Hubby and I are taking two cruises June/July, both out of Southampton. Looking for suggestions on what town we should stay for five nights. We have been to London and Bath a few times. Searching for something different.
Thanks
Posted by
Portsmouth
5550 posts
Winchester or Chichester, two historic cities with plenty to experience locally.
Posted by
Winchester, UK
142 posts
Winchester is about 15 minutes by train from Southampton. If you come for 2 days you will likely be able to see all of the highlights.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8131 posts
Take a ferry from Southampton to Cowes on the Isle of Wight from Southampton. Plenty on the Island to occupy you for five nights.
Or take the train from Southampton to Dorchester in 75 minutes.
That is a very good centre to explore the Jurassic coast from (by bus, some of which are open top in season), out as far as Lyme Regis to the west and along to Swanage and Bournemouth to the east.
Dorchester is a very interesting town in itself to explore. Apart from other hotels in the town there is a Premier Inn (PI is the shorthand used on this forum) opposite Dorchester South railway station. That is a few minutes walk from the Town Centre.
Right in the town centre is the Maumbury Rings- a Neolithic henge- which the Romans adapted as an amphitheatre and was later used as a fort during the English Civil War. So layers of history to explore as well, with several museums to visit in the town.
80 ringleaders of the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 were also executed at the fort.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8157 posts
You might want to look at this trip report from Chichester, written by TexasTravelMom who went there earlier this year. It really sounds like a lovely place and well worth a visit. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/chichester-a-week-off-the-well-trodden-path
ETA: Here's another thread that discusses various towns to stay in that could conceivably work for you. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/commute-town-by-train-to-london-for-a-weeks-stay
Posted by
8322 posts
Winchester is great, also, Salisbury.
Posted by
OP
North Carolina mountains
550 posts
Thanks for the suggestions.
Posted by
Virginia
897 posts
I've been to Chichester a couple times. I've enjoyed the town and it was a perfect location to strike out from to visit the Weald and Downland Museum or to head over to Portsmouth for the Mary Rose Museum. Each time I've visited I've stayed at 4 Canon Lane, one of several accommodations operated by the Chichester Cathedral.