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. Consider staying at least one whole day in Southampton to see all of its attractions.

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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 3 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Southampton departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Southampton, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Southampton to Brighton takes 1h 06m and costs around £8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Brussels, expect to pay about £34 for a 2h 01m trip. Located 0.5 miles from the city centre, Southampton Central is the busiest station in Southampton. Another popular train station is Southampton Redbridge, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Southampton is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 69 miles from Southampton. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Southampton using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Southampton takes 135 miles and will cost you around £10. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 145 miles. The most popular bus station is Southampton Burgess Road Library, located 2 miles from the city centre of Southampton. Southampton Solent University is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 miles from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Southampton, you’ll arrive at Southampton Airport (SOU), which is located 3 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Southampton departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Southampton, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Southampton to Brighton takes 1h 06m and costs around £8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Brussels, expect to pay about £34 for a 2h 01m trip. Located 0.5 miles from the city centre, Southampton Central is the busiest station in Southampton. Another popular train station is Southampton Redbridge, located 3 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Southampton is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 69 miles from Southampton. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Southampton using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Southampton takes 135 miles and will cost you around £10. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 145 miles. The most popular bus station is Southampton Burgess Road Library, located 2 miles from the city centre of Southampton. Southampton Solent University is also a commonly used station, and is 0.1 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Southampton

SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
BOHBournemouth

Airlines serving Southampton

Lufthansa
Good (7,993 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,517 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,975 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,450 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,362 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,944 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,215 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,587 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (915 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,706 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,571 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,775 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,026 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,190 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,393 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (407 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,250 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,329 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,437 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Southampton

Average rates range from around £94 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £106 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Southampton, with prices from £16 to £909 per night. City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Southampton are about 24% 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

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voco Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£89+
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The Crown Manor House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£111+
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Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh M3,jct13 By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£67+
View
Lodge at Solent
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£66+
View
Leonardo Hotel Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£61+
View
Red Lion Hotel by Greene King Inns
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£51+
View

Hiring a car in Southampton

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £38 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.58 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 £18.90 and £25.20. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Toyota Aygo or similar) is, on average, 23% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £38 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.58 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 £18.90 and £25.20. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Toyota Aygo or similar) is, on average, 23% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Southampton

Compact SUV

4 adults, 2 Bags

£21/day

Compact SUV

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£23/day

Economy
Find car hire in Southampton