Southampton cruise port to London: train, coach, taxi
Southampton is about 125 km from London, so this is a half-day transfer, not a quick hop. The train is the usual choice, but you need a taxi from the terminal to Southampton Central first. The coach is far cheaper and slower, and a private car makes sense when you have heavy cruise luggage or a group.
- Cheapest
- £6.40National Express coach to Victoria · 3 h 10 min
- Fastest
- 2 hTaxi to Southampton Central, then train to Waterloo · £57
- Taxi
- £130–£200Taxi to central London · 2 h 20 min
National Express coach to Victoria is the best value: £12.80 for the group, about 3 h 10 min.
Bus
National Express coach to Victoria
3 h 10 min
For the group£12.80
National Express coach to Victoria
National Express · from Southampton Coach Station
- Per person
- £6.40
- Door to door
- 3 h 10 min
- Runs
- 05:20–20:30
- Frequency
- a few times a day
- Board at
- Southampton Coach Station in the city centre, a 10 to 30 minute walk or short taxi from the terminals
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Train
Taxi to Southampton Central, then train to Waterloo
2 h
For the group£114
Taxi to Southampton Central, then train to Waterloo
South Western Railway · Anytime single, Advance fares cheaper
- Per person
- £57
- Door to door
- 2 h
- Runs
- 04:49–23:00
- Frequency
- direct trains about every 30 min
- Board at
- Taxi rank at your terminal, then Southampton Central
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Private car
Pre-booked private car
2 h 20 min
For the group£160estimateCheck price
Pre-booked private car
Fixed price, meeting your ship's disembarkation
- Per person
- £160 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 2 h 20 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked
- Board at
- Meeting point at your terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Taxi
Taxi to central London
2 h 20 min
For the group£130–£200estimate
Taxi to central London
Local taxi, price agreed or metered
- Per person
- £130–£200 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 2 h 20 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank at each terminal
- Board at
- Taxi rank at your terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
TrainTaxi to Southampton Central, then train to Waterloo
- £57
- 2 h
- 04:49–23:00
- → London Waterloo
The price shown is the Anytime Day Single of 57 pounds, which is the walk-up fare on the weekday we checked. Advance tickets on selected direct trains were from 33.10 pounds, so book ahead if you know your time. Add a taxi from the terminal to Southampton Central, around 8 to 10 pounds, 5 to 10 minutes. The direct train takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, and the first weekday service is 04:49. Step-free access at Southampton Central is being changed because of lift works until late October 2026, so check before you travel with heavy cases.
BusNational Express coach to Victoria
- £6.40
- 3 h 10 min
- 05:20–20:30
- → London Victoria Coach Station
Fares start from 6.40 pounds one way including a booking fee, with a fastest journey of 2 hours 35 minutes. Coaches leave Southampton Coach Station from about 05:20, with the last at 20:30. The walk is 10 to 15 minutes from the City and Horizon terminals and at least 30 minutes from Ocean and QEII, so take a taxi from those. Luggage is limited to one large suitcase and one hand bag, which is tight for a cruise. It suits one or two travellers with little luggage.
TaxiTaxi to central London
- £130–£200 per vehicle (estimate)
- 2 h 20 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door in central London
There is a taxi rank at each cruise terminal. A journey of about 125 km to central London usually costs 130 to 200 pounds. Ask the driver for a price before you leave. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours, longer on Fridays and Sundays. This is the simplest option with luggage but a pre-booked car often costs less.
Private carPre-booked private car
- £160 per vehicle (estimate)
- 2 h 20 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door in central London
A standard saloon for up to three passengers is around 160 pounds based on listings for this route, with prices varying by supplier. Several firms offer cruise transfers and will adjust to the time you leave the ship. The price is fixed when you book. Allow about 2 hours 15 minutes, longer in traffic. This is the practical choice for a group with big cases.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
Ships usually dock in the early morning and passengers leave between about 07:00 and 10:00, so a late-night transfer is rare. For a late return to Southampton on embarkation day, South Western Railway's last weekday train from Southampton Central to Waterloo is 23:00, though by then it needs changes, and the last direct leaves around 22:00. National Express runs its last coach at 20:30. If you are stuck after those, a taxi or pre-booked car is the only way and costs 130 pounds or more.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on the Anytime train pay 228 pounds, plus a taxi of around 8 to 10 pounds to the station. Advance fares of 33.10 each come to 132.40 but only on certain trains. Coach tickets for four are about 25.60 pounds but slow with cruise luggage. A pre-booked car at around 160 pounds is cheaper than a train at Anytime fares for three or four, takes you to the door and carries the cases. For three people with two large cases each, the car is the sensible option.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- Disembarkation is usually early morning, so the cheaper off-peak and Advance trains often start after you are ready. Check the time on your ticket.
- On embarkation day, allow 1 hour 20 minutes on the train from Waterloo plus 10 minutes by taxi from Southampton Central to your terminal.
- Taxi ranks sit outside Southampton Central on both the north and south sides, and each cruise terminal has a rank.
- Southampton Central has lift works until late October 2026, so look at South Western Railway's step-free notice if you have heavy bags.
- Southampton has five cruise terminals, so check which one your ship uses before you pick a coach, as the walk from the coach station varies from 10 to over 30 minutes.
- Book a private car for the time you leave the ship, not for the ship's arrival time.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Southampton cruise port to London?
Take a taxi to Southampton Central, around 8 to 10 pounds, then a direct South Western Railway train to Waterloo in about 1 hour 20 minutes. The Anytime single is 57 pounds.
How long does the train from Southampton to Waterloo take?
A direct train takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. Including the taxi and wait at Southampton Central, allow around 2 hours from the terminal.
Is there a coach from Southampton to London?
Yes. National Express runs to Victoria Coach Station from 6.40 pounds with a fastest journey of 2 hours 35 minutes. The last coach leaves Southampton at 20:30.
How much is a taxi from Southampton cruise port to London?
Expect roughly 130 to 200 pounds for the 125 km journey, depending on terminal, traffic and day. A pre-booked private car is around 160 pounds for up to three people.
What time do cruise passengers leave the ship in Southampton?
Ships normally dock early in the morning and passengers leave between about 07:00 and 10:00, depending on your cruise line's colour-coded times. Book transport for your own slot.
Connections from here
Other arrival points in London
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AirportLondonGatwick (LGW)from £6 · 50 min
AirportLondonStansted (STN)from £6.99 · 60 min
Cruise portLondonDover portfrom £8 · 1 h 40 min
Train stationLondonSt Pancras stationFree · 22 min
ConnectionLondonHeathrow to Gatwickfrom £14.90 · 65 min
ConnectionLondonSt Pancras to Heathrowfrom £5.90 · 60 min