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Bath or Salisbury and why


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Definitely Bath. The Roman Baths are unique and the architecture is very well preserved. Also, the shopping is very good if that interests you. Salisbury Cathedral is interesting as are the older parts of the city, but if you've got the chance to see Bath, go for it.

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Lived in Bath for many years.

Lots to see and do, all walkable. Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, lovely gardens by the river, the Abbey is well worth a visit. Free guided walks from the Abbey Churchyard are an excellent way to see the city, if your timetable allows. In the Assembly Rooms, there is a Museum of Costume, you can 'take the waters' in the Pump Room and there are loads of cafes and restaurants for something to eat.

 

I frequently visit Salisbury, which is also attractive, but the architecture apart from the wonderful Cathedral, is less impressive. Worth a future day trip, perhaps combined with a quick stop at Stonehenge ( not worth more than that) but Bath really should not be missed.

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I have a particular affinity to Salisbury, I live less than a dozen miles away. Very attractive & laid-back, much less of a tourist honeypot than Bath.

But I have to agree that Bath has much more to offer.

 

Salisbury is very handy to Southampton. Mebbe next time you cruise out of this port.

 

JB :)

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If Salisbury is that close would we have time to do in say 4 or 5 hours .We are going to arrive in Southampton noon the day before we sail so would we have time to drop off our luggage and take train to Salisbury or do it in the morning of cruise?

 

John can you a more through answer than I can but you could cover a lot of Salisbury in 4-5 hours.

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If Salisbury is that close would we have time to do in say 4 or 5 hours .We are going to arrive in Southampton noon the day before we sail so would we have time to drop off our luggage and take train to Salisbury or do it in the morning of cruise?

 

Yes, you can visit Salisbury (& probably Stonehenge) either that afternoon or next morning. You might want to put off choosing until you arrive in Southampton, cos it's going to depend on when you arrive (as opposed to when you expect to arrive ;)), where your hotel is, whether you're jet-lagged, & mebbe the weather.

Subject to those caveats, & when you have to be at the ship, better to go that afternoon & not have the worry about getting to the ship on time.

 

Trains from Southampton to Salisbury every half hour or so, journey time 30 minutes.

Ho-ho bus from Salisbury station to Stonehenge, the round trip takes about an hour, and you'll need no more than an hour at Stonehenge. On returning to Salisbury, get off the ho-ho in the city centre, take in the cathedral etc, You need to give Salisbury at least an hour & preferably two, then 10 minute walk or taxi or local bus or the ho-ho (if convenienty timed) back to the station. Day return ticket on the train about £10.

If time doesn't permit Stonehenge, or that pile of stones doesn't interest you, it's an easy walk from Salisbury station to the city centre.

 

The time of the first & last Stonehenge ho-ho varies according to the season. If you want to do this trip on cruise morning & include Stonehenge, you'll need an early start & catch the first ho-ho of the day.

 

A new visitor centre is nearing completion at Stonehenge, about a mile from the stones. Whilst it will undoubtedly be a vast improvement on the current embarrassingly-awful facilities alongside the stones, it means you have to use a land-train shuttle & I don't know how much time this will add to a visit.

 

Salisbury cathedral closes any time between 5pm & 6.15 pm mon-sat depending on activities. Expect shops etc in Salisbury to close around 5pm to 5.30.

 

There is a further option if you are travelling to Southampton from central London (possible but not so convenient if travelling from Heathrow or Gatwick airports). Take the train direct to Salisbury, store your luggage at the Cat Tavern a few yards from the station (£3 per bag), do the Stonehenge ho-ho & city centre, collect your bags & carry on by train to Southampton.

 

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_accommodation.htm

The thumbnail map shows the location of rail station & city centre hotels. All are walkable without luggage unless time is your enemy, none are more than a £10 taxi fare. If you choose to visit Salisbury on your cruise morning, you can take a taxi from station to ship via your hotel to collect your luggage.

 

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

If your visit is too far out to figure on the timetable, choose a closer random date on the same day-of-the-week.

 

http://www.thestonehengetour.info/

 

http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visitor.intro.php

 

JB :)

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