Day trips from Winchester
 

As a result of contortions to use frequent flyer miles, we will be spending 4 days in Winchester en route to Istanbul. We will take the bus/coach from Heathrow to Winchester. And we will be doing some jet-lag recovery.

Even so, I'm assuming 4 days is more than needed by Winchester. What are good day trip options from there? By train or bus or coach. Or possibly by car. (We've been to Portsmouth.)

What sort of things are you interested in?

You could visit Salisbury, an attractive town with a cathedral known for its spire. Stonehenge is not far from Salisbury and is well worth a visit. Another prime attraction is Stourhead, which has magnificent gardens.

There are relatively few buses to interesting places. Trains are good, though, with hourly or more frequent direct trains in under 90 min to:
- Oxford
- Salisbury
- Weymouth and the Jurassic Coast
- the New Forest (Brockenhurst)
And hourly cross-platform connections to:
- Chichester
- Brighton.
- at a pinch, the Isle of Wight
- Porchester's lovely, though possibly struggling to take up more than half a day

Nonconformist, we're not interested in activities like bungee-jumping or surfing. But we do like walking, museums, great houses, churches, gardens, scenery, views, ancient and less ancient history.

We've been to Salisbury (which we loved) and Stourhead (and Longleat) but not Stonehenge. Is there a bus to Stonehenge from the Salisbury train station? What about Avebury?

Is Southampton worth much time?

http://www.londontoolkit.com/whattod...ting_there.htm
Salisbury station to Stonehenge 30 min journey


Wilts and Dorest Buses....

No. 5/6/6B should get you to Avebury.

www.wdbus.co.uk/htm/ttnorthern/n_5-6-6b.pdf

"Is Southampton worth much time?"

No, except to change trains

Most of the historic bits of Southampton were bombed during WWII.

Gardens which might be worth visiting (but you would probably need a car) include Mottisfont (absolutely lovely rose garden but probably past its best if you're visiting later in the summer - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-mottisfont/); and Exbury - http://www.exbury.co.uk/website/the_gardens.aspx , which you could combine with a visit to Bucklers Hard - http://www.bucklershard.co.uk/.

The Vyne near Basingstoke is worth a visit too: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-thevyne

If you're there at the right time there may be an event at Broadlands, Romsey (former home of Earl Mountbatten)
http://www.broadlandsestates.co.uk

Romsey itself is a pleasant market town with a very old Abbey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romsey

In addition to what's been suggested above:-

Hillier Gardens near Romsey: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens

Marwell Zoo: http://www.marwell.org.uk/

Walking in South Downs National Park (Britain's newest NP): http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/enjoying/

Jane Austen's house at Chawton: www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk

A little further afield, and sadly overlooked on this forum, the New Forest: http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/

All easy day trips by car from Winchester, but I don't have any personal knowledge of public transport to these places.

Technically, I live within walking distance of Winchester (admittedly it is 2.5 hours walk, but I do it fairly often) so this is my home area.

Broadlands itself is shut this year, although there may be an event in the grounds. Romsey is quite pleasant for an hour or so, and there is a public footpath near the river which takes you past Broadlands with decent views of the house itself.

I second Portchester - one of my favourite castles, Arundel is also possible by train http://www.arundelcastle.org/_pages/03_visitor_info.htm

Thanks to all. Looks like Winchester makes a good base.

Fishbourne Roman Palace is the largest Roman building found north of the Alps - it was as large as Nero's Golden House. Fantastic mosaics - pleasant gardens, all in all rather wonderful and another place that's woefully overlooked on these forums.

Dr D

"Fishbourne Roman Palace is the largest Roman building found north of the Alps..."

...and just 5 min walk from Fishbourne station, which is only 75 min from Winchester (change at Hilsea).

Buy a day return to Chichester, spend the morning at the Villa,then go on to Chichester for the rest of the day.

As someone brought up in Portsmouth, I never thought I would live to see the words "Change at Hilsea" in travel instructions.

But Flanner is correct.

You can get to Romsey by bus from Winchester (you have to change by train and it's a slightly inconvenient timetable so the bus is a better choice), but a car would be preferable if you want to venture out of the town (e.g. to combine it with Hillier's or Mottisfont).

If you have read "The natural history of Selborne" you might be interested in Gilbert White's house http://www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/

MissPrism, you beat me to it! I admit I had never heard of Gilbert White until my husband's cousin told me about him. Really enjoyed the house, grounds and the village.

You could also visit Jane Austen's house at Chawton, near Alton. Buses leave Winchester every hour, and the journey takes 45 minutes.