We'll be arriving in Southhampton after a 15-day Baltic cruise in mid-September. We'll fly out of Gatwick but might add 1-2 days after getting off the ship to look around before flying home. Any suggestions for sightseeing in Southhampton or nearby easily reached by public transportation? Also any hotel or inn recommendations? If you've ever done the Southhampton to Gatwick train or bus, how well did it work out? Coming off the ship, we'll each have a large suitcase and not be packed like we would on Rick's tours so we don't want to get too involved with cramped transportation, like the London Tube at rush hour.
Posted by
UK
1015 posts
Southampton itself is not a particularly attractive city but it does have a few medieval walls left plus the Sea City Museum.
However it does have easy public transport to some outstanding sights. Four great choices, all easy by train from Southampton.
1) Salisbury - the cathedral is wonderful plus you can pick up a tour bus at the train station to take you to nearby Stonehenge.
2) Winchester - pretty small city with a cathedral where Jane Austen is buried plus some medieval walls. Lovely place.
3) Portsmouth - gritty city, but get off the train at Portsmouth Harbour and you’re just steps from the Historic Dockyard with Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory and the Tudor warship Mary Rose.
4) Brockenhurst - village in the New Forest, good if you like walking in natural beauty.
Southampton is not the prettiest city to stay, but it has access to loads of wonderful places.
In terms of trains - when and what day of the week are you travelling? On weekdays there’s an hourly direct train from Southampton Central to Gatwick - no need to change trains or go near London. It’s the service that heads ultimately to Horsham and takes about two hours. It does stop at a lot of places en route but you don’t need to change trains. Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times. You will have to wrangle your own luggage on & off the train.
Alternatively National Express coaches (we call long-distance buses coaches in Britain for some reason) are good because the driver will stow your luggage.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
We stayed at the Ibis a couple of years ago and it was fine. Next door is another Accor hotel the Novotel, if you want something a little more up market. If you want a tour of a few hours of the New Forest, I can vouch for West Quay West Quay taxis for such a service.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5262 posts
I'll concur with the suggestions made by This Person Who Writes Stuff. Personally I wouldn't stay in Southampton, I'd probably spend a night in Brockenhurst and another night in Winchester and take pre-booked taxi from Winchester to Gatwick. Or forgo WInchester and stay a night in Portsmouth and take the train to Gatwick. Winchester is more attractive than Portsmouth, which, whilst it has the outstanding Historic Dockyard is pretty much a depressing city elsewhere (although not as depressing as Southampton).
We've only stayed in Brockenhurst once which was at www.cottagelodge.co.uk/. It was pleasant enough with a snug honesty bar and very good breakfast. We stayed there after an anniversary dinner at the excellent www.thepighotel.com/brockenhurst/new-forest-restaurant.
I've never had a reason to stay in Winchester as it's only 30 minutes away so I'll let others offer advice for accommodation, likewise Portsmouth.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6541 posts
Another vote for the historic dockyard.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3758 posts
Another vote here for Salisbury and Winchester. Two great cathedrals. My preference would be to stay in Salisbury, see Salisbury and take a bus day trip to Winchester. Buses leave every 30 minutes from the bus station. I can recommend a very good hotel where the lady at the front desk is most helpful giving advice about travel in the area and attractions.
However, going in the other direction, you could take the train from Southampton to Gatwick airport area, and stay 2 nights in a hotel there. You could take day trips from Gatwick out to
Hever Castle, the one-time home of Queen Anne Boleyn and her family (16.9 mi. via Haxted Rd--30 minute taxi or car service ride from Gatwick). Since it's a 16 mile taxi ride, my guess would be it may cost perhaps £20--30.
https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/visit/opening-times-directions/
You can stay overnight there if you'd rather, right at the castle.
Then continue on to Chartwell, the country home of Sir Winston Churchill, a remodeled Tudor house:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
The highlights here are the many paintings on display painted by Churchill.
Plus the house interiors are gorgeous.
This can be done using a car service or trains--follow the "Getting Here" tab on both attractions' website.
A good website for figuring out transportation is here:
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Gatwick-Airport/Hever-Castle
We have used this service from Gatwick to Hever:
https://www.crawley-taxis.co.uk/
Phone:01293 230015