How far is Southampton from Heathrow Airport?
Southampton is around 65 miles (105km) from Heathrow Airport. On a good day by road, it should take less than 90 minutes. Heathrow sits on a large motorway network which provides quick access down to the south coast where Southampton is located.
How to get from Heathrow to Southampton cruise terminals
There are several transportation choices available to connect Heathrow with Southampton, and this page offers a comparison of each option.
To go direct to the cruise terminals at Southampton, you can choose between direct dedicated cruise shuttle vans, coach tour transfer options with a stopover at places like Windsor Castle and Stonehenge. Additionally, you have the option of, private transfers by taxi and mini-bus and charter coaches for larger groups.
National Express runs a coach service between Heathrow Airport and Southampton, terminating at the city centre coach station. However there is no direct train service. Furthermore, the service makes no stops at any of Southampton’s cruise terminals.
Your Transfer Options Between Heathrow & Southampton
Private transfers
Private transfers provide the most convenient and flexible option, particularly with a meet and greet door to door service, either at the passenger/cruise terminal or your Heathrow or Southampton hotel. Flexibility to include sightseeing.
• Fastest most convenient transfer. This is the only option that provides immediate departure; furthermore, it is also the only option that will wait if the flight is late.
• If you have a flight out of Heathrow before 1pm, then you have only this option.
Shared shuttle transfers
Shared shuttle transfers exclusive to cruise passengers, these provide a convenient door to door service between Heathrow (and central London) and Southampton cruise terminals with a maximum of 4 pick-ups or drops.
• Small number of passengers (max 8) results in minimal drops or pick-ups.
• At Heathrow picks up at all main airport hotels. On the return journey, they also make drop offs at terminal buildings.
• If your party has more than two people, then, between Heathrow and Southampton, a private car transfer can work out cheaper.
• No minimum number of passengers required. Will operate with only one person.
Shared stopover and tour transfers visiting Stonehenge, Windsor Castle
Tour and stopover transfers are, in fact, a variation on the shuttle transfers; however, providers often conduct them in larger touring coaches. Furthermore, these transfers are also exclusively provided to Southampton cruise passengers.
• Time efficient and economic way to incorporate world class sightseeing into your Southampton cruise transfer.
• At Heathrow, we pick up at all main airport hotels. Additionally, on the return, we drop off at both hotels and terminal buildings.
• Full days tours offered from Southampton to Heathrow, and shorter half day trips from Heathrow to Southampton.
• Relatively small extra cost over shuttles offering great value.
Public transport – National Express coaches
National Express coaches are the only direct public transport between Heathrow Airport and Southampton. Unfortunately, there is no train service offering this route. The National Express coaches do not visit Southampton cruise terminals, just the coach station in Southampton city centre.
• Cheapest option.
• Requirement of local cab between Southampton coach station and cruise terminals. No stops at hotels.
• The slowest and most inconvenient transfer. Although, luggage allowance may well be less than your flight allowance.
Heathrow late flight transfer solution
Heathrow late flight transfer solution targets cruise passengers whose flights leave Heathrow late afternoon or evening and who have the prospect of killing several hours or more at the airport.
• Provide private transfers from Southampton to Windsor and subsequently from Windsor to Heathrow at times of your choosing.
• Spend as long as you like in Windsor with luggage storage included. Visit the castle, shop, go on a river boat, explore Eton.
• Flat fee however long you stay in Windsor, no waiting time charges.
• Turns a potential wasted day into a memorable and enjoyable excursion.
Heathrow Airport – Southampton Shared Cruise Ship Transfers
National Express offers pre-booked shared transfers between Heathrow Airport and Southampton cruise terminals, beyond the cruise lines themselves. Furthermore, National Express operates a scheduled coach service from Heathrow to Southampton; however, it only drops passengers at the coach station in Southampton. Consequently, you need to arrange an onward transfer to reach Southampton’s cruise terminals.
Dedicated shared transfers for cruise passengers come in three variants:
Direct van shuttles in both directions between the cruise terminals and Heathrow Airport
Half day transfers Heathrow to Southampton with sightseeing at Stonehenge, Windsor or Winchester
Full day transfers Southampton to Heathrow with sightseeing at two or three major sights
The services for departures from Southampton cruise terminals are scheduled to leave by 8:30 am. Upon exiting into the public area of the cruise terminal, a representative will be there to meet and greet you, guiding you to the transfer vehicle. Drop-offs at Heathrow can occur at any major Heathrow hotel or passenger terminal.
