Charming town/village to stay one night between Bath & Southampton in Sept?

Maybe Marlborough? It’s a very nice small town and an easy detour from your route. It’s got a Premier Inn for a reliable and reasonably priced accommodation option. Parking is not a problem there.

I suggested going from Wales via the M4 and down to Winchester via the A34 for the last night in your query in the Wales Forum because it is a long way from Tenby to Southampton. The M4 & A34 route has by far the best roads whilst going via Bath and down to Southampton has non dual highway roads - and Bath can get clogged up with traffic.

Castle Combe is very small and has expensive accommodation - mainly in The Manor House Hotel.

Consider Premier Inn at Salisbury north or Southampton North West. (I have not stayed at either). As Helen says, Premier Inn at Marlborough is another possibility.

I would suggest Winchester.

Thanks James. You have been so helpful so didn't want to keep battering you with clarifications on the Wales forum! Do you think there is somewhere not quite as far as Winchester? Maybe leaving us an hour or two drive to Southampton the next morning? Also was a little concerned if parking would. be an issue in Winchester? but you think not?

there are car parks (pay, as always) and some street parking near the Cathedral in Winchester. If you want to see the National Trust water mill check opening days and times.

What would you like to do in Winchester? It is a very pleasant place.

Castle Combe takes half an hour to see, and traffic can be interesting. Overnight as you have found is very expensive.

It is such a long drive maybe half way is a good choice - maybe Bristol or Bath. It is so long that I presume you will stay on the motorways and not venture onto back roads, so you want somewhere on or near to your route.

If you don't mind yet another hour of driving, maybe Glasto? I wouldn't suggest there ordinarily, and wouldn't suggest either Swindon or Weston Super Mare, although if you want a somewhat tired (read rundown) seaside town with probably dirt cheap hotels you might try Weston Super Mare.

There is a great deal to do around Winchester - anybody along who is a Jane Austen fan? - but as you say it is most of the way to Southampton.

Nigel. Now you have me intrigued. Yes I am a Jane Austin fan. Is there a connection to her in Winchester. I know of Bath of course but just not enough time to stop in Bath or deal with the traffic. Dont really want to venture too far off the route so we can just enjoy where ever the destination. Not looking for super cheap nor run down seaside town. We will be coming off spending a week traveling the coast of Wales so inland town would be nice. The challenge is coming from Tenby and making way to Southampton. James suggested we leave Tenby a day earlier (leave on Monday) and make way closer to Southampton to drop family member at the port by 1:00 on Tuesday. Hope that makes sense?

Yes I am a Jane Austin fan. Is there a connection to her in Winchester?

Jane Austen lived for a large part of her life near Winchester. She died while living in the city and was laid to rest at the cathedral. She has far more of a biographical connection to Winchester than to Bath!

https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/jane-austen-200/about-jane-austen

Regarding Jane Austen, in addition to visiting her final resting place in the (very impressive) cathedral, you can visit her home in Chawton which is just outside of Winchester- definitely worth doing if you are a fan- you can even see the desk she wrote at.

I have been to the Jane Austen house in Chawton - which is a village NE of Winchester and I think too far in the wrong direction off your route.

Having been to beautiful Tenby you certainly would not want to go to Weston-super-Mare. Glastonbury is also miles off your route and on terrible roads - believe me - I drove them 2 years ago to reach a place called Bruton.

The centre of Winchester is pedestrianised and has narrow streets around the Cathedral. I suggested it because it is on the fast good road route from south Wales to Southampton and is well worth seeing. I suggest you check for accommodation that has parking anywhere in the Newbury to Winchester area.

The main highways such as the M3 and M27 have complicated junctions on the north side of Southampton. I suggest you look at them carefully on Google Maps/streetview and find the place where the cruise ship is docked.