You can walk into our village (5 min.) where the traditional assortment of shops will offer almost everything you need. Plenty of pubs and restaurants are also there for you to enjoy. The castle ruins are worth exploring as well as the open moors for good ramble through the countryside. Historic Winchester, with its Cathedral, museums (including the "Round Table"!) and buzzing town centre filled with street entertainers in the summer, is close by along with Marwell Zoo and several indoor waterparks. Gorgeous Bournemouth Beach (40 minute drive) with white sands and new surfing reef will appeal to some while the New Forest National park with roaming wild ponies and picturesque villages may tempt others to venture further. We are in the countryside so plenty of horse riding is around and country pubs beckon you to stop in for a pint. So much history right on our doorstep. Also a great base for exploring the south of England - you can get to Bath (90 min.), Brighton (50 min.), Stonehenge (30 min.), Highclere Castle (King Tut treasures - 30 min.), Windsor Castle (50 min.), Legoland (50 min.), Dover/Calais ferry to France (90 min.), Isle of Wight ferry (30 min.) and, of course, Portsmouth and Southampton with shopping, theatres and nightlife in abundance.

We are transplanted Canadians who have enjoyed living on the south coast for the past 9 years. Our 10 and 12 year old children keep our interests varied, however a passion for the stage and musical theatre is a constant for their dad. We want to see more of the continent and love getting over to France whenever we can. We have three cats - Pickle, Daisy and Georgie(all male) who slip in and out of the house as they please through the cat flap. We have done 3 exchanges now and are now looking for a 2 week exchange in August 2013. We will treat your house with complete respect and look after your pets if needed as our children adore animals.