Help! Need somewhere nice to take mrs on S. Coast!

[timmy30]

Morning all, I could really do with some help here. Last w/e I decided to take the Mrs to the English seaside, she's Italian and had never been, and I thought it would be a nice romatic w/e. I'm from the West so don't really know the S coast, live in Reading, so I though aha, direct South is a nice little seaside town called the Havant, that'll do nicely.

Now I don't mean to offend any PHers who happen to come from Havant, but lets just say it didn't fit the bill. Not a success at all.

I'm intending to try to retry again this w/e, but second time around I really can't afford another balls up. So can any of you guys recommend a nice Victorian style, quiet, clean, non Chavy seaside resort near that general area? For starters what's Bognor Regis like?

Any help much appreciated. :yes:

[JagLover]

I can recommend the Swanage/Studland area very highly.

if you a looking for a seaside town Swanage is nice, if you would like a nice quiet village by the sea with a marvelous beach then studland (just over the headland) is very nice.

In my view Studland is the closest decent beach to London.

[thunderstruck]

If you want somewhere quiet and not tacky, you could try staying around Lulworth Cove. Loads of nice pubs and walks, and from there it's an easy trip to Swanage.

[bga]

timmy30 said:

....Chavy seaside resort.... ....Bognor Regis....

Go the whole hog & head down to Salcombe or Dartmouth for some proper coastline. The Burgh Island Hotel just off Bigbury on Sea is a surefire winner if you are feeling flush.

Other places which can be nice - Christchurch, Poole, possibly Weymouth.

[muley]

Try Chichester area - check out the hotels and b&bs on the web. There's a great drive south from Farnham via Goodwood area, then

spend a quiet day on the beach at Bracklesham Bay (pebbly, though) and/or do a walk north or south from Chichester Marina (free parking)

then go for a meal at

www.kencancook.co.uk

Never beaten!!



>> Edited by muley on Tuesday 16th August 09:54

[philthy]

Another vote for Dartmouth!
Lovely place, and just expensive enough to put off Wayne and Shaznay.

Try it!
Phil

>> Edited by philthy on Tuesday 16th August 10:10

[timmy30]

JagLover said:

I can recommend the Swanage/Studland area very highly. if you a looking for a seaside town Swanage is nice, if you would like a nice quiet village by the sea with a marvelous beach then studland (just over the headland) is very nice. In my view Studland is the closest decent beach to London.

Cheers guys, listen to get to Swanage from Reading autoroute is telling me to drive to Bournemouth/Poole and get a ferry across the bay, is it a regular service? Oh also what's the traffic like on the A31? I'm thinking the journey should take about 2hrs on a Thurs evening?

[krusty]

bga said:

The Burgh Island Hotel

The Dogs Nads
If you don't want to go to that expense you can stay in the pub across the bay called "The Sloop Inn"
Really excellent food and a ten minute walk from the beach.

[JagLover]

timmy30 said:

and get a ferry across the bay, is it a regular service? Oh also what's the traffic like on the A31? I'm thinking the journey should take about 2hrs on a Thurs evening?

The ferry is the quickest route (unless you get lost in poole like I did once)

Personally I prefer driving round the bay it might be a bit longer, but once you are past wareham it is a nice driving road.

[krusty]

You don't want to be heading for the chain link ferry at rush hour. Go round the outside, it's dead easy. Wimbourne, Wareham, Corfe Castle, Swanage.
Lovely place, you can walk over the range to Lulworth cove from there. A bit up and down, up and down but a nice walk all the same

[shadytree]

Went here last easter. Very nice. superb food

www.luggerhotel.com/

[GregE240]

krusty said:

You don't want to be heading for the chain link ferry at rush hour. Go round the outside, it's dead easy. Wimbourne, Wareham, Corfe Castle, Swanage. Lovely place, you can walk over the range to Lulworth cove from there. A bit up and down, up and down but a nice walk all the same

Seconded. Its a nice drive too.....

Greg

[pmanson]

Drive to Portsmouth, Jump on the hoovercraft and 10mins later your on the isle of wight!

Went there for the first time last week and had a great time staying just outside Ryde.

[timmy30]

pmanson said:

Drive to Portsmouth, Jump on the hoovercraft and 10mins later your on the isle of wight! Went there for the first time last week and had a great time staying just outside Ryde.

How much does it cost to take a car on said Hovercraft?

[Nuggs]

Av thee considered Brighton lad?

Fantastic place, with some good hotels, fine restaurants and good shopping (especially in the Lanes).

Recommended hotels:

Thistle

The Grand

Seattle (at the Marina - fantastic cocktail bar!)

Recommended restaurants:

Havana

English's

[pmanson]

timmy30 said:

pmanson said: Drive to Portsmouth, Jump on the hoovercraft and 10mins later your on the isle of wight! Went there for the first time last week and had a great time staying just outside Ryde. How much does it cost to take a car on said Hovercraft?

Ah I think the hovercraft is foot passengers only. They do a sea cat and ferry crossings as well. Are Ferry was £65 (each way i think). Not cheap but we had set times we needed to be there. My Sister came over and the crossing she got was £35 return.

Hovercraft is £10 return.


Edited to add takes about 30mins to get across on the ferry

>> Edited by pmanson on Tuesday 16th August 11:34

[pmanson]

You could always try B'Mouth. Good beach, nice restaurants, lots of hotels with plenty of parking and a great nightlife!!

[timmy30]

pmanson said:

You could always try B'Mouth. Good beach, nice restaurants, lots of hotels with plenty of parking and a great nightlife!!

We stayed there a few years ago, nice hotel, but we went into town and it was full of gangs of teenagers roaming around getting p*ssed etc. Def a good spot for a lads w/e but we're talking more 'Bridget Jones.. long w/e in open top sports car' type event. You know nice supper, romantic walk along the beach....vague possibility of me getting my oats

[JagLover]

I have just got back from holiday myself (I spent the last week in Padstow) and I was getting holiday withdrawel symptoms so bad I had to book another holiday to give myself something to look forward to.

In 3 weeks time my wife and I will have a long weekend in Woolacombe(on the North Devon Coast). It is my favourite place in Britain and so far this year I have only spent 1 day there.

[jimothy]

Bosham's lovely - as long as you don't leave you car on teh front during high tide...

Lovely hotel there too:

www.millstream-hotel.co.uk/