Transportation from Mayfair, London to Southampton

[Francine]

We are planning on spending two nights precruise in London and then getting ourselves to Southampton for a one night stay in November. This would be on a Thursday. In Southampton, we will be at the Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Avenue.

What are your suggestions on how to go from Mayfair to Southampton? I have heard about buses and trains (but don't know what the restrictions might be for luggage) and the best way to get to them,

Thanks for any help,

Fran

[Morgans]

We did the same route in April. Took a taxi from our hotel (Crowne Plaza, Mayfair) to Waterloo Station. (aprox £12) then took a train to Southampton (booked Megatrain tickets for £1 each well ahead of journey) then a taxi to the hotel (approx £7) It all worked well.

[John Bull]

Hmmm, staying in Mayfair, eh. :cool:

I guess you ought to be travelling to Southampton by chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce limousine ;)

 

But if all the Rolls-Royces are booked-out, then I guess you've got to settle for coach or train. :rolleyes:

 

The Morgans' suggestion of the train from London Waterloo makes sense, esp if you can get bucket-price seats from

http://uk.megabus.com/JourneyResults.aspx

But their tickets are available on only a few trains, and not availabe for sundays.

For the full train schedule (about 2 - 3 per hour) go to

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

Train is quick (about 90 mins), direct & comfortable, and has no luggage retrictions that would trouble you.

 

There are two competing coach companies,

http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/index.cfm to Southampton coach station (ignore references to cruise terminal)

http://www.greyhounduk.com/ to Southampton town quay.

Both operate from Victoria, & both offer "fun-fares" which can be as low as £1.50. Because of London traffic, the coach journey is an hour longer than the train. And there's the same luggage restriction on both - 2 x 20kg cases plus hand-luggage per person, though it's not rigorously applied.

 

Using the London tube with luggage is no fun, easiest to take a cab to either train or coach.

 

And whatever your transport to Southampton, a £5 to £8 cab ride to Holiday Inn though its walkable, esp from Town Quay.

John Bull :)

[Francine]

Thank you to both of you for your quick and detailed responses. This is just what we are looking for.

Oh, John, we are staying on points. FYI. ;) We have been told it is a good location.

Fran

 

By the way, any good suggestions for wine and water near the Holiday Inn Herbert Walker?

[John Bull]

Thank you to both of you for your quick and detailed responses. This is just what we are looking for.

 

Oh, John, we are staying on points. FYI. ;) We have been told it is a good location.

 

Fran

 

By the way, any good suggestions for wine and water near the Holiday Inn Herbert Walker?

 

Best bets are ASDA, one of the UK's big-five grocery chains, in Portland Terrace, or Marks & Spencer, generally better quality & more expensive, in the West Quay Mall.

Both are an easy stroll from Holiday Inn, but get the hotel to give you walking directions, from the hotel both are more easily accessed from the rear, but neither rear entrance is signed.

 

BTW wine in the UK isn't cheap cos of taxation.

Prices start at around £4 a bottle or from £18 for pukka champagne

But still way cheaper than cruiseship prices :)

 

JB :)

[sddsddean]

Prices start at around £18 for pukka champagne

 

JB :)

 

 

I prefer their Beef and Onion pies JB!!:D

 

Simon

[John Bull]

I prefer their Beef and Onion pies JB!!:D

 

Simon

 

:D:D:D

You pleb !!! :rolleyes:

 

JB :)

[sddsddean]

Ah, but a fat pleb!!:D

 

Simon

[Francine]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. I think I like the way The Morgans traveled using Megatrain. It seems they are not yet accepting bookings past mid-July, so we will have to wait a while.

One more question - How did you handle your luggage? Is there a porter to help you? Where does your luggage go on the train? (I guess that was three more questions.)

Fran

[Globaliser]

How did you handle your luggage? Is there a porter to help you? Where does your luggage go on the train?

You basically have to get your own luggage on and off the train, but the carriage floor is more or less at the same level as the platform so this is not a big problem. On the Waterloo-Southampton trains, luggage stowage is largely a matter of improvisation, as these are fundamentally commuter trains. Put it somewhere that there's space and where it's not blocking the aisles.

 

Megatrain tickets are popular with some people because they're cheap, but don't forget the disadvantages: A very limited selection of trains (often only one every two hours or so); usually only available on the slow trains; and no flexibility (miss the train, buy a full-fare ticket) so you have to plan your morning around the train, not the other way around.

 

That's why we wouldn't do Megatrain tickets for this route. It is much less stressful if you leave the hotel (or home, for us) whenever you happen to be ready to start the journey after taking as much or as little time over getting up and breakfast; take as much or as little time to get to Waterloo as it happens to take that day, without fretting at all if you hit a traffic jam, roadworks, or some protest or demonstration (as regularly happens in central London); buy a ticket when you get to the station; and get on the next fast train (for which the average wait is only 15 minutes).