Marchwood

Marchwood is the New Forest for people who never fell for the pony-and-thatch routine. Its name means wild celery wood, which is about as glamorous as the village has ever allowed itself to be, and while the rest of the Forest was posing for postcards, Marchwood was quietly building the floating harbours that won a war and running an ammunition depot nobody is allowed to look at. The most thrilling thing behind its fences these days is Southampton's footballers rehearsing the free kicks they will miss on Saturday.