How to get to Southampton

The majority of cruise ships that sail from the UK will do so from Southampton. Whilst this isn’t a problem for some of the country for a lot of people Southampton can be quite difficult to get to.

  • Should you drive?
  • Should you get a train?
  • Catch a plane?
  • Which option will be the quickest?
  • Will I get there in time for my cruise?
  • More importantly; which option is the cheapest?

Below is a handy guide that should let you plan ahead for the best way to meet your cruise ship.(Most cruise lines state that you have to be checked in by about 3:30/4:00 on the day of departure)

Make sure you leave yourself enough time to get there!

Major CitiesCarTrainCoachPlaneFastest way to do itCheapest way to do itWhere to book it
Aberdeen

Follow A90 to M90 in Perth and Kinross

Drive from A9, M74, A74(M), M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 9h 7min

Aberdeen -
Edinburgh -
Wolverhampton -
Southampton Central
Approx. 9h 55m

Aberdeen Coach Station -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 19h 30minAberdeen Coach Station -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 19h 30min
Aberdeen (ABZ) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 3h 05min

No Direct Flights
Aberdeen (ABZ) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 3h 05min

No Direct Flights
Plane Plane - FROM £77 www.skyscanner.net
Belfast Get on A12 from A1 and Grosvenor Rd/B38

Take M1 to Sprucefield Roundabout in Lisburn. Take the A1 exit from M1

Continue to Louth, Ireland

Take M1 to East Wall Road/R131 in Dublin

Follow R131, R118 and N31 to Dun Laoghaire, IE - Holyhead, UK in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

Take the Dun Laoghaire, IE - Holyhead, UK ferry

Continue to Holyhead

Continue on A55. Drive from M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Belfast Central -
Dublin Connolly -
Dublin Port – Stena -
Holyhead -
Nuneaton-
Coventry-
Southampton Central
Approx. 16h 28min
Belfast (Stena Terminal) -
London (Victoria Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 18h 40min
Belfast City (BHD) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 1h 25min
Direct Flight
Plane Plane - FROM £55 www.skyscanner.net
Birmingham

Drive from M42 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Follow A33 to Old Rd in Southampton
Approx. 2h 26min

Birmingham New Street -
Southampton Central
Approx. 2h 40min

Birmingham Coach Station -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 5h 45min
Birmingham (BHX) - Edingburgh (EDI) - Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 3h 30min

Birmingham (BHX) - Belfast (BHD) - Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 4h 10min

No Direct Flights
Car Car - Approx. £37.52. N/A
Blackpool

Get on M55 in Fylde District from A583

Drive from M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 4h 22min

Blackpool -
Manchester Piccadilly -
Southampton Central
Approx. 5h 57min

Blackpool (Central Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 16h 10min
Blackpool (BLK) -
Dublin (DUB) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 6h 20min

No Direct Flights
Car Car - Approx. £43.30 N/A
Brighton

Follow A27 and M27 to Eastleigh District. Take exit 8 from M27

Drive from Botley Rd/B3033, A3025 and A33 to Southampton
Approx. 1h 33min

Brighton (East Sussex) -
Southampton Central
Approx. 1h 46min

Birighton (Coach Station, near Pier) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 5h 25min
London Gatwick (LGW) -
Jersey (JER) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 5h 15min

No Direct Flights
Car Car - Approx. £10.68 N/A
Bristol

Take A4044 and Newfoundland Circus/A4032 to M32 in St Paul's

Follow M4 to West Berkshire. Take exit 13 from M4

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 1h 49min

Bristol Temple Meads -
Southampton Central
Approx. 1h 42min



Bristol (Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 5h 30min
Bristol (BRS) -
Jersey (JER) -
Guernsey (GCI) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 4h 15min

No Direct Flights
Train Train - FROM £7.20 www.nationalrail.co.uk
Cardiff

Follow North Rd/A470 and Eastern Ave/A48 to A48(M) in Old St. Mellons

Follow M4 to West Berkshire. Take exit 13 from M4

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 2h 23min

Cardiff Central -
Southampton Central
Approx. 2h 34min

Cardiff (Bus Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 6h 45min
Cardiff (CWL) -
Belfast City (BHD) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 5h 05min

No Direct Flights
Car Trainc- FROM £11.10 www.nationalrail.co.uk
Chelmsford

Get on M25 from New London Rd, A414 and A12

Continue on M25 to Surrey. Take exit 10 from M25

Follow A3 to A3(M) in East Hampshire District

Continue on A3(M). Drive from M27 to Eastleigh District. Take exit 8 from M27

Take Bursledon Rd/A3024, Botley Rd/B3033, A3025 and B3039 to Cunard Rd in Southampton

