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.

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 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

SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
BOHBournemouth

Airlines serving Southampton

Lufthansa
Good (8,032 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,524 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,007 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,423 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,396 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,959 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,220 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,592 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,749 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (921 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,726 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,568 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,794 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,092 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,195 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,399 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (408 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,344 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,445 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,262 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Southampton

Average rates range from around £85 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £118 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Southampton, with prices from £16 to £913 per night. City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Southampton are about 27% 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, Excellent reviews)
£87+
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voco Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£88+
View
The Crown Manor House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£114+
View
Holiday Inn Southampton-Eastleigh M3,jct13 By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£73+
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Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£91+
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Lodge at Solent
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£73+
View

Hiring a car in Southampton

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £42 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.57 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 £18.81 and £25.07. 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 Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 32% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £42 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.57 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 £18.81 and £25.07. 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 Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 32% 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