With a history dating back thousands of years, the city of Durham offers a fantastic combination of medieval architecture and modern living. Durham is situated less than 20 miles south of Newcastle Upon Tyne and about 200 miles north of Birmingham in the north east of England, County Durham. Newcastle (NCL) and Teesside (MME) airports are around 30 minutes drive.

Enclosed by the River Wear on three sides, Durham University College is located within a Norman fortress which is part of Durham Castle. Together with Durham Cathedral, this site makes up the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the heart of the city.

Take a trip back in time with a guided tour of the Castle but be aware that this is home to many students; tours run during the afternoon throughout term time and in the mornings during uni holidays (telephone in advance). Within the castle is the 57 foot high, Black Staircase, with the oldest part being the 1080 Norman Chapel and Tunstall’s Chapel being built in around 1540. The grassed area in front of the Castle and Cathedral is known as Palace Green, which you approach by either of two legendary cobbled streets.

Steeped in culture, there are many other historic buildings to visit in Durham including the mid 1800s Town Hall and old Guildhall both on the Market Place, and 14th century Crook Hall in Sidegate. If you prefer museums and art galleries, you won’t be disappointed either. There are regular exhibitions at the Durham University Museum of Archaeology, and the Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery, the Heritage Centre and the Fowlers Yard Creative Workspaces where you can meet and observe craftspeople.

Should you prefer the modern side of city living, then there is the superb 40 shop Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in Durham centre and The Gates Shopping Centre north of the river. Bernard Castle, and Dales Centre in Stanhope offer great shopping opportunities, and of course, there are many delightful chic boutiques and independent stores to discover as you explore the winding lanes (vennels). Durham also has a Saturday market which has been running for over 150 years with the Farmer’s Markets held on the third Thursday of each month.

As a thriving university city, there are plenty of excellent restaurants catering for all tastes from Mexican to French and Japanese to Portuguese, and cafes, delis, wine bars, nightclubs and many pubs too!

Hampshire is situated on the central south coast of England, overlooked by the Isle of Wight. Bordering West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Dorset, the English county of Hampshire is a fantastic summer holiday destination which incorporates the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth.

Southampton car hire is particularly popular, and prebooked with easyCar.com, may be collected from either Southampton Airport at the Car Rental Reception Centre opposite the terminal building next to the Short Stay Car Park or from the city centre.

A vibrant city, head to Southampton’s Ocean Village Marina which overlooks the Royal Yacht Club and is lined with fabulous restaurants, bars and cinemas. A short walk from the Marina, is the historic Old Town which attracted the likes of Shakespeare, William The Conqueror, Henry V and Jane Austen. If it’s exploring the traditional boutiques or shopping to your heart’s content in the modern Mall Marlands or WestQuay shopping centres, or meandering through the weekly market stalls that you like, then Southampton is for you! There is a fabulous nightlife, especially frequented during term time by the pupils of the local universities and colleges, a massive choice of delightful restaurants and bars, accommodation to suit every budget, and of course, being a coastal city, a huge host of watersporting activities. Car hire in Southampton will enable you to explore this fascinating city at your own pace!

The only island city in the UK, Portsmouth has been a significant naval port for many centuries. Gunwharf Quays is where you will find the 170m high Spinnaker Tower which is the tallest structure outside of London in the UK and similarly designed to that of Dubai’s Burj Al Arab. Portsmouth covers a large urban area along the south coast, offering much historic wealth including the magnificent castles at Southsea and Portchester. Well worth hiring a car to visit!

Collect your Southampton car rental or hire a car from any number of locations throughout Hampshire, then the hardest thing to do will be to decide where to go first..

The leisure centres in Basingstoke? East Hampshire’s bustling market town of Alton? Or may be Emsworth, a delightful old fishing village near Chichester, or the ancient capital of Winchester or pretty Stockbridge in the Test Valley? Don’t forget the New Forest National Park and all the opportunities to walk, cycle and horsehide too!

This is just a taste of Hampshire – so now is the time to explore!