The airport is served by a train, which is by far the fastest connection to Southampton city centre.
Slightly cheaper connections to the historic centre and harbour can be made by the U1 bus service.
| Price | Journey time | Timetable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 3,90 gbp | 7-10 minutes | thetrailne.com |
| Bus U1A/U1C | 2,70 gbp | 42 minutes | unilinkbus.co.uk/U1 |
Train to Southampton
The airport boasts that the train -> plane transfer and vice versa is one of the fastest and shortest in the world, with check-in desks just 99 steps from the station.
The station at the airport is called "Southampton Airport Parkway" and trains run to the main station "Southampton Central" where you can change to other services around England (such as Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Bristol, Salisbury, Worthing, Brighton and more).
Tickets from 3,90 gbp can be purchased cheapest via the website thetrailne.comwhere you can also find timetables. If you buy your ticket on the spot from a ticket machine or via contactless card payment at the validator on the platform, the fare will be about 15% more expensive.
- Price: 3,90 gbp via the web thetrailne.com; 4,70 gbp when paying on the spot
- Traveltime: 7 to 10 minutes
- Frequency: 6 to 25 minutes
- Last train from the airport - 1:05
- First train to airport - 4:52 (Saturday 5:11, Sunday 6:55)
Bus
Alternatively, you can reach the airport by bus lines U1C (in the direction of the airport) or U1A (in the direction of the airport).
It runs every 10 to 15 minutes and connects the airport with the university, Southampton city centre and the Waterfront area, where there is also a passenger ferry dock. However, the journey to the centre is long and takes 45 minutes.
Tickets cost 2,70 gbp. You can purchase a fare by attaching your contactless card to the reader at the driver when you board and at the door when you alight. A full day's fare is then priced at 4 gbp.
- Price: 2,70 gbp
- Travel time: 42 minutes
- Frequency: 10 to 15 minutes
- Last bus from the airport - 23:55
- First bus from Westquay - 5:22am (Saturday 5:52am, Sunday 5:17am)
- Official Information: unilinkbus.co.uk
- U1C timetable (airport to city centre): unilinkbus.co.uk/U1A
- Timetable U1A (city centre to airport): unilinkbus.co.uk/U1C
The stop for the U1C service to the city centre is located directly in front of the terminal, approximately 20 metres to the right of the arrivals hall exit.
The final stop for line U1A in the direction of the city centre is near the train station, approximately 200 metres from the terminal.
Trains to other English cities
If you're travelling straight from the airport to other cities, use the train. Long-distance services also stop at Southampton Airport Parkway station, offering direct connections without changing trains to many destinations.
Other destinations are accessible with one convenient transfer at Southampton Central station.
For timetables and online ticketing, visit thetrailne.com.
Trains changing at Southampton Central run from the first platform in the direction of the airport building. Northbound trains to London depart from the second platform, reached via the footbridge.
- Portsmouth - 1 change at Southampton Central, prices from 9,50 gbp
- Bournemouth - no change, prices from 5,40 gbp
- Salisbury - no change, prices from 9,50 gbp
- London - no change, prices from 11,30 gbp
Find a connection and buy a ticket
Taxi
In the arrivals hall, you must first book a taxi at the counter. The price to Southampton city centre is approximately GPB 15.
Better prices are usually offered by the Uber app, which can get you from the airport to the city centre from 12 gbp.
Local buses
Local buses also stop at the west platform of the train station to take passengers from the airport to the surrounding neighbourhoods.
A single ride ticket costs 2,70 gbp, and the daily limit is 4 gbp. You pay with a contactless card at the driver when you board. You must also validate your card at the reader at the door when getting off.
- Line U8 - runs once an hour to Southampton Science Park
- Timetable: bluestarbus.co.uk/U8
- Line 24 - runs once an hour to Eastleigh and the North East of Southampton
- Timetable: bluestarbus.co.uk/24
