* The South West Trains Summer Ticket is permitted on off-peak services from Sat Jul 26 until Fri Aug 22. Travel is valid between any two South West Trains served stations. Exceptions apply to stations west of Salisbury (Tisbury to Exeter St Davids or Warminster to Bristol Temple Meads inclusive). The ticket price excludes cross-Solent travel to/from the Isle of Wight. See the South West Trains website for full terms and conditions.
Ride a bike to Stonehenge
Heritage Cycle Tours offer guided bike rides all over Hampshire and Wiltshire, allowing you to explore further once you step off the train. For a two-wheeled jaunt around the Wiltshire countryside and a chance to visit Stonehenge, book a tour starting in Salisbury, just eight miles from the World Heritage Site. They supply the cycles, too.
TRAIN TO Salisbury
Walk the Strawberry Trail
The Hamble Valley on the Solent coastline is a wonderful rural stretch between Southampton, Winchester and Portsmouth. It’s beautiful all year as the colours change from spring bluebells to autumn foliage, with woodland, waterside walks and country parks to explore.
Follow the Strawberry Trail for a 15-mile self-guided circular walk from Botley, passing through lovely little villages and farmland, with lots of places to eat and drink along the way. The summer’s the time to stop by a PYO farm and pick a few punnets of the valley’s renowned strawberries.
www.hamblevalley.com/home/great-outdoors/walking-trails.php
TRAIN TO Botley
Photographer: Portsmouth City Co Shop for high fashion and cool vintage
See something different when you escape to Portsmouth for a day’s retail therapy. Gunwharf Quays fashion outlet has premium-label shopping for men and women, plus plenty of places to stop for lunch overlooking the harbour. Admire the view from the 170m Spinnaker Tower that dominates the waterfront, before you take a wander into nearby Southsea, along Albert Road with its quirky secondhand boutiques.
www.albertroad.insouthsea.co.uk
TRAIN TO Portsmouth Harbour
Hot air ballooning
Take a balloon trip over the gorgeous rolling countryside of Surrey. Adventure Balloons launch from the Burys by the River Wey in Godalming and take in sights like Loseley House, Alice Holt Forest, neat little villages and the ruins of Waverley Abbey. The routes vary on the day, depending on which way the wind is blowing, but you can be sure the views are amazing.
www.adventureballoons.co.uk/surrey-balloon-flights
TRAIN TO Godalming
Denbies Wine Estate
Tell the friends you’ve been on a vineyard tour and let them think you’ve popped over to the south of France for the weekend. The beautiful Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking Surrey really does look like a little corner of Provence. Take one of the mini 'train' tours around the estate, enjoy one of the indoor wine tastings or have lunch at the Gallery restaurant overlooking the vineyards and Box Hill.
TRAIN TO Dorking
Wildlife watching in Poole
Sitting prettily in Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island is owned by the National Trust and home to all kinds of beautiful birds and animals including kingfishers, terns and the rare red squirrel. Explore woodland, heathland, coastline and the shores of the lagoon, by foot or on an electric buggy tour.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island
TRAIN TO Poole
Sand World
See how building sandcastles can be turned into amazing art at Sand World in Weymouth, where you can take a walk among vast sand sculptures. The theme for this year’s Sand Sculpting Festival (running until November 2) is ‘Books and Authors’, with sand creations depicting scenes and characters from famous children’s stories and great works of literature. You can even have a go yourself.
www.sandworld.co.ukTRAIN TO Weymouth
Something different for £15 return with South West Trains
Sieze the day and do something you’ve never done before. Leave London well and truly behind with these unusual trips out of town
Advertising
With the South West Trains Summer Ticket* you can afford to try new experiences every weekend if you want to. From wine tasting to floating among the clouds in a hot air balloon, why not do things you never could in London?
You may also like
You may also like
Discover Time Out original video
Advertising