Places to Stay Near a Bus Stop in Hampshire

What you'll find in this collection

BritStays currently lists 145 places to stay in Hampshire that are near a bus stop. Most are cottages (123 of them), with 14 caravanning sites, 7 camping options and a single holiday park. If you'd like to leave the car at home, or simply not depend on it, this is a solid shortlist to start from.

Many of these stays offer more than a bus stop. 104 have EV charging nearby, which helps if you're driving down in an electric car and using buses once you've arrived. 61 are also near a train station, so you could reach your stay entirely by public transport. On the other points, only 6 list parking, 6 are pet friendly, 6 list toilets, 4 have a picnic area and 3 list WiFi. Most listings don't mention those facilities at all. That doesn't always mean they're missing, but you should check with the host before you book.

Choosing an area: coast or countryside

The listings cluster in a handful of places. Andover and Portsmouth have 19 each, Bembridge has 17, Sandown 15, the wider Hampshire area 15, Ryde and Seaview 12, Hayling Island 10 and Fareham 5.

• Coastal breaks: Portsmouth, Hayling Island, Bembridge, Sandown and Ryde and Seaview suit you if you want a seaside feel. In Bembridge, names such as Sea Drift Retreat, Driftwood House and Bembridge Coastal Escape give you a good idea of the setting.
• Countryside and inland bases: Andover and the listings marked simply as Hampshire, such as Colden Common Farm, suit a quieter trip built around stately homes and green spaces.
• City plus coast: Portsmouth works well if you want museums and transport links on your doorstep. The Lodge sleeps 6 and is near a bus stop and a train station, with EV charging nearby.

Which stays suit which kind of trip

Larger families or groups: Junction House in Andover sleeps 8 and is near a bus stop and a train station, which makes it one of the easier group stays to reach without a car. In Bembridge, Steyne Seaglass, Bembridge Quay, Gate House and Driftwood House each sleep 6.

Couples or small families: Merryweather Cottage in Bembridge sleeps 4, and Sea Drift Retreat sleeps 5. In Sandown, the Fort Spinney Holiday Bungalows come in two sizes. Bungalow 7 and Bungalow 8 sleep 4, while Bungalow 9 and Bungalow 10 sleep 6. If you're travelling with friends or wider family, booking neighbouring bungalows is worth considering.

Dog owners: Only 6 of the 145 stays are listed as pet friendly, so this is the filter that will narrow your options most. If you're bringing a dog, apply that filter first and choose your area afterwards.

Things to do once you're there

The region has a good spread of days out. Before you set off, check the bus route and timetable from your stay to each one, because being near a bus stop doesn't guarantee a direct service to every attraction.

• Stately homes and heritage: Hinton Ampner, Sandham Memorial Chapel and City Mill are all National Trust properties. Other stately homes in the area include Rotherfield Park, Cranbury House, Gaston Grange and Redenham House.
• Outdoors: The New Forest National Park is the obvious choice for walking and open space.
• Wildlife: Marwell Zoo, in Hampshire, is a popular family day out.
• Museums: The City Museum in Portsmouth suits a rainy day if you're staying in the city. The Isle of Wight Glass Museum is a further option.
• Water fun: The New Forest Water Park is listed under Bournemouth. Plan that one as a longer trip.

When to book, and what to check first

The coastal areas, especially Bembridge and Sandown, have plenty of listings that sleep 4 to 6. Those sizes suit families, so they're likely to be in demand during school holidays. If your dates are fixed to the holidays, book early. If you can travel outside them, you'll usually have more choice.

Before you confirm, check these points with the host:

• Which bus routes serve the nearby stop, and how often they run in the evenings and at weekends.
• Whether there's parking, since only 6 listings mention it.
• Whether there's WiFi, if you need it. Only 3 listings mention it.
• For Colden Common Farm, how many people it sleeps, because this isn't shown in our data.
• If you're bringing a dog, the exact pet policy, including any limits on the number or size of dogs.

If you plan to arrive by train, filter for stays near a train station as well as a bus stop. In Portsmouth and Andover, The Lodge and Junction House are good examples to compare.