Chelmsford -
Stratford -
London Waterloo -
Southampton Central
Approx. 2h 52min

Chelmsford, Essex -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 5h 35min
Stansted (STN) -
Dusseldorf International (DUS)-
Nantes (NTE) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 6h 10min

No Direct Flights
Train Car - Approx. £21.32 N/A
Derby

Get on M6 Toll in Lichfield District from A38

Drive from M42, M40 and A34 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 2h 58min

Derby -
Southampton Central
Approx. 3h 24min

Derby -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 7h 10min
East Midlands (EMA) -
Edinburgh (EDI) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 15h 40min

No Direct Flights
Car Train - FROM £22.00 www.nationalrail.co.uk
Dundee

Take A90 to M90 in Perth and Kinross

Continue to Stirling

Drive from M74, A74(M), M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 9h 32min



Dundee -
Crewe -
Southampton Central
Approx. 10h 35min

Sheffield (Coach Station)
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 6h 45min
Dundee (DND) -
London Stansted (STN) -
London Gatwick (LGW) -
Edinburgh (EDI) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 19h 35min

No Direct Flights
Car Train - FROM £49.50 www.nationalrail.co.uk
Edinburgh

Get on A74(M) in South Lanarkshire from A702

Continue on A74(M). Drive from M6 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 7h 10min

Edinburgh -
Wolverhampton -
Southampton Central
Approx. 6h 50min

Edinburgh -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 16h 30min
Edinburgh (EDI) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 1h 35m
Direct Flight
Plane Plane - FROM £49 www.skyscanner.net
Exeter

Take Union Rd, B3212 and Cumberland Way to Honiton Rd/A3015

Take A30, A35 and A31 to Southern Rd in Southampton

Follow Southern Rd and Solent Rd to Herbert Walker Ave
Approx. 2h 27min

 

Exeter St David's -
Salisbury -
Southampton Central
Approx. 2h 39min

Exeter (Bus and Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 8h
Exeter (EXT) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 2h 50min

No Direct Flights
Car Car - Approx. £18.04 N/A
Glasgow

Drive from M74, A74(M), M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton

Glasgow Central -
Wolverhampton -
Southampton Central
Approx. 6h 44min

Glasgow -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 16h
Glasgow International (GLA) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 1h 35min
Direct Flight
Plane Plane - FROM £58 www.skyscanner.net
Hull

Take M18 and M1 to A43 in Northampton. Take exit 15A from M1

Get on M40 in Cherwell from A43

Follow M40. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 4h 27min

Hull -
Doncaster -
Southampton Central
Approx. 5h 20min

No Coaches Humberside (HUY) -
Amsterdam (AMS) -
Leeds Bradford (LBA) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 8h 10min

No Direct Flights
Car Car - Approx. £41.66 N/A
Inverness

Follow A9 to M9 in Stirling

Drive from M74, A74(M), M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 9h 32min

Inverness -
Crewe -
Southampton Central
Approx. 12h 57min

Inverness -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 19h 35min
Inverness (INV) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 3h 05min

No Direct Flights
Plane Plane - FROM £82 www.skyscanner.net
Isle of Man

Take Baldwin, A23 and Peel Rd to Heysham, UK - Douglas, Isle of Man

Take the Heysham, UK - Douglas, Isle of Man ferry

Get on M6 from A683, B5273 and A683

Continue on M6. Drive from M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 9h 19min

Douglas Isle of Man -
Heysham Port -
Lancaster -
Wolverhampton -
Southampton Central
Approx. 9h 59min

No Coaches Castletown (IOM) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 2h 40min

No Direct Flights
Plane Plane - FROM £68 www.skyscanner.net
Leeds

Get on M621 from A61

Follow M1 to A43 in Northampton. Take exit 15A from M1

Get on M40 in Cherwell from A43

Follow M40. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 4h 08min

Leeds -
Birmingham New Street -
Southampton Central
Approx. 5h 30min

Leeds (Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 7h 20min
Leeds Bradford (LBA) -
Belfast City (BHD) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 5h 15 min
Car Car - Approx. £38.70 N/A
Liverpool

Take A5047 and A5080 to M62

Drive from M6, M6 Toll and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 3h 59min

Liverpool Lime Street -
Wolverhampton -
Southampton Central
Approx. 4h 37 min

 

