Village near Souhampton

mommas · January 25, 2017

Got an extra day before LHR flight after cruise docks Southampton. Any recommendations for a city or village to visit? Thanks

LHT28 · January 25, 2017

Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Winchester

Check them out & see what interests you

Edited January 25, 2017 by LHT28

turnip eater · January 25, 2017

Lymington, Brockenhurst, New Forest (it's not new......1079 was designated as William I's hunting ground).

Alaskanb · January 25, 2017

We're staying pre-cruise in Winchester at the Winchester Hotel and Spa using their Heritage package. Booking a car service from LHR - Winchester- Southampton. Looking forward to cathedral tour, walking by the water meadows, lots of restaurants....

Edited January 25, 2017 by Alaskanb

John Bull · January 25, 2017

From Southampton.......

Easiest is Winchester. By train, 2 - 3 trains per hour, 15 mins journey time, about £10 return. A 15 minute walk down from Winchester Station to the cathedral & the heart of the city. By Blue Star bus - much less frequent, much slower, but drops you in the Broadway, 100 yards from the cathedral.

Or

Salisbury plus Stonehenge. By train, half-hourly service, 30 minute journey time, about £10. From Salisbury station, the Stonehenge ho-ho bus (buy Stonehenge entry tickets from the ho-ho driver - same price as at the gate but no need for a pre-booked timed admission ticket). Heading back to Salisbury, if the weather's fine hop off at Old Sarum hill fort. In the city the magnificent cathedral & the attractive city centre buildings. Then walk or taxi or local bus (or ho-ho if the timing works out) to Salisbury station for the train back to Southampton

Or

Portsmouth. By train, 2 direct trains per hour to Portsmouth Harbour, about 45 to 60 minutes, about £10 pp return. Station is near the gate to the historic dockyard and ships. Lots more in Portsmouth, your problem will be choosing what to fit in.

Or

Beaulieu complex of national motor museum, bishop's palace and ruins of the sacked abbey all in one place.

Currently easiest by Hythe ferry & beach bus if running or fifteen minute taxi ride (book the taxi to collect you at the end of the day). You will need to update closer to the day, the ferry is under threat of closure.

Or

Ferry to the Isle of Wight for

ho-ho bus tour or to visit Queen Victoria's favourite home, Osborne House.

Or New Forest ho-ho buses.

In all honesty the Forest is best explored by car because the buses are comparatively slow and can't take to the little lanes, but by ho-ho is still a good day out in decent weather. Take a Blue Star bus to Lyndhurst, where ho-ho routes converge. The afore-mentioned Beaulieu is on the ho-ho route but you won't have time to visit Beaulieu and get value out of your ho-ho ticket.

Or

further afield to Chichester & its cathedral or Arundel & its castle or Bath. All on direct trains, inexpensive, and perfectly feasible from a Southampton base.

Or

by travelling to the Heathrow area direct from your cruise-end, Windsor and its castle. About 20 minutes from Heathrow.

Lots of lovely villages and other places if you rent a car, but not practical by public transport & probably not economical by private tour.

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

http://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/things-to-do

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

http://www.thestonehengetour.info/

http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/

https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/

http://hytheferry.co.uk/