Southampton - Winchester & return

[bob-a]

We'll be in So'ton overnite on 24 May, to sail on QM2 on the 25th. I'm thinking of taking a morning train up to Winchester to see the Cathedral, Castle & military museum. Then take a 1PM(ish) train back to board the ship.

Trip looks short enough, with plenty of trains - do you think that we can see enough in about 4 hrs in Winchester to make it worthwhile? Or is there a better suggestion?

[John Bull]

Yes, can be done comfortably, though not much time for other sights in the city. It's a Saturday, so Winchester will be busy with shoppers but not over-crowded

Don't expect to see much at "the castle", it's now nothing more than one hall. But the hall contains the legendary King Arthur's Table hung on one wall.

OK, King Arthur - if he ever existed - was around 600AD and the table has been carbon-dated to around 1300AD, but it still brings in a few tourists ;)

 

Exit Winchester rail station on the city side & walk to the right. In 5 minutes you'll come to a 3-way junction with a little painted traffic circle. The castle (hall) is through the barriered drive off that junction.

Admission is by donation - a couple of pounds pp is plenty.

(if you seek directions to The Castle, it's also the name of the county offices, a modern building by that traffic circle)

 

The military museum is just a few yards up the road from that painted traffic circle, sorry, never been in it, museums aren't my scene.

 

Then walk back down the road past that traffic circle & the West Gate (small museum upstairs), in 5 minutes the High Street continues as a pedestrians-only road. A couple of options to cut through the shops on your right, the cathedral is behind them.

Spend the bulk of your time in the cathedral, it's quite impressive and includes the tomb of Jane Austen under your feet. Also a memorial to a diver who spent several years at the turn of the 19th/20th century, in full diving suit of the time, laying concrete reinforcement to the flooded foundations, saving the cathedral from collapse. Admission about £12..

Beyond is the ruin of Wolvesey Palace, the former bishop's palace, and in the middle of The Broadway (continuation of the High Street) a statue of King Alfred, king of Wessex in about 800AD, who made Winchester his capital. Wessex was one of about 9 kingdoms (the number varied), brought together a couple of centuries later to form England.

Total distance no more than an easy downhill mile. You can walk back to the rail station or grab a cab in The Broadway.

Here's your route from station to Broadway:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Station+Rd&daddr=51.0636644,-1.3196723+to:51.0635469,-1.3196441+to:51.06106,-1.314446+to:51.0609991,-1.3144739+to:51.0615159,-1.3100801+to:The+Broadway&hl=en&ll=51.064297,-1.315742&spn=0.007673,0.02399&sll=51.064081,-1.315312&sspn=0.007673,0.02399&geocode=FX04CwMdM93r_w%3BFXArCwMdCN3r_yk7wr21jQ10SDFD22EOTQrWLg%3BFfoqCwMdJN3r_yn7VnnKjQ10SDHxTYAAebpBkA%3BFUQhCwMdcvHr_ynBf-9tiQ10SDEVRRunMBHiMg%3BFQchCwMdV_Hr_ynBf-9tiQ10SDEVRRunMBHiMg%3BFQsjCwMdgALs_ym3JlIcdhJ0SDF7rPQRR1egAA%3BFesiCwMd8QLs_w&oq=Market+Lane+&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5&z=16

 

Alternatively, Southampton has some sights in the old city, not desperately exciting but enough to interest you for a morning & very walkable.

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/visit

 

Stonehenge is possible on a cruise morning if it's on your bucket-list, but would be quite rushed. Details if you ask

 

Although your cruise terminal is usually only a 5 minute taxi ride from Southampton rail station, don't cut it fine - it's an area of shopping outlets plus cruise traffic & the road can get clogged on a saturday.

 

JB :)