Heathrow departures, pick-ups are at major Heathrow hotels only, not passenger terminals. Heathrow Airport has four passenger terminals two of which (terminals 4 and 5) have hotels directly attached. From terminals 2 and 3 you will need to take a hotel shuttle.
Drops at Southampton cruise terminals are around lunch time / early afternoon. Cruise ship porters take your hold luggage from the vehicle into the ship whilst you proceed to check-in.
Cruise ships supported
Shuttle transfer services operate on all dates when Royal Caribbean, Oceania, NCL, Celebrity, Princess, Azamara, and Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ships visit Southampton, between the end of April and beginning of November. Cunard ships also arrive during this period.
If another cruise line is in port on the same day as one of the above while you are travelling, you can still use the cruise transfer service. However, you will need to disembark and take a local taxi to your cruise terminal as the bus will not take you directly there. Cruise terminals spread along a couple of miles of waterfront.
* We are aware that NCL ships may dock at 8am on some dates. When this happens, they will push back the transfer meet time by an hour, so you will also arrive in London an hour later.
Luggage allowances and large items
The luggage allowance for shuttle and tour transfers is up to 1 large case per passenger (23kg max) plus 1 piece of hand luggage (10kg max).
You may incur additional charges if you bring additional items of luggage or for items weighing more than the maximum weight stated above. Check the booking page for more information.
All suppliers establish different policies for travellers with mobility aids, so please read their terms and conditions on the booking page.
Shared Shuttle Transfers – London, Heathrow & Cruise Ships
Key features of cruise ship shuttle transfers
- Guaranteed to operate – there is no minimum group size and will run with only 1 passenger.
- Companies use executive vehicles with Wi-Fi and uniformed drivers.
- All Central London hotels, Airbnb and Heathrow hotels are visited in both directions.
- Luggage allowance per person is 1 item of hold luggage (23kg each) and 1 item of carry- on luggage (10kg each).
London and Heathrow Airport to Southampton direction
- Maximum of 6 passengers, 4 pickups/drop offs per journey.
- Pickups mid-morning in London and Heathrow.
- Arrival at cruise terminals by 1:00pm – 1:30pm
Southampton to London and Heathrow Airport direction
- Maximum of 8 passengers, 4 pickups/drop offs per journey.
- Meet n Greet at the Southampton cruise terminal between 0800 – 0830 am.
- Scheduled arrival into Heathrow is approx. 1030am and into central London 11am.
Joining the cruise ship transfer service
Pick-up times are provided before you make a booking.
For the transfer to Southampton relax in your Central London or Heathrow hotel reception with your luggage, ready to board when the vehicle arrives.
At Heathrow Airport we cannot pick up from passenger terminals due to parking restrictions. Terminals 5 and 4 respectively link the Sofitel Heathrow Hotel and the Hilton Heathrow Terminal 4. If you are using passenger terminals 2 or 3 you will need to take a hotel bus called the Heathrow Hotel Hoppa to one of the supported hotels.
For the transfer from Southampton you will be greeted by a representative as you enter the public area of the cruise terminal airline style and directed to your vehicle. At Heathrow, both Heathrow hotels and passenger terminals will welcome drop-offs from vehicles.
Private taxi and coach transfers between Heathrow & Southampton
The logistics of the private transfers
With a clear road, London Heathrow to Southampton is under 90 minutes by car. Heathrow sits on a major motorway network allowing you to get on your way quickly after departing the terminal building. However the route can suffer from congestion so it’s important you budget adequate contingency time. If there are delays on the motorway then the alternative routes are much slower.
Transferring from Heathrow to Southampton should be pretty smooth if you can avoid the busy commute times of early morning and late afternoon. Also be aware that on summer weekends the route can become congested with locals heading down to the coast.
Travelling from Southampton nearly all cruise ships have assisted disembarkation between about 7am and 9am. During weekdays you will be travelling during the morning commute so allow for possible delays.
Our comprehensive private transfer service to or from your Southampton cruise ship includes the following:
- A wide range of vehicles of all sizes catering from single travellers to large groups
- Prices include all taxes and parking
- At Heathrow you will be met and greeted at the arrivals hall as you exit into the public area of your terminal building. Our drivers will track your incoming flight so it’s not a problem if you are delayed. Larger groups may need to make their own way to the private coach bays just in front of the terminal
- At Southampton cruise terminals you will be met and greeted as you exit into the public area of the terminals and escorted to the vehicle
Luggage, outsize items and groups
We can make a proposal for all needs, whether a large group, single traveller, mobility scooters or stopovers and special requests.
