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I'm going to be in Amsterdam and Rotterdam in July, visiting some maritime museums and then taking a transatlantic crossing on m/s Rotterdam back to New York City with a stop in Southampton. In Southampton two choices during the port stop are a visit to the Lord Montagu museum (National Motor Museum) at Beaulieu, or going to Stonehenge; that's going to be a very difficult choice to make. If anyone has visited the motor museum at Beaulieu or has input, I'd appreciate your comments about it.

O_D, never been to either place. I understand Stonehenge is not as impressive as one would expect. Sort of like an arrangement of refrigerator size stone blocks. I have a brochure booklet from the museum at Beaulieu and it looks to me be one of the better auto museums. If it were me I would go to Beaulieu and see Stonehenge on a TV documentary. Either way, enjoy the trip.

(o{I}o)

The problem with stone henge (and I have been there), is that you cant even get near the stones. They now keep you like 50ft away from them. I guess too many tourists trying to chip off a souvenir has done it's damage over the years.

It's pretty impressive in person, but not the experience you would want if you wanted to walk amongst the stones.

I've been to both, and as Kev noted there is a fence around Stonehenge that prevents viewers from getting up close. The motor museum is worthwhile.

Brian

Hi Dave,
Glad to hear that you are visiting the U.K. Although Stonehenge is impressive to look at,as the other guys stated
you can't get near it. Beaulieu is well worth a visit and you are in one of the most beautiful parts of the country with lots of nice pubs in the New Forest. Near to the motor museum is the old village of Bucklers hard where they built the old oak warships like Nelsons Victory. The area is where the build up for the invasion of Europe took place and a lot of the concrete Mulberry floating harbour were built there. It's a shame that you have only a short time here as there is lots of things to see in the area. Not too far away is Lord Mountbattens country home Broadlands which is open to the public.
If I can be of any further help please let me know

Regards

Terry

Thanks JW, Kev, BDeB, and Terry for your comments. I know the museum is undergoing some substantial renovation and some exhibits may be closed, but it seems the decision will not be as hard to make as I first thought. And good pubs would be a clincher.

Terry, don't know where in the UK you're located, but we're in port from 8 am until 6 pm; if you're really convenient to Southampton it would be great to get together for a visit. If that's a possibility, let's email or PM.

Dave,
We actually live in Enfield North London but Hampshire and Dorset are our favourite places and now we are retired we can take a trip down to Beaulieu to see you.
Am I correct in assuming that you are on a cruise?
How about we E-mail one another nearer the time to make arrangements?
Terry

Hey Terry, that would be great to meet and be able to put faces and voices with email and screen names. For sure I'll email you as the date gets closer. Yes, it's a transatlantic cruise; I'll be on Holland-America's flagship m/s Rotterdam, docking in Southampton about 8 AM. Shortly before departure I should have my departure time from Southampton for Beaulieu.

Stonehenge is fascinating but the Beaulieu museum was the highlight of our trip to the UK. Not many Packards though!
Beautiful countryside.

Great, We look forward to that.
Terry