Southampton to Highclere Castle transportation

[XBARBSX]

What would the best (and most reasonably priced) transportation  from Southampton hotel to Highclere Castle and return 3-4 hours later?  Would be traveling in October.

[Aulanis]

Hi   Its not easy  maybe someone who lives in that area may have ideas

but to get you started  there is this site which will give you an idea

and a map that will get you familiar with the area.

 

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Port-of-Southampton/Highclere-Castle

[XBARBSX]

thank you.

[XBARBSX]

This proved very helpful.....Thank You.

[wowzz]

13 hours ago, XBARBSX said:

This proved very helpful.....Thank You.

Personally,  I would hire a car, but apppreciate you may not want to drive on the left. 

Can I suggest you also ask your question in the "Ports of Call" section. You will get far responses there than on this board,  which is not visited by many people.

[John Bull]

It's not easy by train. There are several alternative routes

 

The Rome2Rio site linked by Aulanis ends at Overton station, 10 miles from Highclere Castle. Probably the worst of the train options - requires at least one change of train, and Overton is a small village - there's not even a taxi rank at the station.

Return train fare about  £21, train journey time 1hr 10mins to 1hr 30 

 

An alternate end station is Newbury. Newbury is a busy town about 5 miles from Highclere Castle, Again requires at least one change of train, but there's a good-size taxi rank at the station.

Return train fare about £34,train  journey time 1hr 30 mins to 2 hrs 15 mins

 

But the quickest, simplest, and - if you figure your timing & ticketing right - potentially the cheapest  train option is a direct train to Basingstoke, no change of train required. Plenty of taxis at Basingstoke station,  then 15 mile taxi ride to Highclere Castle. 

Train journey time under 30 minutes.
Cheap advance one-way tickets, available from about 12 weeks out, can work out as little as £9 in total, more than making up for the longer taxi ride. But those cheap advance tickets are only good for the train that you select - miss one and you'll have to buy fresh full-price tickets for the next one. Or if that's too restrictive or too complicated just buy simple return tickets at the station £32

 

Decently-frequent trains to all of those stations.

Arrange for the taxi driver to pick you up at Highclere Castle at an agreed time for the return to the station.

 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Your Southampton station is Southampton Central

----------------------------------------------------

 

Southampton to Highclere Castle is 34 miles / 45 minutes by road.

And it's a very simple route - once out of Southampton it's the M3 motorway and A34 divided highway to within a mile of Highclere Castle.

As easy a journey as someone used to driving on the right could wish for.

But if you have reservations about driving on the opposite side of the road, select an automatic even if you're used to a shift-stick - ne less thing to think about.

 

A car plus driver would be expensive because of the 3 to 4 hour wait at Highclere - I think its too far to fit in another job in-between.

Try

https://westquaycars.com/

 

JB 🙂

Edited March 11, 2023 by John Bull

[XBARBSX]

Thanks for the help!

[Bob++]

If you do decide to hire a car, Enterprise Car & Van Hire - Southampton Central Docks are the best bet. Not a cheap option though. With insurance and fuel costs, it could well be over £200 for the day.

Edited March 17, 2023 by Bob++