About the South East

A Great Place to Live…

South East England is the most populous region of the UK. Over 8 million people live in the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex. This region alone has a higher population than 12 of the 27 EU member states.

The cities and towns of our region are a great mix of the old and the new. We have the large urban conurbations at Brighton, Southampton, and Guilford, the historical cities of Oxford, Canterbury and Hastings, and the many beautiful market towns that lie scattered between.

Caring for our Environment…

For farmers, residents and tourists alike, the environment is an important part of our daily lives in the South East. In total 47% of the region is protected by some form of environmental designation. One third of the region is classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Our environment attracts many visitors each year, whether it be to see the picturesque South Downs, to travel the famous waterways of the Thames Valley, or to get involved with conservation projects in the New Forest National Park. Woodland covers 14% of the South East, making it the most wooded of all England's regions. Nearly 40% of England's total ancient woodlands are found here.

A Strong Economy…

The South East has a vibrant economy that is the richest in the UK outside of London. In 2006 it was valued as £177 billion, with a GDP per capita of £22,624 in 2007. Given our proximity to London and our excellent travel links to the continent, the South East is a popular destination for business and industry. Many hi-tech companies base themselves in the South East, such as Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and Oracle.

Connected to Europe…

Our region contains excellent travel links to Europe and beyond. The Eurostar connects the continent to our region at Ashford and Folkestone; ships from Dover ferry people to France and Belgium; while Gatwick, Heathrow and smaller regional airports fly visitors from all over the world to South East England. In addition, Portsmouth and Southampton contain two of the oldest and most strategically important ports in all of the UK.

The South East has good public transport infrastructure. With a large number of London commuters living in our region, there are regular services based around the Great Western Mainline, the South Eastern Mainline, the Brighton Mainline and the West Coast Mainline, taking commuters across the region and up into the capital.

Represented in Brussels…

South East England is represented by two Liberal Democrat MEPs at the European Parliament: Catherine Bearder and Sharon Bowles.