The Southampton Boat Show is the biggest of its kind in the country. Over a hundred thousand attendees descend on the quays of this port city every year to buy, sell and test drive all kinds of vessels, and huge amounts of money change hands. It’s no surprise that this event takes place in this port city, which is associated with famous ships such as the Mayflower and the Titanic. In fact, the entire county of Hampshire has strong links to the water. Portsmouth is another important port city, with a naval base that was the embarkation point for the D-Day landings. Outside these large ports, there are numerous smaller harbours and fishing villages which make their living from the sea, and inland waterways are important too, with a network of rivers and canals stretching across the county.

There’s an endless range of possibilities for a boat trip in Hampshire. From messing about on the river, to exploring the harbours of Portsmouth and Southampton, to taking to open water on a yacht, a powerboat or a RIB, you’re spoilt for choice. On top of that, you can choose from short tours or multi day excursions, boat hire or charter and many other variables, so there’s truly a boat trip for every person and every occasion on offer here. Your voyage of discovery awaits you in Hampshire, climb aboard a boat and set sail!

Where are the best places to go on a boat tour in Hampshire?

• The Solent: separating the Isle of Wight from Hampshire, the Solent is a 20 mile strait which opens at both ends to the English Channel. By boat, you can reach the Solent from Southampton, Hamble and Lymington, and enjoy views of the Isle of Wight, and the New Forest on the North coast. We recommend heading for the western end of the Solent, where it narrows to just 1 mile wide between the white rocks of the Needles and Hurst Castle.

• Portsmouth: Henry VIII’s flagship, the Mary Rose, set sail for the last time from Portsmouth harbour, before sinking in the Solent. We hope that you have more luck if you go on a boat trip here, exploring the historic docks where the remains of the Mary Rose are housed in a purpose built museum, alongside Admiral Nelson’s ship the HMS Victory and other famous boats from history.

• Emsworth: in a sheltered corner of Chichester harbour, shared with West Sussex, you’ll find the pretty port town of Emsworth. There was a thriving oyster fishing business here in the Victorian era, and you can take a trip on a working sailing boat from this time around the harbour.

• Lymington: a charming port town on the edge of the New Forest National Park, Lymington has three marinas and is a popular spot for yachting. From the town you have easy access to the Solent’s western end, and the 7 miles of Bournemouth’s sandy beach beyond.

• Rivers: as well as the Solent, you can go on a river trip from Lymington. You’ll pass saltgrass marshes, an important habitat for a variety of water birds, and the mooring places of some of the superrich’s super yachts. Beaulieu river, a short distance to the East, is also navegable and takes you on a journey past palaces, the National Motor Museum, and charming Beaulieu town.

• Canals: just as boats were essential to international trade, they were also used for internal commerce and travel around England. The Basingstoke Canal was built to connect Hampshire with the River Thames, and to this day you can take a trip on this peaceful waterway from the towns of Woking or Odiham.

• Further afield: of course, if you’re organising a boat trip that will last several days or more, you’re not limited to the coast of Hampshire. Beyond the Isle of Wight, the English channel has treasures in all directions: the White Cliffs of Dover, the Channel Islands and North Coast of France, and Land’s End and the Scilly Isles to name a few.

What are the options for organising this experience?

- For a relaxing experience on the water, the best choice is probably a boat tour or cruise. There’s a huge variety of boats, routes and durations, so the question isn’t which, it’s which first. Voyage up Lymington or Beaulieu river for half an hour on a guided group sightseeing trip. Circumnavigate Portsmouth’s historic harbour for 45 minutes. Take up a ride down the Basingstoke canal, or around Chichester harbour for 2.5 hours. Organise your Christmas lunch or a party night on a Solent cruise lasting 3 - 4 hours. Or for something a bit more unusual, take a trip on a historic steam ship from Southampton, with a range of itineraries from 2 hour to full day voyages. Finally, you can turn a boat trip into a full maritime getaway, booking a multi day voyage on a beautiful yacht.

- To make a special occasion even more memorable, we recommend arranging a skippered charter. This means that your boat hire comes with a skipper, or captain, included. You don’t need to have your sea legs to have the boating experience you’ve always wanted, but you can learn something about sailing from your captain during the trip. There are numerous kinds of boats that can be chartered in this way, from small RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) to luxurious motor yachts, to sailing boats of all shapes, sizes and pedigrees. Whether you want to go for a spin in Hampshire’s coastal waters for half a day, have an angling adventure for a day on a fishing boat, or have a tailor made holiday on a real dreamboat, you’re spoilt for choice.

- But if you’re a seasoned sailor, you can captain a ship by yourself. In this case, it's a bareboat charter that you need. Just like hiring a car, you do the paperwork, sign the forms, and enjoy! Many companies in Hampshire offer skippered or bareboat charter on the same vessels, the only difference is that if you choose bareback you have full control over the route, and you get to experience the awesome boat of your choice as if it were your own.

Requirements to do this activity

River, canal and harbour cruises in Hampshire are fun for the whole family. So long as the kids are over 5 years old, you can enjoy some time on the water together - you can even bring the dog! The same goes for some longer trips into the sea, and if you’re chartering a boat, whether skippered or bareback, you’re also welcome to bring children.

If you want to organise a bareboat charter in Hampshire, you need to be able to demonstrate that you can handle a boat. These are expensive things, and the owners won’t let just anyone take them for a spin, so make sure you bring your Boatmaster’s Licence or equivalent certification such as a Royal Yachting Association certificate.

Every captain needs a crew, and the size of your crew depends on the size of your boat. Of course, if you’re taking an organised tour or cruise on one of Hampshire’s rivers or canals, or in the coastal harbours, you can book as an individual or groups, but if you’re chartering a boat you need to work out how many people you want to take with you and choose a vessel with the right number of berths. It’s common that a pleasure boat can take around 10 to 12 people, but this varies, including on whether you’re also arranging for a captain to come with you.

The water is your oyster, don’t miss your chance to enjoy it to the max!