Really recommend you don't take a car into London.
You can drive into london and park at one of the overnight car parks that have an overground station which connects right to the centre.
If I'm visiting London then this is what I intend to do. (God forbid I should drive a car into London. I'm not made of money!)
it is and partake in the English national pastime: Drinking and curry.
Bugger, I'm allergic to curry.

Well, more drinking it is then.

brighton is for tools, winchester is where its at (sort of)
Is Southhampton any good? Maybe I should go along the south cost and do Brighton->Southhampton->Winchester->Basingstoke->Newbury ?