to the south east, making it a prime commuter location for the capital with easy access to the rest of the UK. The Chiltern Hills attract many tourists to Buckinghamshire, while the Prime Minister’s retreat house at Chequers attracts a more select group of visitors to the county.

East Sussex

Well known for its beautiful white cliffs along the south coast and the verdant plains of the South Downs, East Sussex is also a county with a rich history. Herstmonceux, Pevensey and Lewes castles convey the strategic importance of this strip of land along the south coast – also the location of the Battle of Hastings.

Hampshire

Hampshire, along with the Isle of Wight and the unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton, make up the south-westerly tip of the South East of England. One of the wealthiest counties in the UK, Hampshire also boasts beautiful scenery in the form of the New Forest and South Downs National Parks.

Isle of Wight

Sitting just off the south coast opposite Southampton and Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight is England’s largest island. Perhaps best known as a ‘staycation’ destination for Brits and for its annual music and sailing festivals.

Kent

Known as ‘the garden of England’ for its abundant fruit and hop produce, Kent now lays claim to a highly diversified economy. Its easy connections to both London and the Continent make this county a relatively affluent area with plenty of attractive towns and the iconic White Cliffs of Dover.

Oxfordshire

Right on the western edge of the South East England region sits Oxfordshire. The city of Oxford is the county’s chief urban centre, with its world-famous university, publishing house and associated biotechnology industry. Also includes three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Chilterns, the Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs.

Berkshire

A Home County and a Royal County thanks to the presence of Windsor Castle. Berskshire borders Greater London to the east, offering residents swift access to the capital, as well as beautiful stretches of countryside that include Windsor Great Park, Swinley Forest and the Berkshire Downs.

Surrey

Sitting below Greater London to the south west, Surrey is another prime commuter county. Train links into London are swift and regular, and parts of the county sit within the capital’s travel zones. Surrey has the most woodland of all English counties and is split in two by the chalk ridge that forms the North Downs.

West Sussex

Directly below Surrey and stretching down to the south coast lies West Sussex. Much of the county consists of protected green areas, offering residents and visitors a wealth of countryside areas for outdoor pursuits.

South East England cities

The cities of South East England are: Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove, Reading and Oxford. Larger towns include Milton Keynes, Slough, Reading, Maidstone and Eastbourne.