Lymington train v bus / First family offer / Millbrook roadworks

There will be diversions in Millbrook from Monday, as Kendal Avenue is resurfaced. First 2, 2A and X2 and Bluestar 18 will be affected.

First have a special offer on from this Sunday until Saturday 1st September. Their FirstDay Hampshire Family ticket is being cut from its usual price of £13 to £10. It is valid for 5 people (max 2 adults) all day on all First services in Hampshire, which apart from Southampton mainly serve Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth.

Bluestar have negotiated several discounts for holders of their Key smartcard. One of the participating restaurants is La Viña Tapas & Wine in Lymington. Just don't rely on the bus to get you back from an evening meal there: The last Bluestar 6 leaves Lymington at 1735 Mon-Sats and 1720 on Sundays. Might be best to skip dessert. The trains do run later however, the last one leaving Lymington Town station at 2235 Mon-Sats and 2216 on Sundays - change at Brockenhurst for Southampton Central, with a total journey time of up to an hour and 20 minutes including the connection. A single on the train from Central Station to Lymington Town is £7.70, while an off-peak day return is £7.90, so you might as well get the train both ways if you do fancy an evening meal at La Viña. For the record, Bluestar 6 would charge you £5.60 single or £7.50 day return to get from town to Lymington, but of course Explorer day tickets (£8) are valid on the 6 and across the entire Bluestar, More and Salisbury Reds networks.