The Sights of Southampton

[Why Not]

We are travelling to the Southampton Boat Show for a couple
of days next week from the west of Ireland.

We have one day set aside for sightseeing.
I’m wondering if anyone could suggest a route
for a nice day’s drive – combining coastal and countryside,
and perhaps recommend a place for lunch.

Thank you in advance!

Why Not

 

[stuartwineberg]

Depends where you are staying

We are travelling to the Southampton Boat Show for a couple
of days next week from the west of Ireland.

We have one day set aside for sightseeing.
I’m wondering if anyone could suggest a route
for a nice day’s drive – combining coastal and countryside,
and perhaps recommend a place for lunch.

Thank you in advance!

Why Not

Take a look at our B&B web site www.willow-bank-house.co.uk. We are 30 minutes from the boat show site and the web site lists all sorts of local attractions that would be in easy reach. The obvious one day tour would be to go to the New Forest and take in places like Lymington, Beaulieu, Christchurch. For a City go to Salisbury or Winchester. Southampton itself has a few attractions including a very good new museum devoted to the Titanic. Our own local National Trust place is Mottisfont Abbey which you can see on the NT website. Further afield is the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth with the Warrior and the Victory and some very good shopping at Gunwharf Quay next door. If you want to chat about this please PM me

 

[PEJ]

I am the opposite to you, live in Southampton but family come from the West coast of Ireland.

The first thing to say is prepare yourself for disappointment! The South coast of England is nothing like the West coast of Ireland!

If you want a bit of local history a walk around the old city walls of Southampton and a visit to the Bargate is interesting.

There is not much in the way of spectacular coastal scenery like you are used to nearby but you could take a drive out to the new forest and visit Exbury Gardens. Nice gardens and you can walk all the way down to the shore and see the Beaulieu river which is nice. If you want to, drive on from there westwards you can get to the Jurassic coast at Durlston Head Country Park. Now you are in serious natural beauty but it is long way out of Southampton.

 

[l'escargot]

You could also get the ferry over to the Isle of Wight from Southampton, just over 50 miles to drive right round and plenty of places to stop off - coast and countryside.

 

[rafiki_]

You could also get the ferry over to the Isle of Wight from Southampton, just over 50 miles to drive right round and plenty of places to stop off - coast and countryside.

+1. The Island is a great place to visit.

 

[Tranona]

No contest if you are driving for a day from Southampton but to go west and "do" the Dorset coast and inland. M27/A31/A338 to Bournemouth, across the entrance to Poole Harbour on the ferry, along the ridge of the Purbecks to Lulworth, up onto Dorchester road (A35) to Lyme Regis for lunch. Choice of inland routes back to Ringwood and A31/M27 back to Southampton. Spectacular scenery and easy driving - around 150 miles round trip.

 

[henryf]

Southampton is a surprising place. At first glance easy to write off but wander round a little and there are hidden gems around every corner.

Some pictures here: http://www.charter-solent.co.uk/charter-in-southampton.php

Henry

 

[aquapower]

I have been in Southampton for the last 6 nights and have 6 more to go, there's loads to see and will probably go home without seeing most of it.