Tour on way to Southampton port

[stunned]

I’m thinking of booking a hotel near Heathrow for one night and then take a shuttle to Southampton the next day for cruise. I would like to tour Winchester Castle and Stonehedge on the way to the port. Does anyone have recommendations?

[John Bull]

 

The only surviving part of Winchester Castle is the Great Hall, unworthy of more than 20 to 30 minutes. You perhaps meant Winchester Cathedral, which was built in the 10th Century and is magnificent, or Windsor Castle which was built in the 11th Century  by William the Conqueror and is still a royal residence.

You really wouldn't have time to visit both - Windsor Castle is close to Heathrow and doesn't open 'til 10.00 am, both are worthy of at least two hours, travel time including both is over 2 hours, and you'll need to register at the cruise terminal by about 3.00pm.

 

A well-respected coach travel operator offers door-to-door cruise tour-transfers from Heathrow hotels to Southampton cruise terminals. Driver loads your luggage, it stays securely on the coach until it's unloaded at the cruise terminal. It supports most cruise ships. .

For tour-transfers from Heathrow they offer a choice of Windsor Castle or Stonehenge (note spelling).

For tour-transfers from Southampton to Heathrow and central London they offer a wider selection of all-day tour-transfers, but because of the need to register at the cruise terminal tour-transfers to port are  timed to arrive at about 1.30 - 2.00pm

https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html

 

For a private tour-transfer try 

https://gunwharf-executive-travel.co.uk/

https://westquaycars.com/

https://www.aquacars.co.uk/

https://www.blackberrycars.com/

 

JB 🙂

 

 

[Cotswold Eagle]

12 hours ago, stunned said:

Does anyone have recommendations?

Don't stay at the airport (unless you are arriving in the late evening) 😀

 

The tours JB mentions are available from central London as well, and I would prioritise an evening in town rather than out in the cultural wasteland round Heathrow....

[stunned]

5 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

The only surviving part of Winchester Castle is the Great Hall, unworthy of more than 20 to 30 minutes. You perhaps meant Winchester Cathedral, which was built in the 10th Century and is magnificent, or Windsor Castle which was built in the 11th Century  by William the Conqueror and is still a royal residence.

You really wouldn't have time to visit both - Windsor Castle is close to Heathrow and doesn't open 'til 10.00 am, both are worthy of at least two hours, travel time including both is over 2 hours, and you'll need to register at the cruise terminal by about 3.00pm.

 

A well-respected coach travel operator offers door-to-door cruise tour-transfers from Heathrow hotels to Southampton cruise terminals. Driver loads your luggage, it stays securely on the coach until it's unloaded at the cruise terminal. It supports most cruise ships. .

For tour-transfers from Heathrow they offer a choice of Windsor Castle or Stonehenge (note spelling).

For tour-transfers from Southampton to Heathrow and central London they offer a wider selection of all-day tour-transfers, but because of the need to register at the cruise terminal tour-transfers to port are  timed to arrive at about 1.30 - 2.00pm

https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html

 

For a private tour-transfer try 

https://gunwharf-executive-travel.co.uk/

https://westquaycars.com/

https://www.aquacars.co.uk/

https://www.blackberrycars.com/

 

JB 🙂

 

 

You are totally right, I was thinking Windsor, but wrote Winchester. My mistake, I usually proofread before posting.I appreciate the correction and your advice. Thank you.

[karatemom2]

We used International Friends and were very pleased with the service. We were picked up at our hotel in London and headed to Windsor Castle. We had two hours there and then proceeded to Southampton to board our ship. I don’t think you would have time to do both Stonehenge and Windsor Castle on the same day - we visited Stonehenge on our return transfer. They are both well worth a visit and you need at least two hours at each location plus you have to allow for travel time. Windsor Castle would be my top choice of the two. 

[mommb]

My husband and I used International Friends in September and would happily use them again. The bus picked us at our hotel near Heathrow (after we'd arrived the previous night) on schedule. We were on a bus with maybe 20 other people that stopped at Stonehenge for a few hours and then dropped us off by the Southampton port. The guide provided information about what we were seeing on our drive. She also went with us to near the stones and offered to take pictures with our cameras. We had ample time for the visitors' center and lunch. 

 

If you are boarding the ship the same day, there's probably not time for another stop. You could choose Windsor in one direction and Stonehenge in the other, if you have a late flight back (or are staying in London after your cruise).