England for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years
Replies: 11 - Last Post: Jul 3, 2012 5:54 AM Last Post By: laurasrq
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England for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years
We have family in Hampshire, so have seen much of the south and have been to London many times. We've never been in the winter for the holidays. Looking for suggestions for unique, festive places, food, drink, things to do by ourselves or with our 17-25 year old girls... Suggestions for Oxford...Cambridge...near Southampton?London New Years??? Any suggestions for lovely, but not too crazy, places to go?
Edited by: laurasrq
1
Winchester Christmas Market and Ice Rink - skating in the shadow of a 1000 year old cathedral - followed by a visit to the Wykeham Arms where the seating comprises old school desks from Winchester College followed by a walk along the Itchen to St Cross.4
How weird I was going to suggest Winchester too.However, the lesser known Stockbridge, on the river Test as mrs trellis pointed out, is well worth a visit. I lived there for many years and can thoroughly recommend it - great location on the river, with walks surrounding the village (old railway line to walk along too), lots of interesting shops, two galleries, several tea rooms and pubs. The best pub is the Three Cups, which does accommodation too - proper log fire, good menu etc etc.
5
Have you been to Portsmouth and gone round the Historic Dockyard? It really is fascinating and they usually to a Christmas Fayre. Or maybe a jaunt over to the Isle of Wight on the Red Funnel ferry from Soton?Otherwise, I'd head off to Bournemouth for a look around, maybe into the New Forest. Avoid any claims of a Christmas Wonderland Park in the NF though - there was a huge scam for that a few years ago.
You could even do a booze cruise to France from Portsmouth if you have the stomach for the ferry in winter or go up to Bath and take the girls to the spa waters there for an unusual treat on a cold day.
8
The Mayfly I know is near Chilbolton, on the Test but I haven't been there for years. We're more likely to go to the Bush at Ovington or the Bull at Sparsholt but even these I haven't been to for a couple of years.Portsmouth is a good shout as is Chichester and Arundel to the east of So'ton or Lymington, Beaulieu and Bucklers Hard to the west.
9
#7 - you're trying to discover my age again aren't you? I think it was renamed around the early 80's, and seeing as you press me on the point, I've known it from the inside since the late 60's. It used to have a decent skittle alley then too, but of course, if you really want to know when it was renamed it would be a good excuse to go and ask when you have a sunny summer evening to spare.#8 - I was once being sent on business to visit the Agricultural College at Sparsholt (about 40 years ago now!) and being given the address as 'B' Department - it was only when I got there I found it was actually the "Bee Department".
Apologies to other readers for reminiscing.
10
Yes, mike, I am, and now I remember we've had a similar conversation before.... I live in Cornwall now so don't get back up that way very often. How about the Boot at Houghton? That has river frontage too, at the bottom of their garden.Lovely story about Sparsholt!!!! (Gosh, my ex was probably there then.)
mre trellis that is the same pub, but that little area is called Fullerton - it used to have a station and was on the wonderfully named Spratt and Winkle line... closed in the 60s.
11
Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas. Enjoyed the conversation as well.While summer visits take us to Chesil Beach, Lyme Regis (Mark Hix Oyster and Fish House), New Forest and for hikes near Worth Matravers in Dorset...I look forward to some new experiences in the winter.
