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
£69
1 night at 3-star hotel
Southampton in January
Estimated hotel price
£69
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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

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.

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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

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.

Airports near Southampton

BRSBristol
SOUSouthampton Eastleigh

Airlines serving Southampton

Lufthansa
Good (8,203 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,562 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,183 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,481 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,048 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,516 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,258 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,647 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,735 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,657 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (949 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,110 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,959 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,213 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,514 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,507 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,427 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,455 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (432 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,585 reviews)
Show more

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 £88 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £114 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Southampton, with prices from £16 to £901 per night. City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Southampton are about 28% 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)
£95+
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voco Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£73+
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The Crown Manor House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£98+
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Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh M3,jct13 By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£73+
View
Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£79+
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Leonardo Hotel Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£63+
View

Hiring a car in Southampton

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £39 per day, on average, or £78 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.61 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 £19.26 and £25.68. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Compact (Class Compact Crossover or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £39 per day, on average, or £78 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.61 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 £19.26 and £25.68. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Compact (Class Compact Crossover or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Southampton

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£17/day

Mini

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£18/day

Economy
Find car hire in Southampton