I will be on a 7 day Norway cruise that ends in Southampton on 7/25. Can someone offer some guidance of where I can spend a couple of days after the cruise that isn't too far from Heathrow as we have to catch a flight back to the States. London has been done numerous times so that is out but we were thinking of maybe Wales? We won't have a car so we would have to utilize the train or a bus to get there. I just hate flying all that way and only spending 10 days overseas. I have no idea if this is doable but I thought I would ask. ☺
Posted by
Land of La
9265 posts
Seems both Winchester and Salisbury are easily accessed by trains.
You’d need to decide if either place was of interest to you.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Winchester would be a good choice. There is a National Express bus from Southampton to Winchester, as well as N.E. coaches from Winchester to Heathrow.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5555 posts
The New Forest? You can easily spend a couple of days exploring the forest and all the villages within. There are buses that offer tours throughout the national park and you can hire bikes to use on the extensive cycle networks, it's within spitting distance from Southampton and Heathrow can be reached in around an hour.
As lovely as Wales is you really can't do it justice in two days and it's not exactly close to Heathrow and I would certainly recommend The New Forest over The Cotswolds which often comes recommended.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Another vote for the New Forest. If you are near Lymington, you could take the ferry over to the Isle of Wight for the day.
Beaulieu has the National Motor Museum and nearby Bucklers Hard is a great maritime museum based around an 18th century shipbuilding village that made ships for Nelson.
Wales isn’t practical within your timescale, unfortunately.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Winchester and/or Salisbury by train.
I like Dorset, countryside and coast. Unfortunately it needs a car.
Bath and Oxford are also accessible by direct train from Southampton.
Wales is too far.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3898 posts
You have received some excellent suggestions.
Salisbury and Winchester would be my top two choices.
Both have magnificent cathedrals.
You asked for someplace that "isn't too far from Heathrow as we have to catch a flight back ", so I will also suggest Windsor. You can get to Windsor from Southampton by train or bus. Visit Windsor Castle and walk around this pretty town with its good pubs and views of the river.
Windsor is near Heathrow airport, an easy taxi ride on the day of departure.