jwj

We will be in England for 10 days in October - 4 in London, 3 in Cotswolds but don't have any idea for the last 3 nights. We will be crossing on an 8:00 a.m. ferry to Cherbourg from Portsmouth so would like a place that isn't too far from there. We would like something very nice in a location that we could explore the area for these last 3 days.

willit

Will you have a car or are you using public transport?

If the former, then your choices are wider. It also depends on what sort of thing you wish to see and what interests you.

Portsmouth itself isn't bad - particularly Southsea. There is a fair amount to see - The Royal Navy museum with the remains of the Mary Rose (Tudor warship), HMS Victory (18th Century warship) is excellent. The city has decent transport links to Brighton and Winchester.

Both the latter could be used as bases - just the problem of getting to the early sailing on the last day.

sassy_cat

Southsea would be a good choice. There are a ton of B&B's very near the pier or within easy walking distance of the seafront.

cambe

I would go with Winchester and spend the 2 days exploring Salisbury and The New Forest.

jwj

We will have a car. I think I am picturing something like a manor hotel out in the country or a small boutique hotel in a picturesque town. I have been looking at Winchester and some of Karen Brown's recommendations there. But, my husband likes a little more than a Bed and Breakfast. Yall are giving me a lot to think about and I thank you.

janisj

I'd stay in the New Forest myself.

http://www.themasterbuilders.co.uk/index.html
http://www.careysmanor.com/default.asp
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/elmerscourt/

jwj

I've never heard of The New Forest but I will certainly find out.

flanneruk

To be blunt, Portsmouth isn't the prettiest place on earth, though there are a number of nice bits. Staying in the New Forest means getting through the M27 traffic round Southampton at 7 am, which is often an infallible recipe for missing boats or trains.

Directly north of Portsmouth is the Meon Valley, which is lovely - but surprisingly hotel-free. Try the Old House hotel in Wickham, the more corporate New Place at Shedfield (though be aware that big Jacobethan places in S E England can often get taken over by sales conferences) or the out and out chain, but beautifully located, Meon Valley Marriott and Macdonald Botley Park.

Odin

I would also recommend the New Forest. These might fit the bill for manor hotels in the country or boutique hotels. The Master Builders hotel is in a lovely area with alot of ship building history.

http://www.stanwellhousehotel.co.uk/stay (in Lymington which is by the sea)
http://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/ (in Beaulieu which is a beautiful village)
http://www.limewoodhotel.co.uk

Cholmondley_Warner

But, my husband likes a little more than a Bed and Breakfast.>>>

Try the Hotel du Vin at Winchester - very nice, and priced accordingly. Failing that the Royal Hotel is good - but is a VERY popular wedding venue at weekends - so avoid those.

Lainston House in nearby Sparsholt is fabulous - and not at all cheap. The fact that it has it's own helicopter pad tells you all you need to know.

Portsmouth is a bit grim to be honest - stay somewhere else.

BKP

Following on janisj's suggestion of the New Forest, and Odin's suggestion of the Montagu Arms Hotel -- in Beaulieu there is a really fun car museum. My father is a car enthusiast and it was one of his favorite sites on their trip. There is also the Monagu palace (manor? mansion?) which you can tour and the Beaulieu Abbey.

http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu/index

Gordon_R

Yes the New Forest IS wonderful, but it's a high risk choice if you want to be sure of catching your 08:00 ferry from Portsmouth. The A31 road through the forest is heavily congested and the M27 motorway that follows is notorious for delays caused by sheer volume of traffic and accidents. You need somewhere MUCH closer; even Winchester is a bit far away IMO.

Based on your preferences for a country or boutique-type hotel, I would not recommend staying in Portsmouth AT ALL. The best choice for somewhere suitable within reasonable driving distance would be to the east (Chichester, Bosham, Emsworth etc...). One suggestion off the top of my head is the Millstream Hotel at Bosham: http://www.millstream-hotel.co.uk/ - under 30 minutes drive from the ferry. There are several other similar places in the vicinity.

Gordon_R

Meant to say:
"The A31 road through the forest is heavily congested and the M27 motorway that follows is notorious for delays caused by sheer volume of traffic and accidents... at that time in the morning"

willit

"Based on your preferences for a country or boutique-type hotel, I would not recommend staying in Portsmouth AT ALL.

Agree, but those recommendations were made before the extra information was provided.

The big problem catching an 8am ferry, unless you are prepared to arrive significantly early, is the traffic in Portsmouth.

You might try looking around Petersfield
http://www.langrishhouse.co.uk/

cambe

I don't live in England so can't comment on the traffic but Bosham as mentioned by Gordon R and the Millstream hotel I can highly recommend. Close to Chichester and the village itself is gorgeous. Legion has it this is where King Canute tried to hold the sea back!!!

janisj

Traffic would be bad at 8AM - agreed. But if one wasn't familiar w/ the are and had to catch that ferry -- I'd personally want to be there at/before 7AM. It has been a few years since I drove in Portsmouth -- but wouldn't the traffic be OK at 0630?

Gordon_R

>>wouldn't the traffic be OK at 0630?

At 06:30 the roads will be OK, but then you'd have to get up before 06:00 and skip b/fast

willit

In all likelyhood the traffic would be OK at 6:30 / 7am. The problem with Portsmouth is that it is an Island. There are only three main roads onto it, so if there are major roadworks or an accident, traffic can back up very quickly.

In defence of my family's home town, although parts of it are very grim indeed, the area around Southsea common and Old Portsmouth can be very pleasant.

sassy_cat

>>The problem with Portsmouth is that it is an Island.<<

I agree with willit and I'm fond of Portsmouth & Southsea as I went to college there but also because I'm far more relaxed on vacation if I don't have to get up at 6am and battle with traffic.
As an alternative I suggest spending one night in Portsmouth before your ferry and so you could spend the prior 2 nights somewhere really nice (in a country manor house or whatever floats your boat) almost anywhere.

I don't know what you'd planned to do with your car this way you could ditch it the night before the ferry conveniently.

flanneruk

Good point sassycat.

The poster's American. He/she won't want to be taking the car to Cherbourg, so needs to get have got rid of it.

So the choice is either last night in Portsmouth, or stay somewhere close to a railway station linked to Portsmouth Harbour.

Nicest such places: Winchester, Portchester (dunno about hotels, but much undervisited Roman town, v handy for drives throughout region) or Botley (half-horse village, but v. handy for Wickham/Meon Valley)