Location
The cottage is located by the river in the middle of the high street of East Meon. The village is set in the South Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, approximately 15 miles from each of Winchester, Portsmouth and Chichester and approximately 50 miles south of London. Central London is about an hour by train from nearby Petersfield.
Directions
From London
At Junction 10 of the M25, take the A3 south, towards Guildford and Portsmouth. South of Guildford and around 20 miles from Portsmouth, you should IGNORE the turnoff for the A272 marked Petersfield and Midhurst. Stay on the A3 and take the next exit signposted A272 to Winchester. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit (marked A272 to Winchester and Stroud) and follow the A272 through Stroud and into Langrish. After 1.9 miles from the A3, just after a sharp left bend, turn left to East Meon (which is also marked with a brown sign to Ye Olde George Inn). Follow this country lane for another 1.9 miles to East Meon.
On entering East Meon you will see the church, elevated to the right. Turn left into Church Street. Pass Ye Olde George Inn on the right and drive VERY SLOWLY from here, crossing a small bridge over the River Meon and bearing left into High Street. As you pass the war memorial, 2 Old Bell Cottage is immediately on the right (before Glenthorne Meadow).
The entrance to the cottage is via a small gate under a trailing rose bush between 2 Old Bell Cottage and a cottage called the Barnards to the right.
You can park outside the cottage to unload the car if you like, before parking either on Glenthorne Meadow or in the double garage to the rear of the cottage.
From Winchester
Join the A31 from Winchester towards Alton and Alresford, and follow signs for the A272 to Petersfield. Once on the A272, follow this road for several miles, passing through the village of Bramdean along the way and reaching the traffic lights at ‘West Meon Hut’. This crossroads is easily recognised as it has a pub on one corner called the ‘West Meon’ and a petrol station on the corner to your right. If you need petrol, this is the nearest place to get it, so fill up now!
Turn right at this crossroads onto the A32 towards West Meon. A little way down this road, you will likely trigger a flashing ’30 mph’ speed limit sign and at the next road on the left, turn left towards the Thomas Lord pub and past ‘Harriot’s the Butcher’ (very good by the way). This winding country lane takes you to East Meon after about 3 to 4 miles.
On entering East Meon, ignore the right hand turn into ‘The Cross’ but when level with the church gate, turn right into Church Street. Pass Ye Olde George Inn on the right and drive VERY SLOWLY from here, crossing a small bridge over the River Meon and bearing left into High Street. As you pass the war memorial, 2 Old Bell Cottage is immediately on the right (before Glenthorne Meadow).
The entrance to the cottage is via a small gate under a trailing rose bush between 2 Old Bell Cottage and a cottage called the Barnards to the right.
You can park outside the cottage to unload the car if you like, before parking either on Glenthorne Meadow or in the double garage to the rear of the cottage.
From Heathrow
If you have hired a car from London Heathrow then you will want to join the M25 heading South (past the M3) and stay on the M25 until junction 10. From there, follow the directions from London (above).
From Gatwick
If you have hired a car from London Gatwick then you will want to join the M25 heading West towards Heathrow. Stay on the M25 until junction 10. From there, follow the directions from London (above).
From Southampton Airport
From Southampton airport join the M27 (East) towards Portsmouth and then take the A3 (M) North towards London and Guildford.
A short while after the exit signs turn from blue ‘motorway’ signs to green ‘A-road’ signs, climb up the hill and take the exit to Clanfield and East Meon. This is a very short exit slip road, so take care. Turn left at the end of the slip road. Shortly, you will enter Clanfield, where the speed limit reduces to 30mph. Continue until you see the Rising Sun pub and then turn right immediately after the pub.
Follow this road for around 3 miles, through some tree cover and then looking down into the valley, before eventually entering East Meon. Drive slowly past the Forge and then into the High Street. As you pass the Izaak Walton pub, drive very slowly. On your left, the next turning will be Glenthorne Meadow and just after the turning, the first house is Old Bell Cottage. The house is ‘double-fronted’ and the second section is 2 Old Bell Cottage.
The entrance to the cottage is via a small gate under a trailing rose bush between 2 Old Bell Cottage and a cottage called the Barnards to the right.
Please feel free to park outside to unload the car if you like, before parking either on Glenthorne Meadow or in the double garage to the rear of the cottage.
General
In case you need petrol or to buy anything along the way, there is a BP service station near Petersfield (at the junction of the A3 and A272). There is also a petrol station/Budgens at West Meon Hut (at the junction of the A272 and A32).
Petersfield has Marks and Spencer Food Store, Waitrose and Tesco. Details of these and other shops in the area are in the cottage. There is also the village shop which is usually open from 7.00 am to 5.00 pm. See the Provisions section.
Taxis
If you need a taxi from Petersfield station or the airport, then please call Mark Hider at Arrow taxis on 07889946252. You can pass on our name and say you need a taxi to 2 Old Bell Cottage, High Street, East Meon.
A taxi from Petersfield station is approximately £10 and from Heathrow (pre-booked with Arrow taxis) the fare is approximately £60.
Arrow Taxis (Mark Hider) on 07889946252
Trains
Petersfield station is on the main London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour line. The fastest such trains leave London Waterloo on the hour and half past the hour Monday to Friday, so there is a train every 30 mins during the majority of the day. The journey will take about an hour to Petersfield which should be one of the first five stops. Once at Petersfield station, just come out of the station entrance on the same platform and there is a taxi rank outside. It is around 5 miles to East Meon. The taxi fare is metered and should be up to £10 depending on the time of the day.