Introduction:

Welcome
Welcome to the wonderful South of England! This area has a rich diversity of history, architecture, geology and landscapes including 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sights, 2 National Parks and many Areas of Outstanding Beauty.

About Jean
Before qualifying as a Blue Badge Guide for Central Southern England, I was a teacher, working in the UK and then in British and International Schools overseas. I was fortunate to have 13 wonderful years with my family living and teaching in Taiwan, China, South Korea and finally Istanbul in Turkey. This was a very special experience as I was given the chance to meet people from many different backgrounds and I was able to learn about the history and culture of our new homes.
When we returned to the UK we chose to make our home on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. I became fascinated by the richness of history and the beauty of the landscapes on my doorstep. There is so much to see and discover that it seemed to me the ideal choice to qualify as a Blue Badge Guide and share this beautiful area with others.

About the Area
Central Southern England covers most of the Anglo – Saxon Kingdom of Wessex, the land of King Alfred the Great! Today, it encompasses the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxford, Berkshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.
Within the area we have 4 World Heritage Sights – The Jurassic Coast, Stonehenge and its landscape, Blenheim Palace and Windsor Castle.
There is a rich diversity of religious sights, from small Anglo Saxon churches to the magnificent cathedrals of Salisbury, Winchester and Chichester. You can visit stately homes like Blenheim Palace, Wilton House, Highclere Castle and Osborne House and castles, including Windsor Castle, Porchester Castle and Corfe Castle.
We have diverse landscapes to explore such as The New Forest, a unique landscape with its free roaming New Forest ponies, donkeys, cattle, deer and pigs and the South Downs which has many beautiful villages to discover.
It is the landscape of writers and you can follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy and see the places which inspired and shaped their writing.
Visit historic towns including Winchester, Salisbury and Oxford and find out about the naval history of Portsmouth with a trip to the Old Town and the Naval Dockyards.

Contact me
Whatever your interest there is a perfect tour for you and I would be delighted to be given the opportunity of sharing my love of this area with you.
I look forward to meeting you soon