Sightseeing options like Stonehenge or Windsor Castle on the way!
A host of world class attractions are accessible during Southampton transfer route and with a private transfer you have the freedom to stop and explore. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral are just three heritage sites of many you could visit.
If time is on your side, we offer a range of Southampton hotels located within close proximity to the cruise terminals and with good accessibility to a range of sightseeing options.
Heathrow to Southampton by Coach
The cheapest public transport between Southampton and Heathrow Airport
National Express, the UK’s largest scheduled coach operator, runs numerous daily services between Heathrow and Southampton. Scheduled journey time is from around 2 hours 10 minutes.
There is no direct train service between Heathrow and Southampton. There is a RailAir coach from Heathrow to Woking also operated by National Express from where you can catch the Southampton trains originating in Central London. This option is slower and more expensive than the coach.
All National Express coaches are equipped with toilet and wash-room facilities. Power sockets or USB ports are on all vehicles and free Wi-Fi is available on most services.
Where do I board the Heathrow – Southampton coach?
For Heathrow Airport departures the coach starts at Heathrow’s Central Bus Station. This is connected to Terminals 2 and 3 by underground walkways. The coach then picks up from outside the arrivals hall at both Terminals 4 and Terminal 5 on the other side of the airport.
The coaches only stop at the passenger terminals and bus station at Heathrow and the coach station at Southampton – no stops are made at hotels or Southampton cruise terminals.
For Southampton departures the coach station is in the heart of Southampton city centre. There are no shuttles or public transport linking the cruise terminals and the coach station. From Southampton’s cruise terminals it is too far to walk with luggage, a local taxi from the well marshalled cruise terminal rank should cost around £10.
Should I pre book my ticket?
There are National Express ticket kiosks and ticket machines within Heathrow Airport’s passenger terminals and bus station and also Southampton coach station.
We recommend you pre book your ticket on-line in advance. Departures, especially after a cruise ship has docked do get fully booked and when this happens a second bus is not provided. E-tickets are available sent directly to your e-mail in-box.
National Express offer a choice of ticket types. Cheapest fares are advance purchase on-line, some are exclusively on-line. Like many fare structures you pay more for flexibility to change schedules or cancel. For the cheapest fares with no flexibility you can pay a supplement that allows you to switch schedules if your flight is late. Fares will vary according to demand and how far a ticket is booked in advance of their journey.
Tickets are not allocated a seat number, you select your seat on boarding on a first come first served basis. Subject to availability you can reserve the front seats of the coach for a supplement.
National Express Coach Tickets and Timetables
Book in advance, confirm seat, save money
- Full timetables & journey planning
- Identify the best fares, including advanced fares
- Pay securely by credit card, e-tickets and mobile tickets
Luggage on the Heathrow to Southampton National Express coaches
Hold luggage
For each person you are allowed to take one or two medium sized suitcases or rucksacks (no more than 20kg per item) free of charge and one small piece of soft hand luggage. Alternatively, you may take 1 large item (no more than 20kg) and one small piece of hand luggage
Hold luggage maximum sizes defined as: Medium case: 70cm x 30cm x 45cm; Large case: 75cm x 50cm x 32cm
Hand luggage
An item of soft hand luggage taken into the passenger cabin must be able to be placed under the seat in front of passengers or in an overhead locker. With the exception of briefcases, no hard-shelled cases, wheeled bags or hard-framed rucksacks/backpacks are permitted on board for safety reasons and must be stowed with hold luggage. You will not incur an additional charge for this.
Soft hand luggage maximum size: 45cm x 35cm x 20cm
Excess luggage and outsize items
Excess luggage can be taken for which there is a charge. You can reduce this cost by 20% if your excess luggage is pre booked on-line. If there is a group of you travelling on the same ticket, then its ok to pool the luggage between you all to help prevent a surcharge.
The drivers load and unload the luggage into the hold directly from yourself, immediately prior to boarding, you do not check-in the luggage prior.
Foldable pushchairs and foldable bicycles are all accepted in addition to the allowance however that is providing there is enough space in the hold. Lightweight manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters (under 20kg) are also accepted but prior arrangements are needed (at least 36 hours ahead of travel).
For more comprehensive information we have a designated National Express page for full details.
Map of Southampton
Our Southampton map below illustrates the position of the cruise terminals in relation to the city’s bus and rail stations. We have a designated page on Southampton’s train and coach stations for those using public transport.
Whilst our Southampton cruise terminals page is a useful guide on the city’s waterfront.
