Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Southampton travel guide

Southampton Tourism | Southampton Guide

You're Going to Love Southampton

With a population of 246,201, Southampton is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Southampton deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Article

Where to Eat in Southampton

City Centre is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Southampton. These include popular favourites such as Porters Wine & Charcuterie (20-22 Queens Terrace), Edo Asia (High St) and Shanghai 1814 (Shanghai 1814). If you’re looking for affordable options, The Cricketers Inn (Curdridge Ln) and Bill's Restaurant & Bar - Southampton (Westquay South) are great picks.

When to visit Southampton

Southampton in January
Estimated hotel price
£70
1 night at 3-star hotel
Southampton in January
Estimated hotel price
£70
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Southampton in July, when the average temperature is 18 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as 3 °C, with an average temperature of 4 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in December, when precipitation is around 76 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Southampton, with an average rainfall of 25 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Southampton

Plane

When flying to Southampton, you’ll arrive at Southampton Airport (SOU), which is located 6 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Southampton departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 20m.

Car

Another option to get to Southampton is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 110 km from Southampton. You’ll find branches of Turo and Sixt, among others, in London.

Plane

When flying to Southampton, you’ll arrive at Southampton Airport (SOU), which is located 6 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Southampton departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 20m.

Car

Another option to get to Southampton is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 110 km from Southampton. You’ll find branches of Turo and Sixt, among others, in London.

Airports near Southampton

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh

Airlines serving Southampton

Lufthansa
Good (8,177 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,555 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,153 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,475 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,031 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,504 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,265 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,637 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (951 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,739 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,086 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,648 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,932 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,213 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,452 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,500 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,427 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (430 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,441 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,358 reviews)
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Where to stay in Southampton

From 5-star hotels such as the The White Star Tavern to great affordable options like the Premier Inn Southampton City Centre, Southampton offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £84 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £117 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Southampton, with prices from £16 to £912 per night. City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Southampton are about 25% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Southampton by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Southampton

Most booked hotels in Southampton

See all
voco Fareham - Solent by IHG
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£91+
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The Crown Manor House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£99+
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Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh M3,jct13 By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£77+
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Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£96+
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Lodge at Solent
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£72+
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Red Lion Hotel by Greene King Inns
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£59+
View

Hiring a car in Southampton

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £48 per day, on average, or £95 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.54 per litre in Southampton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £18.44 and £24.59. Compact (Vauxhall Crossland or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Southampton, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £48 per day, on average, or £95 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.54 per litre in Southampton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £18.44 and £24.59. Compact (Vauxhall Crossland or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Southampton, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car hire deals in Southampton

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£17/day

Mini

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£22/day

Economy
Find car hire in Southampton