travelling fools Posted June 29, 2013 #1 Share Posted June 29, 2013 We are taking bus to Southampton direct or private but on return we want to take a bus with sightseeing stops. One tour has Bath and one has Salisbury . Which would you choose and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twickenham Posted June 29, 2013 #2 Share Posted June 29, 2013 For me, it would be Bath all the way. The combination of Roman history and gracious Regency architecture is pretty irresistible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquilegia Posted June 30, 2013 #3 Share Posted June 30, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted June 30, 2013 #4 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Bath has more to see but I must say the Salisbury cathedral is magnificent. It has one of the four original Magna Carta's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ergates The Ant Posted June 30, 2013 #5 Share Posted June 30, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelling fools Posted June 30, 2013 Author #6 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Sounds like Bath is going to be our choice. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted June 30, 2013 #7 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Give this another day or two. There are some regulars to this board and I would give them a chance to chime in. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskanb Posted June 30, 2013 #8 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I would consider time for the visit, what you have seen on the cruise, and are you more of a Cathedral / Magna Carta/ Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett) or Jane Austen / Roman Bath person. We spent two days in Bath and just scraped the surface. http://visitbath.co.uk http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bull Posted June 30, 2013 #9 Share Posted June 30, 2013 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 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelling fools Posted July 1, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted July 1, 2013 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 1, 2013 #11 Share Posted July 1, 2013 JB was the person I was thinking of when I said give it time before you rush to a decision. I value his opinion. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted July 1, 2013 #12 Share Posted July 1, 2013 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bull Posted July 1, 2013 #13 Share Posted July 1, 2013 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 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskanb Posted July 1, 2013 #14 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Here is a link to Stonehenge that gives the timetable for the updates http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/our-plans/project-update/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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