Train from Southampton to Salisbury

[RSVE821]

We would like to take the train from Southampton to Salisbury to catch the HoHo bus to Stonehenge. Is it necessary to make a reservation and purchase tickets in advance on the train? I prefer to have the flexibility timing wise and just go to the station and buy tickets and get on for the short half hour ride. This would be on either June 22 or 23.

[mabel58]

Don't need advance reservations, from what I can remember the train is only two or four carriages long.

[John Bull]

We would like to take the train from Southampton to Salisbury to catch the HoHo bus to Stonehenge. Is it necessary to make a reservation and purchase tickets in advance on the train? I prefer to have the flexibility timing wise and just go to the station and buy tickets and get on for the short half hour ride. This would be on either June 22 or 23.

 

There are savings to be made by advance purchase, but the fares structure is a minefield and on such a short journey not worth the grief, so simplest just to buy your ticket at the station. Ask for a day-return.

Your station is Southampton Central, trains roughly every 1/2 hr, ignore options which call only at Southampton Parkway, which is on the outskirts at the airport.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/s/planjourney/query

Southampton Central can be walked in about 15 mins from City cruise terminal, vaguely walkable from Mayflower terminal but not from QM2 or Ocean terminals, all of which are further than they appear to be on a map. A taxi from any will cost about £5.

The Stonehenge HoHo bus calls at Salisbury rail station, so that's no problem.

You may also care to stop off at Old Sarum, mainly just earthworks & the original pre-historic site of Salisbury. You can see it from the bus, on your left as you leave Salisbury & not as on Googlemaps, & perhaps decide whether to get off & explore on the return.

Legend says that an archer fired an arrow blindly from Old Sarum and Salisbury was built where it landed. Since that's over 2 miles he must have been one helluva bowman :D So legend got changed to "it wounded a deer & that's where the deer eventually died." :)

Be sure to allow time to explore Salisbury & its cathedral when you get back. The station is 1/2 mile 10-min walk from the centre if the bus times dont work out.

Super laid-back city, you'll enjoy.

 

John Bull

[RSVE821]

Many thanks for the good news. We are staying at the Ibis Hotel so walking to the station will not be a problem. And a bonus on the Great Western Railroad website, they have 2 for 1 admission coupons for the cathedral and Old Sarum (not sure admission to what in Old Sarum). They also offer a 1 GBP day pass for the bus systems within Southampton and Salisbury.

[John Bull]

Many thanks for the good news. We are staying at the Ibis Hotel so walking to the station will not be a problem. And a bonus on the Great Western Railroad website, they have 2 for 1 admission coupons for the cathedral and Old Sarum (not sure admission to what in Old Sarum). They also offer a 1 GBP day pass for the bus systems within Southampton and Salisbury.

 

.......... but will you get those concessions if you buy your ticket at the station, rather than on the web?????

JB

[RSVE821]

.......... but will you get those concessions if you buy your ticket at the station, rather than on the web?????

JB

 

I was actually able to print out the coupons without booking. However, you have to fill out an on-line form first before the coupons appear for printing. It's more of a marketing survey than anything else.

[John Bull]

I was actually able to print out the coupons without booking. However, you have to fill out an on-line form first before the coupons appear for printing. It's more of a marketing survey than anything else.

 

Bingo.

Case solved.

 

Old Sarum - admission is to the site, though as a kid I got in for free through the fence at the back :o

But the site is just earthworks, you have booked too late to see the castle*

 

Have a good one.

JB

* too late by about 1000 years :D

[sddsddean]

In case you haven't found it, heres the website for the HOHO bus to Stonehenge. It picks up at Salisbury station, so very convienient. http://www.thestonehengetour.info/

 

Simon