How to Travel the M3 to Southampton

Constructed between 1971 and 1995 in Hampshire and Surrey, the M3 motorway travels from Sunbury-on-Thames in London to Southampton. The M3 is 58.6 miles (94.3 km) in length, and passes through some glorious rural English landscapes and natural areas of high ecological, recreational and scenic value.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Road Map

1. Start your journey from Sunbury-on-Thames in Southwest London. The M3 motorway begins here at Junction 1 as a double three-lane road.
2. Go in the southwest direction, pass below the M25 at Junction 2, and drive on till you reach Junction 4 on the Surrey and Hampshire border. Now you drive through the Farnborough suburbs, through some rural country and across the South Western Railway Main Line.
3. Drive along Basingstoke Canal until you reach Basingstoke town. Skirt around it, turn southwest and reach Junction 8. Continue along double two-lane carriageways.
4. Enjoy some beautiful country scenery en route to the Winchester Bypass, and travel on to Junction 9 where the M3 once more becomes a three-lane road. Continue southward and circle around Winchester city.
5. Drive through Twyford Down, head southwest and cross the South Western Railway Main Line again, this instance along the Itchen river. Travel on to cross the Eastleigh-Romsey line next.
6. Reach the Chilworth Roundabout outside Southampton. Follow the signs into Southampton city and park at one of the many pay and display places in the city centre.

Tips & Warnings

• At Junction 8, the M3’s lane 1 transforms into the A303 road.
• The M3 route is in 3 sections--Thames Valley and North Surrey, North Hampshire and South Hampshire.
• The M3 from Junction 8 to 9 has very little traffic.
• The M3’s only motorway service stations are—Fleet Services and the Winchester Services.