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
£74
1 night at 3-star hotel
Southampton in January
Estimated hotel price
£74
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.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Southampton, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Southampton to Oxford takes 1h 05m and costs around £39 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from York, expect to pay about £24 for a 2h 20m 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 GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Southampton using FlixBus or National Express. From Bristol, the bus ride to Southampton takes 130 miles and will cost you around £5. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 140 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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Southampton, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Southampton to Oxford takes 1h 05m and costs around £39 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from York, expect to pay about £24 for a 2h 20m 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 GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Southampton using FlixBus or National Express. From Bristol, the bus ride to Southampton takes 130 miles and will cost you around £5. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 140 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

KLM
Good (1,471 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,854 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,794 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,292 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,256 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,897 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,136 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,546 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,428 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,543 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,737 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,715 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,805 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,184 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,426 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (391 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,166 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,207 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Southampton

Average rates range from around £88 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £99 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Southampton, with prices from £17 to £557 per night. City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Southampton are about 43% 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 Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£66+
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Moxy Southampton
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£57+
View
Lodge at Solent
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£64+
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Leonardo Hotel Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£55+
View
Solent Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£88+
View
Travelodge Eastleigh Central
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£29+
View

Hiring a car in Southampton

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £32 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.38 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 £16.51 and £22.02. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Intermediate (Skoda Octavia or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Toyota Aygo or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Southampton costs £32 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.38 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 £16.51 and £22.02. The most frequently booked car type in Southampton is Intermediate (Skoda Octavia or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Toyota Aygo or similar) is, on average, 64% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Southampton

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£18/day

Economy

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£20/day

Economy
Find car hire in Southampton