Alternatively: London to Bournemouth fun route
Discussion
You could try M3, A303 to Andover, A343 to Salisbury, A354 towards Blandford up to the Sixpenny Handley roundabout, left onto B3081/B3078 to Horton Inn, left on B3072 to Three Legged Cross and then to Ringwood and into Bournemouth from there. Alternatively, you could go to Ferndown and then Bournemouth. Depends how well you know the area.
A343 and A354 are lovely fast A roads. The only trouble was one set of roadworks on the A343 which I went through a while back, don't know if they are still there.
B3081/B3078 are nice fast roads too, though there is one (well signposted) nasty bend on the 3081 after a long undulating straight.
After Three Legged Cross you are getting into the outskirts of the conurbation.
When visiting the parents down in Dorset, I use this route from Oxford and come off the A34 onto the A303 and take the route from there. I think its about 30 minutes slower than a good run along the M27 and A31 through the New Forest, but it is a better drive.
Would avoid coming into Bournemouth through the New Forest from the east, 40mph limits everywhere and busy.
A343 and A354 are lovely fast A roads. The only trouble was one set of roadworks on the A343 which I went through a while back, don't know if they are still there.
B3081/B3078 are nice fast roads too, though there is one (well signposted) nasty bend on the 3081 after a long undulating straight.
After Three Legged Cross you are getting into the outskirts of the conurbation.
When visiting the parents down in Dorset, I use this route from Oxford and come off the A34 onto the A303 and take the route from there. I think its about 30 minutes slower than a good run along the M27 and A31 through the New Forest, but it is a better drive.
Would avoid coming into Bournemouth through the New Forest from the east, 40mph limits everywhere and busy.
Edited by Highway Star on Friday 9th July 14:20
Edited by Highway Star on Friday 9th July 14:21
A3, A31, M3, M27 off at Junction 2. Along the A36, turn off towards Nomansland and then follow the road through the forest (past Linwood) to Ringwood, take the 1st left off the A31 onto the B3081 and then left onto Hurn road / Matchams Lane. Follow to end and then rejoin the A338 into Bournemouth
Well that was fun! 
In case anyone's interested in doing the same thing...
I took the normal route as far as Ringwood and tried the B3347. That was a massive dissapointment - one nice set of S-bends but they were inside a 40mph limit and a bit of hassle getting through Ringwood. So, I drove back to Ringwood, nipped on the A31 for a matter of yards and then onto the B3081. Even the first bit, although relatively busy, was an improvement on the previous road. Once you get past Verwood there are some nice little sections, but the real fun kicks off at Tollard Royal. The first bit is quite open with fast sweeping corners and a bit of a moorland feel and the other end of the road, as you come down into Cann Common is the famous Zig Zag Hill. It more than lives up to its reputation - some very tight switchbacks connected by short straights - it feels like an alpine pass that's been compressed. While it's quite narrow it's not so tiny that you can't have some fun if you're senisble, particularly in something the size of a Caterham.
Okay, it was a diversion rather than an actual part of the route, but it was so worth it! One of the best roads I've driven in ages, and that goes for the whole B3081 (after Verwood at least), not just the really twisty bit. Excuse the waffle, but I'm quite chuffed with my morning's hoon. Now off for beers and barbeque in Bournemouth before I do the whole thing again on the way back tomorrow.
In case anyone's interested in doing the same thing...
I took the normal route as far as Ringwood and tried the B3347. That was a massive dissapointment - one nice set of S-bends but they were inside a 40mph limit and a bit of hassle getting through Ringwood. So, I drove back to Ringwood, nipped on the A31 for a matter of yards and then onto the B3081. Even the first bit, although relatively busy, was an improvement on the previous road. Once you get past Verwood there are some nice little sections, but the real fun kicks off at Tollard Royal. The first bit is quite open with fast sweeping corners and a bit of a moorland feel and the other end of the road, as you come down into Cann Common is the famous Zig Zag Hill. It more than lives up to its reputation - some very tight switchbacks connected by short straights - it feels like an alpine pass that's been compressed. While it's quite narrow it's not so tiny that you can't have some fun if you're senisble, particularly in something the size of a Caterham.
Okay, it was a diversion rather than an actual part of the route, but it was so worth it! One of the best roads I've driven in ages, and that goes for the whole B3081 (after Verwood at least), not just the really twisty bit. Excuse the waffle, but I'm quite chuffed with my morning's hoon. Now off for beers and barbeque in Bournemouth before I do the whole thing again on the way back tomorrow.
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