How to Get Southampton Cruise Terminal from London and Heathrow Airport

Sailing from Southampton Cruise Terminal makes the cruisers feel profoundly special. A cruise from Southampton, England makes you feel something different than other cruise experience.

Southampton is one of the most celebrated departure ports for historic cruise routes in the world. Cunard’s legendary Transatlantic sailings over to New York comes on top of a list to follow the routes.

More than 500 cruise ships depart from Southampton Cruise Terminal annually (source). The cruise itineraries from Southampton vary. Mediterranean cruises, Baltic cruises, Transatlantic cruises and World Cruises are popular.

Every great cruise vacation start before you get on the ship. It is important for you to learn how transports work to Southampton Cruise Terminal from the airport. Plan ahead and organise your trip before you leave home.

London is one of the central transportation hubs in the world. The city is also well known as one of the most expensive destinations in the world. Plan your Southampton transfers from London in advance if you are willing to save money and time.

I have lived and worked in London for more than a decade. Let me tell you the details of how London transports work and how to transfer to Southampton.

In this article, you will find London’s best areas to stay first.

Why is that?

London’s transportation is systematic and is well organised. The problem is that because of the mega-size of the city, it looked complicated. You can make travelling to Southampton very easy by deciding where to stay in London first. Then, decide the cheapest and most convenient way to Southampton Cruise Terminal.

Plan and organise your transfer in advance. Make your cruise absolutely special from Southampton Cruise Terminal!

I. Southampton Cruise Terminal

With a sailing to New York, Southampton is the historic port. It has been one of Britain’s largest and most popular departure port for cruises around the world. Sailing from Southampton is the ideal cruise vacation choice for many international cruisers. Transports from London are frequent and convenient, easily accessible to Southampton Cruise Port.

You can find out hotels in Southampton near the cruise port. Southampton is the largest cruise port in the UK. Hotels near the cruise terminal are varied. Find out the hotels near your departure terminal and book the best one for you.

How far is Southampton from London?

Southampton is the UK’s largest cruise port and is located in the south of England. The distance from London to Southampton Cruise Terminal is about 130 km from Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Airport is the closest international airport to Southampton.

Southampton and London Heathrow Map

Southampton Cruise Terminal Map

Southampton Cruise Terminal Address

There are four cruise terminals in Southampton. Mayflower Cruise Terminal, City Cruise Terminal, Ocean Cruise Terminal and Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal are operating for the international cruise lines.

In Southampton Cruise Terminal, Royal Caribbean has an official UK homeport (City Cruise Terminal, Berth 101).

Southampton Cruise Ship Port Schedule

Find out Southampton Cruise Ship Port Schedule. The link will show you dates and times of the cruise ship docking schedule at Southampton Cruise Terminal (source).

How to get Southampton Cruise Terminal from Southampton Coach & Train Station?

The distance from Southampton central to the cruise terminal is about 1.7 km. You arrive at Southampton Coach Station. A shuttle bus is not available to the Cruise Ship Terminal.

Taxi is the only way from Southampton station to each cruise terminals. Southampton taxi fares are about £6 to £11.

Pick up only a registered taxi. In Southampton, only registered taxi is allowed to operate in Southampton. If someone approaches you, please do not take the taxi for safety reason. The registered taxis are white coloured, and there is a top light on the roof.

You can also try to walk from the Southampton Coach station to Terminals but it takes more than 15 minutes.

How much is parking at Southampton cruise terminal?

Official onsite parking at ABParking in Southampton Cruise Terminal starts at £88 for three days. £150 for 21 days for self-parking services. Pre-cruise stays are available at the Meon Valley. A variety of parking packages to suit your needs. The details will be provided in my other article shortly.

II. Southampton from Heathrow Airport

As soon as you arrive at Heathrow Airport, you can directly transfer to Southampton. You might be tired and are not willing to carry heavy luggage with ups and downs on the way to Southampton. National Express (coach) is the best and easy way to transfer.

Once you put your luggage inside, you can take your seat. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the landscapes of the countryside. This is my favourite way to transfer to Southampton from Heathrow.

Which transport options are available from the Heathrow?

National Express (Coach) – the most inexpensive and free for luggage at hand
Southampton Train Service – need to transfer once or twice
Taxi – expensive but comfortable
Private Transfer – most expensive but hassle free

Getting to Southampton Cruise Terminal from Heathrow Airport

(Cost is British Pounds (£) on March 2019

Coach and train service are provided to connect Central London and Southampton.

1. National Express (coach)

The cheapest and most comfortable way to transfer from Heathrow Airport to Southampton is National Express.

National Express Ticket Fares
From £16.50
Please find National Express Online Ticket Service

Travel Time
About 2 hours

Operation
Up to 19 times a day

How can you buy the National Express ticket?

You can either purchase Online, at Heathrow Airport Coach Station or directly from a driver. You can purchase online and print out the mail to make the transfer easy and smooth before you leave home.

Where can you catch National Express?

Please find the Maps of National Express coach station at each Terminal.

2. Southampton Train Service

There is no direct train service between Heathrow Airport and Southampton. A RailAir bus takes you from Heathrow to Woking where you can catch a train to Southampton. Or you transit twice at Hays & Harlington and Reading train stations to go to Southampton.

However, there is no point to take these ways. It also costs more than £40. National Express has a direct transfer to Southampton. It is much cheaper and comfortable, free for luggage, than trains.

