Southern England in August
 

My wife and I have scheduled our first trip to the UK, and first Cruise, from England to NYC, this August 25th. I assume the Princess will be a good bit nicer that the WW2 Destroyer and Sub I spent some time on around 1959.
We have never been to England, but would like to see some of the area from London to Southampton and beyond, if its worth seeing. We have driven on the wrong side of the road in the Bahamas, and Australia, so driving isn't a problem, if its a good idea. The number of days we stay in England is limited by costs. We are retired but would like to see older stuff , gardens,etc., and older places to stay. New brass and glass hotels are the same the world over and have no appeal to us.
I would appreciate suggestions on how long to stay and what to do.
Thanks, Curt

Hi Curtf

Don't miss Canterbury - visit the Cathedral and have lunch at the Falstaff Tavern, right by the Westgate Twower and also be sure to visit Windsor.

Try to spend a sunny August day on the Thames if you have time, starting from Windsor, Henley or Maidenhead.

If you are driving in that area, do visit Marlow - the very well known Compleat Angler is right by the weir on the other side of the bridge over the river from the town. It is very nice, pretty and good (but expensive) for lunch, but can be overflowing with well heeled tourists (like you maybe ?!) or Japanese business men. I suggest that you just take photos !

A better bet is the Ye Old Bell at Hurley, about 7 miles away on the road to Henley, or the beautiful French Horn at Sonning, which is really attractively situated, with excellent food. Last time I was there Margaret Thatcher's thoroughly nausious son, Mark, was seated at the next table to me, which almost ruined my superb lunch !

Dover Castle is also interesting, and there are many other parts of the South - mainly in Kent and Sussex - which you should try to get to if time permits. Rye is a fascinating old Cinque Ports town. If you are there, The Mermaid Tavern is an absolute MUST ! Winston Churchill's old home at Chartwell is also not too far away.

I was raised in the South of England, and anyone coming from North of the Watford Gap service station on the M1 motorway is, to me, a foreigner !

From time to time I DO miss England - particularly the beautiful Thames Valley - even though I now live on the French (civilized) side of the island of Saint Martin - so for me every day is just 'another bloody day in paradise'!

Pray for good weather, have fun, and please DO file a trip report - if only to try to make me feel ever so slightly homesick !

Hi Curt,

welcome to fodors, and an advance welcome to England.

David has set out a lot of what there is to interest you between London and Southampton, though much of it is rather out of your way.

Between London and Southampton itself there is not much except the motorway, except Winchester [which is very interesting indeed, BTW]. However the coast either side of southampton is fascinating and in places very lovely. Portsmouth, with the historic dockyard [the Victory and the Mary Rose amongst others] Arundel and its castle, the lovely villages around the picturesque Chichester like Bosham and Itchenor, the New Forest, Bewley, etc. etc.

there would be enough there to keep you busy for at least two weeks.

Thanks for the info. Is there an internet site that I can buy a map to starting plotting course? I'll be here near Moab Utah, for a few more weeks, then down to the Bahamas, so local resources limited.
Curt

You might try googlemaps; I always try it first for general ideas of routes, times (for the UK, I'd suggest doubling or at least adding fifty percent to times that come up).

Winchester is absolutely fabulous. (So are Rye, Dover, Canterbury, etc., and other sites to the east mentioned, but this would of course add many days to your trip. Winchester is easty stop between Southampton and London. Definitely plan to drive.)

Hi Curt,

if you want a paper map [or two] of the area, just google "ordnance survey maps New forest" - there is plenty of choice.

alternatively, my internet resource of choice is viamichelin.co.uk - you can either put in you destination, and then look at attractions, or plan route and do the same.

you could also think about contacting the tourist boards for Hampshire [the New forest and everything to the west of Southampton] and West Sussex [Chichester and everything to the east].