Winchester to Southampton?

[lladage]

We're booked on the British Isles cruise next summer on the Caribbean Princess. We are definitely doing several days pre-cruise in London, but want to transfer down to the Southampton area the day prior to embarkation. I'm not seeing much that interests us in Southampton, and Winchester looks like a possibility. What would be the best way to get from Winchester to the pier on embarkation day? Taxi, private car, train, bus? Any and all suggestions with approximate cost will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Lynn

[John Bull]

Do carefully check out the location of "Winchester" hotels. Some very very good country hotels as far as 12 miles from the city are described as "Winchester" :rolleyes:

Without your own transport you need one of the few hotels in the city centre, or a pocket deep enough for taxi fares into the city.

I find www.booking.com very good and accurate at showing all hotels on a map, as well as plenty of detail/photos/reviews.

 

With luggage, the simplest bet is a pre-booked taxi from hotel to ship, and it'll cost little more than public transport.

From Winchester, www.westquaycars.com are quoting £25, or doubtless your hotel can organise a local company such as Wintax at about the same cost.

 

Alternatively, the cheap, frequent & reliable train service.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

About 4 direct trains per hour, fare about £6, journey time 15 to 30 mins, depending whether you catch a fast or stopping train (stopping train lets you see a little more).

Winchester station is at the top of the city centre, with luggage you may need a short taxi hop to/from your hotel.

 

Local & National Express buses to Southampton run from The Broadway, close to the Mercure Wessex hotel, but services are slower & less-frequent, and you'll get no better countryside views.

 

Whether you travel by train, bus, or Nat Express, it's then a £5 to £10 taxi fare to any cruise terminal.

.............................................................................

 

Instead of a Winchester hotel, consider a Southampton hotel and a return trip to Winchester by train (day-return train tickets cost the same as a single).

You should be able to see Winchester's sights in half a day.

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/

 

Your time is split over two part-days, so perhaps one half-day in Winchester and another in Salisbury

http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury/home/

(just 30 mins by direct train from Southampton)

 

Or exploring Southampton's admittedly-few sights, easy on foot

http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/

 

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Are you planning to travel from central London by train?

Train tickets from London Waterloo to Southampton (regular price around £36) can be bought for around £4 from http://uk.megabus.com/megatrain.aspx

 

Megatrain/Megabus is a subsidiary of the UK's major passenger transport group, which includes SouthWest Trains.

They sell seats on a limited number of the regular SouthWest trains, but tickets must be bought by internet about a month in advance, and are valid only for the specified train.

 

Megatrain tickets are only valid for travel to Southampton, not to Winchester even though the trains stop there.

If you choose a Winchester hotel, you can travel on Megatrain tickets London to Southampton, then buy £6 tickets at Southampton to return on the next train to Winchester. A bit nonsensical & will add up to an hour onto a journey London/Winchester, but saves over £40 per couple.

 

JB :)

[Goldiedog]

We stay at The Old Vine in Winchester, it is a lovely local pub that overlooks Winchester Cathedral, you can walk everywhere from here, they have 4 bedrooms that are all very luxurious and the do an amazing breakfast which they will either serve to you in your bedroom or you can eat in their restaurant.

If you book, you will love the place, a lovely olde worlde English pub in a great location, with great food.

[FritzG]

We stayed at the Winchester Holiday Inn which was brand new and fantastic. It was very clean, modern, and comfortable, and the staff was so friendly and helpful. It's not right in town, but cabs are easy to get and not expensive. If we sail out of Southampton again we'd definitely stay there again.

[lladage]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. We haven't yet decided what we'll do, but you have given us some things to research. I know about the mega train, but really don't want to get to Southampton, then 3 taxi rides and 2 train rides to spend a little bit of time in Winchester. That just sounds like too much effort on a day that we would like to slow down and relax after 3 long days of sightseeing in London. At this point I'm thinking taking national express from Victoria station to Winchester and doing some slow-paced sightseeing, then sleeping in and a leisurely breakfast before a private transfer to the pier. Of course, all of this is subject to change...... I'll definitely check out the Old Vine and the Holiday Inn. However, this will all have to wait as we leave tomorrow on our way to Vancouver for our Alaska cruise.

 

Thanks again, and any other suggestions are more than welcome!

 

Lynn

[John Bull]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. We haven't yet decided what we'll do, but you have given us some things to research. I know about the mega train, but really don't want to get to Southampton, then 3 taxi rides and 2 train rides to spend a little bit of time in Winchester. That just sounds like too much effort on a day that we would like to slow down and relax after 3 long days of sightseeing in London. At this point I'm thinking taking national express from Victoria station to Winchester and doing some slow-paced sightseeing, then sleeping in and a leisurely breakfast before a private transfer to the pier. Of course, all of this is subject to change...... I'll definitely check out the Old Vine and the Holiday Inn. However, this will all have to wait as we leave tomorrow on our way to Vancouver for our Alaska cruise.

 

Thanks again, and any other suggestions are more than welcome!

 

 

Lynn

 

Nat Express coaches from Victoria drop at the Broadway, very handy for the Vine & the Wessex amongst others, and there's a taxi rank for more distant hotels.

Holiday Inn is only a five-minute taxi ride but it is a modern clone just outside the city & with only a science park for company. Depends very much on personal preferences.

 

JB :)