Turnaround Day in Southampton

[pt-cruiser]

We are doing B2B cruises, a Transatlantic and then a British Isles cruise. The turnaround day between the cruises will be in Southampton. Looking for suggestions for an easy day in Southampton, since the second half of this trip will be very port intensive. When the cruise ends, we will again be in Southampton and will tour Stonehenge, Windsor and Salisbury on our way to London. Is it possible to walk out of the port and see some sights nearby?

[haggis]

Its a long walk from most of the docks to Southampton. I believe B2B passengers are allowed to use the crew shuttle bus into town on turnaround days. Loads of good shops just outside the port and if you really feel adventurous, the Red Funnel ferry runs hourly to the Ilse of Wight.

Jimmy

[tom_uk]

I would suggest a trip to the Isle of Wight. There are two sorts of ferries, the fast ferries and the traditional ones; they all go from Town Quay which is not too far from where you'e likely to dock. They go to Cowes. You can walk around Cowes, which is an attractive yachting town; do a round-the-island bus tour; go to Carisbrooke Castle; Osborn House, once the summer home for Queen Victoria; and a number of other things, and be as active or as lazy as you like. There's a good Tourist Information office in Cowes.

 

On a day with good weather the Isle of Wight is probably more like most visitors' idea of 'England' than the all-too-busy, crowded reality of the mainland....

[pt-cruiser]

Thanks Jimmy and Tom for the suggestions. Is the Red Funnel ferry the best one to take to IOW?

Since we'll have limited time, do you have any recommendations for what to see or do? We leave in a week (Transatlantic) and will arrive Southampton May 14. We appreciate your help.

[insidecabin]

the only ship 14/5 is Caribbean Princess.

 

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

 

Ocean terminal

 

maps

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Port_Maps/

 

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/PDF_Downloads/Up%20to%20date%20port%20plan.pdf

 

This terminal is a good walk to town so if there is a crew shuttle that will be usefull

 

google map : http://g.co/maps/7utn7

 

For a light day what about a shopping trip for supplies.

[Bob++]

There isn't a great deal for the tourist in Southampton so I would catch a train to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/ which has HMS Victory (not a replica - the actual ship on which Nelson died) among many other attractions. There is a good restaurant there too.

[lannp]

Last year on a turn-around day we took the ferry over to Hythe, strolled their main street, and had lunch in the pub.

[John Bull]

Southampton isn't a tourist city, but there's more than enough to fill your time. All on foot. No need for guides.

Ocean terminal is an easy 5 to 10 min walk from dock gate 4 on metalled sidewalks.

Turn right outside the dock gate & you're about 10 min walk to the Hall of Aviation. This smallish air museum concentrates on Southammpton-related aircraft & includes a Spitfire, & a Sandringham flying boat which you can board. Worth about an hour.

Or turn left out of the dock gate & its a five minute walk to Gods Tower, which houses an archaeological museum. 5 mins beyond that is the bottom of the old city, the Water Gate. From here the western half of the city walls are virtually complete & can be walked to the main (north) entrance, the Bar Gate. Sights within the old city include the Tudor Merchant's Hall, the Medieval Merchant's house, the Wool House (maritime museum, may now be closed following the opening of a new museum), the shell of Holy Rood church (destroyed in WW2), some interesting pubs, etc.

 

The Bar Gate separates the lower old city from the newer shopping area, including the main shopping street called Above Bar and on its west side the West Quays shopping mall. At the top of Above Bar, alongside the Civic Centre, is the new SeaCity museum opened this month. Close by, at the junction of Above Bar with Brunswick Place is a memorial raised for the engineers on Titanic.

You should be able to fit in all or most of this on foot, though if you want to taxi back to your ship, you're never far from a taxi rank & the fare will be under £10.

 

If you want to get out of the city:

 

the little Hythe ferry across Southampton Water to the village of Hythe, & perhaps from there a taxi about 6 miles to the Nat Motor Museum / Bishop's Palace / Abbey ruins of Beaulieu, just inside the New Forest. You'll have 3 hours or less there, but you'll see most of it.

 

Or half-hourly train to Portsmouth harbour, about 40 mins, from Southampton central rail station. Portsmouth Harbour station is alongside the historic dockyard & ships, & the Spinnaker Tower. Warrants an early start, since you'll need to re-board mid-afternoon.

 

Or about 3 trains per hour to the cathedral city of Winchester, ancient capital of the kingdom of Wessex, about 15 mins.

 

Some useful websites:

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/admin/content/files/PDF_Downloads/Up%20to%20date%20port%20plan.pdf

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_map.htm

http://www.spitfireonline.co.uk/index2.html

http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/

http://www.hytheferry.co.uk/

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

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/

 

JB :)

[bazzaw]

if you really feel adventurous, the Red Funnel ferry runs hourly to the Ilse of Wight.

Jimmy

 

Jimmy

 

There appears to be two ferry terminals in Cowes, Isle of Wight - east and west.

 

Can I take it that the west terminal would be the one to go to for people on foot??

 

Barry

[haggis]

Sorry Barry, can't help you there. I've only used the Red Funnel car ferry to Cowes. I would imagine the other ferry terminal is the Red Funnel Fastcat which is pedestrians passengers only. I'm sure someone will help you with a more specific answer.

Jimmy

[John Bull]

Jimmy

 

There appears to be two ferry terminals in Cowes, Isle of Wight - east and west.

 

Can I take it that the west terminal would be the one to go to for people on foot??

 

Barry

 

The fast catamaran (Red Jet) is for foot passengers only, & goes to (west) Cowes. This is the main part of Cowes - yachts, shops, pubs, etc.

 

The car ferry takes both cars & foot passengers, & goes to East Cowes.

Ideal for Osborne House, just a five minute bus ride away.

 

Buses from both sides of Cowes to the bus hub at Newport.

 

A floating chain-bridge (free on foot) across the River Medina connects the two halves. It's close to the car ferry on the east side, a short walk on the west side to the fast cat terminal.

 

Both ferries are operated by Red Funnel, both run from Southampton's Town Quay.

 

http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/

 

JB :)