III. London to Southampton Cruise Terminal

London is one of the most celebrated cities in the world. It is a wonderful idea if you stay at least one or a few days and explore the city before you set sail from Southampton.

Where is the best neighbourhood to stay in London for cruises?

The best way to make your Southampton transfer easy for cruises is explained. Stay in a hotel which is convenient to get a train or a coach to Southampton. So where can you catch them?

I have listed one of the best convenient and wonderful areas to stay in London. I will show you the transportations from there to Southampton.

Kensington
Kensington is one of the most privileged and prestigious commercial and residential areas in London. The areas are called as Kensington High St., Earl’s Court Road and Glocester Road. These areas are easy to transfer from Heathrow Airport via London Underground. When you transfer to Southampton, you can either take National Express (coach) at Victoria Coach Station or a train at London Victoria or London Waterloo.

Trafalgar Sq.
Trafalgar Sq is literary the centre of London. Covent Garden, Carling Cross and Picadilly stations are important Underground stations for sightseeing. You can visit the National Museum, National Gallery, Big Ben and Southbank easily. When you visit Southampton, you can either take National Express (coach) at Victoria Coach Station or a train at London Victoria or London Waterloo.

Paddington
Paddington is very convenient to transfer from Heathrow Airport by Heathrow Express. Marble Arch, Bayswater, Bond Street and Notting Hill are close from Paddington and there are a lot of accommodations in the areas. The hotel rates are cheaper than Kensington and Trafalgar Sq. areas. You can easily visit Oxford, Big Ben and Trafalgar Sq. with London Underground Bakerloo Line (brown). You can visit Southampton by train from Paddington.

How to get from London to Southampton cruise terminal

Southampton is located about in the 130 km south from Central London. Trains service and National Express (coach) are connecting Central London and Southampton. Transferring from Central London to Southampton is easy and smooth.

Which transport options are available?

1.National Express (Coach) – the most inexpensive and free for luggage from London Victoria
2. South Western Railway train service from Waterloo – fastest
3. Southern train service from London Victoria
4. First Great Western train service from Paddington via Reading

Central London to Southampton by Public Transport Map

London to Southampton by Coach

1. National Express (Coach)

National Express is the most inexpensive and stress-free for luggage. If you stay in Victoria, congratulations, you can get the cheapest and the most comfortable way to arrive in Southampton. Alternatively, if you stay Trafalgar Sq and Kensington areas, you can get National Express in Victoria. The travel time with National Express is not so different from trains and is 6 times cheaper.

Operation: 2 to 3 trains every hour
Travel Time: 80 to 100 minutes
Ticket Fare: about £5.80, Find National Express for a coach ticket (source).

*Victoria Coach station is located in the south part of London and can access by London Underground Victoria Line (blue), Circle Line (yellow) and District Line (green).
London Underground Map (source)

How can you buy the National Express ticket?

You can either purchase Online, at Heathrow Airport Coach Station or directly from a driver. You can purchase online and print out the mail to make the transfer easy and smooth before you leave home.

London to Southampton by Train

2. South Western Railway train service from Waterloo to Southampton

The fastest transport between Southampton and Central London is Southwest Megatrain service from London Waterloo. It is a direct train service to Southampton. If your hotel is located nearby Waterloo, Kensington High St., Earls Court, Glocester St. and Victoria, you can take this train.

Operation: 2 to 3 trains every hour
Travel Time: 80 to 100 minutes
Ticket Fare: about £30 – £40, Find South Western Railway for a train ticket.
Coach Station: Please find Victoria Coach station map (source)

*London Waterloo station is located in the south part of London and can access by London Underground Jubilee Line (silver), Northern Line (black) and Bakerloo Line (brown).
London Underground Map (source)

3. Southern train service from London Victoria to Southampton

Southern train service connects London Victoria and Southampton within 1 and a half hours. It is a direct train to Southampton. It is costly but is convenient. You can enjoy some landscapes in the countryside over the train windows.

Operation: every hour
Travel Time: 80 to 100 minutes
Ticket Fare: about £30 to £40, Find more details at National Rail.

*London Victoria station is located in the south part of London and can access by London Underground Victoria Line (blue), Circle Line (yellow) and District Line (green).
London Underground Map (source)

4. First Great Western train service from Paddington via Reading to Southampton

First Great Western train service connects London Paddington and Southampton. You need to change a train at the Reading train station. Southern train service connects London Victoria and Southampton within 1 and a half hours. It is a direct train to Southampton. It is costly but is convenient. You can enjoy some landscapes in the countryside.

Operation: twice every hour
Travel Time: 80 to 100 minutes
Ticket Fare: about £40, Find more details at First Great Western

*London Paddington station is located in the north-west of London and can access by London Underground Bakerloo Line (brown), Circle Line (yellow), District Line (green) and Hammersmiths & City Line (pink).
London Underground Map (source)

Bonus Tip!: Visiting Information for London!

• Travel Visa Information British Government Official Site
• Currency: British Pound (GBP) Go to a currency converter
• Internet: Free WiFi access in Heathrow Airport and Southampton Cruise Port
• London Weather Information
• Public Holidays in the UK – change a year

You may enjoy more reading on Southampton:

Next Reading >> Heathrow Airport to London

>> Baltic Cruises

Heathrow Airport and London to Southampton Cruise Terminal