Flying into Gatwick on a Sunday to Southampton, reverse options with tour?

[shertwo]

Love this site and especially John Bull (you are amazing and so helpful to all!) The airline we use flies into Gatwick on the Sunday (April 30) day before cruise), need to get to Southampton, hotel one night and cruise the next day -- bus or train with stop(s), better/best option?

 

When we return to Southampton would be nice to have a day tour and then drop at hotel, last year we did Salisbury, Windsor Castle and Stonehenge and drop at central London hotel -- it was wonderful! Anyone know of tours that would end at Gatwick -- or do they all end at central London hotels or Heathrow? (the Bath Cotswalds? tours look interesting). Hotel for one night and then train to Gatwick on the 14th (May) may be better, again a Sunday.

 

Cheers! Appreciate your time and advice.

[sddsddean]

No direct train on a Sunday, so for ease I'd go for the National Express coach direct from LGW to Southampton. http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

 

I'm assuming you don't want to do Salisbury etc again. I think most 'tours' are geared toward ending in London or LHR, so the plan to get off the ship and stay in a hotel could be a good one. You could easily get a train to nip to Portsmouth (only about 20mins) where there is plenty to see...HMS Victory, Mary Rose, D Day museum etc., then back to Southampton and coach back to LGW on the Sunday. Premier Inn hotel or Holiday Inn on West Quay would be ideal, as they are both near train and coach stations and City Cruise terminal.

 

JB will be along in a bit to give you more ideas, like visiting Winchester.

 

Simon

[John Bull]

As Simon's post, there are no direct Gatwick to Southampton trains on sundays.

 

You might feel more confident with the simplicity of the Nat Express bus.

 

But there are numerous rail routes & prices (£5 to over £50) involving just one simple change.

Most are more expensive than the bus, but there's one hourly service that's very good and quick (2 hours) and currently costs

- just £5 (pre-purchase, select a date & time, your ticket is only good for that train)

- or £15.50 if you want the flexibility of using any of those hourly trains.

Since you have no control over your arrival time at Gatwick, the £15.50 anytime ticket makes most sense.

But I don't know whether £15.50 is the walk-up price or whether you have to pre-purchase (anyone else know??).

The train change is very easy. Get off the train at Ford (just after Arundel), stay on the same platform & the Southampton train pulls into the same platform 6 minutes later.

That route isn't shown on the national rail site, so you need to use the website of the local train operator, Southern Trains. http://www.southernrailway.com/

Such is the mess that UK rail ticketing is in.

 

So, to repeat, you might feel more confident with the simplicity of the Nat Express bus.;)

 

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That Cotswolds tour only ends at Heathrow or central London hotels.

So if you choose it, you can either bale out at Heathrow or central London & take a Nat Express bus from Heathrow, or a choice of Nat Express bus or train from London Victoria, to overnite at Gatwick.

Or overnite at a Heathrow hotel and take the Nat Express bus to Gatwick next morning.

Splitting that journey by overniting in London Victoria is another option, but hotel prices are likely to be higher than at either airport, & poor value for just resting your head.

 

Simon suggests a Southampton hotel & a day-trip to Portsmouth, then Nat Express to Gatwick next morning.

I concur with visiting Portsmouth.

But to make it easier you could head direct from ship to Portsmouth harbour by Nat Express bus, or train or private transfer (about £40). Overnite hotel in Portsmouth near the harbour eg The Ship Leopard (it's a hotel, not a ship ;)) on The Hard, or Holiday Inn Express in Gunwharf Quays.

Next morning to Gatwick by direct Nat Express bus or direct hourly train from Portsmouth harbour (yes, direct trains from P'mouth to LGW on sundays)

 

All of these options depend on your return flight time, though there's a shop by Portsmouth harbour to drop your luggage for the day if you want to continue to Gatwick on the saturday evening.

 

JB :).

[shertwo]

Thank you so much, you are the best, seriously!! Much appreciated! Such a wealth of knowledge and willingness to share/assist people, you rock Sir!

 

Cheers!

[Bob++]

Can I just put in a plug for the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth. It would be worthwhile for HMS Victory alone, but the Mary Rose Museum, which holds the substantial remains of Henry V111 flagship, is astonishingly good. There are may other fascinating things to see as well and plenty of choice if you want to eat or drink. The only downside is that they have no left luggage facility.

 

http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/site-attractions/attractions/mary-rose

 

[57gal]

I will be in Southampton day before cruise. Does anyone know of any half day group tours to Salisbury or Stonehenge or is there a train?