Where can I stop between Swindon and Winchester

[mundaneflounder]

Driving down to Portsmouth for the ferry on Friday night. We need to get there for 8pm ish. We have quite a drive with our two boys (4 and 1). Have planned a stop around B'ham at the services.

Would like to stop somewhere between Swindon and Winchester for food. Family friendly. Preferably with a bit of outside space for a run around. Pub would be absolutely ideal but will be about 6/6:30 on a Friday night. Needs to have parking on site as DH doesn't want to leave the loaded up car out of sight.

Am also open to the idea of a picnic if we can find somewhere picturesque to stop.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!!

Hiya,

Not sure where you can stop between Swindon and Winchester (sorry)... but just wanted to check you're aware that from Winch to Portsmouth it's about 45mins with no traffic if you've put your foot down.
ALSO currently on the M27 there is a really long stretch of road works and an average 50 speed check which I would imagine could slow that 45minute stretch down.

Just wanted to make you aware as even if stopping at 6pm for dinner before you even get to Winchester, you may struggle to get to Portsmouth in time.

Thats really helpful. Thanks user.

If we need to be at the port in Portsmouth for 8:30 then what time would do you think we'd need to leave Winchester?

AM now wondering if we should leave early, and try to get to Portsmouth for 6pm and hopefully miss some of the traffic. There is the outlet place in Portsmouth isn't there? What is the parking like there? I suppose we can pay for parking somewhere secure like an NCP car park if need be.

OR maybe there is something a short walk from the port?

Gunwharf quays has a good carpark that seems secure. There are plenty of restaurants there and it is close to the ports. I would definitely get to Portsmouth early and eat there - the speed restrictions are a nightmare at the moment and can really lengthen the journey.

Gunwarf quays is the outlet, :)

I would just get to Portsmouth, you could stop in Southampton but that’s still a 40 min drive to Portsmouth x

I wouldn't leave Winchester a minute later than 7:30pm to be honest, but I'm familiar with Portsmouth so really comfortable driving there etc.

Yes, Gunwharf is really easy to park in, TONS of spaces and is a secure underground car park so I'd say your car would be safe all packed up.

I think it's a really good idea to get to Portsmouth for 6 to be honest. I'd recommend either eating in one of the several places like Pizza Express in Gunwharf or taking about an 8 minute walk along to The Still and West pub in 'Old Portsmouth'. Good food, and I know it's family friendly during the day. Sorry, couldn't tell you about the evenings.

Absolutely - eat in Portsmouth.

We live fairly locally so go frequently but our holiday tradition seems to be eat at Wagamamas and watch the ferry sail in - once it’s gone past us, it’s time for us to head to the docks.

The gun wharf quays carpark will be no good if you have a roof rack. In that case I’d go to south sea common and eat fish and chips.

Of another option - Whitney village is an open air shopping centre off junction 9 of the m27. So, about 20 minutes to the port. Various family friendly restaurants, some overlooking the carparks so your DH could be happy, and through most of the speed restrictions by the time you get there. If you want to avoid driving into Portsmouth during rush hour - and who wouldn’t - it would be ideal.

Sorry, that should say Whiteley village.

ConstanzaAndSalieri that sounds so nice!! Would love to watch our ferry come in. The boys are SO excited.

We do have the bikes on the roof though so sounds like Gunwharf quays might not work.

Whiteley village sounds like a possibility. Would we be ok in that car park with the roof rack?

Absolutely fine in that carpark, it’s all on the flat built round a “street” with no height barriers. It’s not the most picturesque of places but it’s all open air. Nearly all the restaurants overlook the carparks and it is 2 minutes from the motorway junction. Free parking too. Southsea common has masses of parking too along the prom.

Brilliant.

Bit gutted we can't do the quays and watch the ferry come in but maybe another year!!

Gunwharf is the answer. There is a car park opposite the Isle of Wight Ferry terminal that is open air so no problem with bicycles. It is immediately opposite the rear entrance to Gunwharf.
As someone said Whiteley isn’t far away and has a range of chain restaurants or Port Solent.

CherryPavlova is the open air park secure? We absolutely can't leave the bikes/roof rack etc just out in the open.

Gunwharf would definitely be a good option for food if you can sort the parking. Do the bikes not lock onto the carriers? Whiteley is also a good option and would be better parking. Port Solent is ok but I’d put it as third choice. Absolutely agree with getting the m27 roadworks out of the way before stopping. Also the bottom section of the m3 is usually very busy on a Friday afternoon!

Neither Whitely or Port Solent are secure carparks as in not underground etc. Best bet is to head to Southsea as pp suggested and get some fish and chips. You can very much see all the action on the Solent there and possibly the hovercraft take off, although I'm not sure of their timings.

Don't know about there but we head to the harvester near the ferry port for dinner when we take the overnight ferry, or there's a retail/leisure park where we've used Wetherspoons when we tried to book too late

No it’s not a secure car park by Wightlink. The Gunwharf car park is secure but not sure what height limit is. Southsea with chips on the beach maybe. There’s a very good child friendly restaurant called Mozzarella Joes right on seafront near hoverport in Southsea.

Alternatively free parking at Canoe Lake at eat at Southsea Beach Cafe, or a little bit further along is The Briny.

This was a lovely pub, beautiful village
www.hawkinnamport.co.uk/