Liverpool (Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 8h 25min
Liverpool (LPL) -
Castletown (IOM) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 4h
Train Car - Approx. £38.87 www.nationalrail.co.uk
London

Take A4 to M4 in London Borough of Hounslow

Drive from M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 1h 35min

London Victoria -
Southampton Central
Approx. 2h 27min

OR

London Waterloo -
Southampton Central
Approx. 1h 17min

London (Victoria Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 2h 0min
London Gatwick (LGW) -
Jersey (JER) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 5h 15min

No Direct Flights
Train Train (London Victoria -
Southampton Central) FROM £8.00
www.nationalrail.co.uk
Manchester

Get on M56 in Wythenshawe from A5103

Drive from M6, M6 Toll, M42 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 3h 48min



Manchester Piccadilly -
Southampton Central
Approx. 4h 14min

Manchester Coach Station -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 8h 30min
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 55min
Direct Flight
Plane Car - Approx. £36.90 N/A
Newcastle

Take St. James' Blvd, A184 and A1 to A1(M) in Gateshead District

Continue on A1(M). Take M1 to A43 in Northampton. Take exit 15A from M1

Get on M40 in Cherwell from A43

Follow M40. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 5h 28min

Newcastle -
Southampton Central
Approx. 5h 42min

Newcatle-Upon-Tyne -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 14h 45min
Newcastle (NCL) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 1h 20min

Direct Flight
Plane Plane - FROM £39 www.skyscanner.net
Nottingham

Get on M1 in North West Leicestershire District from A453

Follow M1 to A43 in Northampton. Take exit 15A from M1

Get on M40 in Cherwell from A43

Drive from A34 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 3h 04min

 

Nottingham -
Derby -
Southampton Central
Approx. 4h 07min

 

Nottingham (Coach Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 5h 40min
East Midlands (EMA) -
Edinburgh (EDI) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 15h 40min

No Direct Flights
Car Car - Approx. £27.72 N/A
Perth and Kinross

Take A826, A822 and A9 to M9 in Stirling

Drive from M74, A74(M), M6 and M40 to Cherwell. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3

Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 8h 20min

Perth -
Crewe -
Southampton Central
Approx. 10h 20min

 

Perth -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 17h 38min
Edinburgh (EDI) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 1h 35m
Direct Flight
Plane Plane - FROM £49 www.skyscanner.net
Plymouth

Get on A38 from A374

Continue on A38. Take A30, A35 and A31 to Southern Rd in Southampton

Follow Southern Rd and Solent Rd to Herbert Walker Ave
Approx. 3h 04min

Plymouth -
Reading -
Southampton Central
Approx. 4h 41min

 

Plymouth (Bretonside Bus Station) -
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 9h
Exeter (EXT) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 2h 50min

No Direct Flights
Plane Car - Approx. £24.93 N/A
Portsmouth

Take A3 and Mile End Rd to M275

Drive from M27 to Eastleigh District. Take exit 8 from M27

Take Bursledon Rd/A3024, Botley Rd/B3033, A3025 and A33 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 31min

Portsmouth Harbour -
Southampton Central
Approx. 45min

No Coaches No Flights Available Car Car - Approx. £3.21 N/A
Sheffield

Get on M1 in Rotherham District from Derek Dooley Way/A61 and Sheffield Pkwy

Follow M1 to A43 in Northampton. Take exit 15A from M1

Get on M40 in Cherwell from A43

Follow M40. Take exit 9 from M40

Get on M3 in Winchester from A34

Follow M3 to Test Valley District. Take exit 14 from M3


Take A33 and A3024 to Herbert Walker Ave in Southampton
Approx. 3h 43min

 

Sheffield -
Southampton Central
Approx. 3h 53min

 

Sheffield (Coach Station)
Southampton Cruise Terminal
Approx. 6h 45min
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 55min
Direct Flight
Plane Car - Approx. £34.11 N/A
St Ives

Drive along A3074

Follow A30, A35 and A31 to Southern Rd in Southampton

Follow Southern Rd and Solent Rd to Herbert Walker Ave
Approx. 4h 15min

St Ives -
St Erth -
Reading -
Southampton Central
Approx. 7h 08min

No Coaches Exeter (EXT) -
Manchester (MAN) -
Southampton (SOU)
Approx. 2h 50min

No Direct Flights
Plane Car - Approx. £38.70 www.skyscanner.net
All dates were searched on the 4th April
2014. Petrol was worked out at 129.87p/litre at 45MPG and a 20% Non-optimal Driving Offset. Prices for trains are from National Train Journey. Coach prices are from National Express and flight prices are from Skyscanner