Southampton to London — Bus Routes
Southampton is a port for London in name only — the city is 130 km away and the train from Southampton Central takes about 80 minutes each way.
- This is a three-hour round trip at best before you have seen anything of London. It suits an overnight call or a long port day, not a short one.
Most ships also sell a coach excursion to London — Bus Routes. However you travel, being back aboard before all-aboard is your own arrangement to make — we publish the journey, not your sailing. Your guide plays either way, and it is yours to keep.
- 5–15 min Cruise terminal to Southampton Central station — 1 to 2 miles depending on which terminal, so a taxi or the cruise shuttle rather than a walk.
- 80–110 min South Western Railway from Southampton Central to London Waterloo. Fast direct services run about 80 minutes; slower ones take longer.
- 10–20 min Waterloo to the start of the bus routes, on foot or one stop on the Underground.
1.6–2.4 hours each way
Plan your return against your ship's all-aboard time, which is on your daily programme. It is earlier than the departure time, and if you are coming back by tender the last tender leaves earlier still.
Open live transit directions — times on the day, in your own maps app.
Checked 2026-09-15. Sources: www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southa..., www.cruisemummy.co.uk/how-to-get-to....