How to get to Southampton from London

Wed 14 Oct
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South Western Railway
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Southern
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South Western Railway
National Express
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Southern
CrossCountry
1,000+ more
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Travel Information

Compare coach and train for London to Southampton

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from London to Southampton among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £14 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 14m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £14, while a train costs an average of £39.

Distance: 112 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Coach
Driving

£39

Average Price

£14

Average Price

Cheapest

£34

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

2h 14m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 44m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 7m

Average total duration

2h 37m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 2m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.1 - 0.3kg

CO2 emissions

-

CO2 emissions

South Western Railway

Most popular train company

National Express

Most popular bus company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from London to Southampton is a coach with an average price of £14.

This is compared to other travel options from London to Southampton:

A coach is £25 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from London to Southampton costing on average £39.

The fastest way to travel from London to Southampton is by train with an average journey time of 2h 14m.

Other travel options to Southampton take longer:

Coach takes on average 3h 7m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between London and Southampton including taking a coach and train.
Take the train. It's meaningfully faster than driving, and the time saved usually justifies the price.

You'll arrive about 18m sooner (1h 44m by train vs 2h 2m by car). Tickets start at around £39 compared to roughly £34 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.

Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.

Travel options
from London to Southampton

How to get to Southampton from London by train, bus, flight or ferry.

Our recommendation

bus

The best way to travel from London to Southampton is by taking a coach because it’s the best combination of price and speed.

  • FlixBusFlixBus
    21:152h10
    London, Victoria Green Line Coach Station
    23:25Southampton, Burgess Rd / Broadlands Rd (Southampton University)
    £81One-way
    0 changes

Cheapest

  • FlixBusFlixBus
    21:152h10
    London, Victoria Green Line Coach Station
    23:25Southampton, Burgess Rd / Broadlands Rd (Southampton University)
    £81One-way
    0 changes

Fastest

  • South Western RailwayL80139
    14:351h13
    London Waterloo (WAT)
    15:48Southampton Central (SOU)
    £311One-way
    0 changes

Other options

  • SouthernG26208 · G88660
    14:352h56
    London Victoria (VIC)
    17:31Southampton Central (SOU)
    £171One-way
    1 change
  • SouthernG26198 · G88648
    13:052h56
    London Victoria (VIC)
    16:01Southampton Central (SOU)
    £171One-way
    1 change
  • SouthernG26190 · G88638
    12:052h58
    London Victoria (VIC)
    15:03Southampton Central (SOU)
    £171One-way
    1 change
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    10:452h25
    London, Victoria Green Line Coach Station
    13:10Southampton, Burgess Rd / Broadlands Rd (Southampton University)
    £81One-way
    0 changes
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    8:302h30
    London, Victoria Green Line Coach Station
    11:00Southampton, Burgess Rd / Broadlands Rd (Southampton University)
    £81One-way
    0 changes
  • FlixBusFlixBus
    15:152h40
    London, Victoria Green Line Coach Station
    17:55Southampton, Burgess Rd / Broadlands Rd (Southampton University)
    £81One-way
    0 changes

Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .

Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, coaches, flights and ferries

Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

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Best day trips from Southampton by ferry

The most popular day trips by ferry from Southampton are Cowes, London, Portsmouth, Winchester and Bournemouth. Find out what you can do in these day trip destinations and how to book your bus from Southampton on Omio.

A view of London

Day trip from Southampton to London by ferry

Why visit London for the day?

London blends royal history with modern city life, known for its museums, theatre and global food scene. Along the Thames, grand landmarks sit beside diverse neighbourhoods shaped by finance, fashion and contemporary culture.

A view of Portsmouth

Day trip from Southampton to Portsmouth by ferry

Why visit Portsmouth for the day?

Portsmouth is a waterfront city on England’s south coast, known for its naval heritage and historic dockyard. Its island setting, working harbour and seafront give it a distinctly maritime character, with Old Portsmouth adding older streets and pubs.

A view of Winchester

Day trip from Southampton to Winchester by ferry

Why visit Winchester for the day?

Winchester is a historic Hampshire city known for its cathedral, medieval streets and links to King Alfred the Great. Once an Anglo-Saxon capital, it feels compact, walkable and quietly elegant.

A view of Bournemouth

Day trip from Southampton to Bournemouth by ferry

Why visit Bournemouth for the day?

Bournemouth is a south coast seaside town known for its long sandy beach, Victorian gardens and pier. It has a relaxed holiday feel, with a busy seafront, clifftop views and a lively town centre.

General Information about the journey from London to Southampton

Getting from London to Southampton can be done with relative ease, with excellent and regular bus or train connections between the two cities. If you need to make the journey to this dynamic southern port city, you can depart from either Waterloo on the south bank of the River Thames, or from Victoria Coach Station, near the Houses of Parliament. There are early morning and late night departures to choose from, and hourly buses or trains every day of the week, so whenever you need to travel, there will be an option available. For those in a hurry, express train services can get you there in just over an hour.

More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Trenitalia
Easyjet
Deutsche Bahn
SNCF

FAQs: London to Southampton

Travel to Southampton easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from London to Southampton.

FAQs
There are 2 options to travel between London and Southampton including taking a coach and train.
The cheapest way to travel from London to Southampton is a coach with an average price of £14.

This is compared to other travel options from London to Southampton:

A coach is £25 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from London to Southampton costing on average £39.

The fastest way to travel from London to Southampton is by train with an average journey time of 2h 14m.

Other travel options to Southampton take longer:

Coach takes on average 3h 7m.

The London to Southampton distance is approximately 112 km.
The average frequency per day from London to Southampton is:
  • Around 65 trains per day.
  • Around 33 coaches per day.

However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between London and Southampton as scheduled services by coach and train can vary by season or day of the week.

These are the most popular departure and arrival points from London to Southampton:
  • Trains mostly depart from London Waterloo (WAT) and arrive in Southampton Central (SOU).
  • Coaches mostly depart from London, Victoria Coach Station and arrive in Southampton, Coach Station.
  • Ferries mostly depart from Portsmouth Harbour and arrive in Fishbourne.
If finding a good deal is your main consideration for your trip from London to Southampton, then we'll help you find the best value travel companies for you:
  • Travel with South Western Railway, Southern, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Elizabeth line to go to Southampton by train.
  • Travel with National Express, FlixBus to go to Southampton by coach.
Yes, there are direct services available from London to Southampton with the following travel companies:
  • 31 direct trains per day with South Western Railway.
  • 29 direct coaches per day with National Express, FlixBus.
Omio customers who travel from London to Southampton often also extend their vacation to go to London Heathrow Airport, Paris, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, London Waterloo (WAT). Omio can help you plan your trip by finding the best connections between Southampton and these popular destinations at a great price.
To get from London to Southampton, you can choose from several travel options including coach and train.
In Southampton, you can explore the New Forest National Park for hiking and cycling, take the Hythe Ferry for a scenic trip to Hythe, and enjoy shopping at Westquay Shopping Centre. Visit the Ocean Village Marina for dining and leisure activities, or relax at Southampton Common. Discover the city's history at the Tudor House and Garden, SeaCity Museum, and Solent Sky Museum. Art enthusiasts can visit the Southampton City Art Gallery, while theatre lovers can catch performances at the Mayflower Theatre.
For a well-rounded experience, spending 2 to 3 days in Southampton allows you to explore key attractions such as the SeaCity Museum, Tudor House and Garden, and the vibrant waterfront.

Travelling from London to Southampton: related information

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTravelTravel to United KingdomTravel to SouthamptonHow to get to Southampton from London

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