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
£71
1 night at 3-star hotel
Southampton in January
Estimated hotel price
£71
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 Glasgow 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 Glasgow 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 (8,163 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,551 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,126 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,455 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,019 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,486 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,259 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,629 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (950 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,052 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,743 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,640 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,905 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,212 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,405 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,427 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,494 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (428 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,433 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,350 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 £85 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £134 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Southampton, with prices from £17 to £923 per night. City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Southampton are about 20% 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
The White Horse Hotel, Romsey, Hampshire
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£71+
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The Crown Manor House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£110+
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Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh M3,jct13 By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£78+
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Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£100+
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Leonardo Hotel Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£70+
View
Holiday Inn Express Southampton M27, Jct.7 By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£68+
View

Hiring a car in Southampton

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £37 per day, on average, or £73 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 £18.40 and £24.53. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Luxury (Volvo XC90 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Skoda Fabia or similar) is, on average, 53% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £37 per day, on average, or £73 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 £18.40 and £24.53. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Luxury (Volvo XC90 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Skoda Fabia or similar) is, on average, 53% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Southampton

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£18/day

Mini

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

£21/day

Compact
Find car hire in Southampton