Spring at the Solent Hotel

Day 1

We depart the local area and make our way to Alton where we board a one way journey along the Watercress Line to Alresford. In years gone by, the Watercress Line took people on holiday, carried people to war, transported evacuees, and moved all the essential goods of the area. Today you can enjoy a steam train journey through the spectacular Hampshire countryside. This afternoon we visit the historic city of Winchester before arriving at the 4* Solent Hotel late-afternoon ready to settle in and get acquainted with the facilities on site.

Day 2

Today we travel to Portsmouth where we spend time at leisure. You can visit the historic dockyard and explore Henry VIII's favourite ship Mary Rose, Nelson's HMS Victory, and Queen Victoria's HMS Warrior. Visit Gunwharf Quay's shopping centre and ascend to the top of the 170 metre Emirates Spinnaker Tower to see the views from miles around, and enjoy a coffee in the clouds.

Day 3

This morning we visit the Weald & Downland Living Museum, home to televisions The Repair Shop. Discover rescued rural homes and buildings set in a beautiful landscape in the South Downs National Park. Their collection tells the stories of the people who lived and worked in rural South East England over the last 1,000 years. With more than 50 buildings to explore from a replica Anglo-Saxon hall house to an Edwardian tin church. This afternoon, we spend time at leisure in Chichester with time to explore this Roman city and its attractions. Highlights include the magnificent Chichester Cathedral, renowned for its unique architecture, world-famous artwork and medieval carvings, and the award-winning Novium Museum. Built over the remains of a Roman bathhouse.

Day 4

After a leisurely breakfast we enjoy a visit to Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway. More than 100 years in the making, the Gardens are a spectacular collection of landscaped woodland, herbaceous, contemporary, formal, and wildflower gardens, in a unique riverside location. Enjoy a ride on the narrow-gauge railway which departs from a replica Victorian station and travels through a tunnel, over a bridge, round the new Dragonfly Pond and through the Summer Lane Garden.

Day 5

After breakfast we depart the hotel and travel to RHS Wisley Gardens. Wisley is undoubtedly one of the great gardens of the world. Its huge plant collection is also diverse, with a comprehensive fruit-growing collection, alpines, vegetables, bulbs as well as herbaceous and woody plants. We return home late afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast