Rome Toolkit 
Paris Toolkit Cruises from Southampton, Dover and Harwich
Cruise ports near London and how to get there with sightseeing options
The main cruise ports for London are Southampton, Dover and Harwich. All of these are within good proximity to London allowing you to incorporate city plans into your cruising itinerary. We will help you discover all you need to know about the options available.
You can book direct shuttle transfers, sightseeing tour transfers, public transport, private vehicles, shore excursions and accommodation.
In addition to visiting London and enjoying all it has to offer, there are also opportunities to take in some of the English countryside’s most famous and historic sites like Stonehenge, Windsor and Winchester.
Many of these are located along the cruise ship transfer routes, making them the perfect stop off point before boarding or after disembarking your cruise ship. Alternatively, if time or budget is not on your side you can transfer directly using either a pre-booked vehicle or public transport.
CRUISE TERMINALS IN THE UK
Southampton
Dover
CRUISES FROM SOUTHAMPTON
Cruise transfer options between Southampton, London & Heathrow airport hotels
Take the hassle out of transferring from or to your cruise ship by using our guide on everything you need to know about Southampton cruise transfers.
It’s about 80 miles (130km) between Southampton and London and there are various transfer options available. You can transfer directly; travel via famous attractions like Stonehenge; or use public transport.
If you want to start or end your cruise holiday in style, then we have some flexible pre cruise and post cruise packages in London and Southampton. These can be tailored exactly to suit your needs and include private transfers.
There are a host of different transport options between London, the airports and Southampton. Your choice will be determined by budget, time and interest in visiting the attractions along the way. We’ll help find the best one for you.
There are: direct shuttle transfers, tour transfers with sightseeing and of course private taxi transfers.
London to Southampton transport options for cruise terminals
Explore your travel options from London to Southampton. Trains, coach, bespoke cruise shuttle transfers with/without sightseeing and private transfers are all available from the capital.
Bespoke cruise transfers pick up from Heathrow hotels and include optional sightseeing. Private transfers offer the ultimate in comfort and convenience. Or take the National Express Coach.
Travel by National Express Coach or train, or for a more relaxed journey book your own private transfer with a meet and greet service. This can be tailored with sightseeing options.
Stansted or Luton airport to Southampton
The best way to get to Southampton from London Stansted or Luton airport is to head into London and then pick up a transfer from there. Both airports are served by frequent direct trains into the capital which take approximately 30 minutes.
HOW TO GET TO SOUTHAMPTON
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Trains to Southampton
The train is the fastest form of public transport but is more expensive than coach. Direct services depart from Waterloo Station to Southampton Central. After disembarking you must take an onward taxi journey from the rail station to your Southampton cruise terminal. Walking is too far with luggage.
Coaches to Southampton
The coach is the cheapest but slowest form of public transport. Direct separate coach services depart from London Victoria Station, Heathrow Airport and Gatwick to Southampton. Like the train you will need to take a local taxi Southampton cruise terminal on arrival in Southampton.
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
- Executive vehicles are used with wifi and uniformed drivers.
- All Central London hotels, Air bnbs 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. The Sofitel Heathrow Hotel and the Hilton Heathrow Terminal 4 are linked to terminals 5 and 4 respectively. If you are using passenger terminals 2 or 3 you will need to take a hotel bus called the Heathrow 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 vehicles will drop you off at both Heathrow hotels and passenger terminals.
CRUISE SHUTTLE RESERVATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION 2023
£92pp one-way
- Pay in British Pounds, US Dollars or Euro
- Guaranteed to operate - no minimum group size
- Maximum of 8 passengers, 4 pickups/drop offs
- Executive vehicles with Wi-Fi and uniformed drivers
- If your ship is late docking, we will wait
- Serves any London city centre hotel/Airbnb
- Serves Heathrow Airport hotels, terminal drops
SOUTHAMPTON - LONDON DIRECT TRANSFERS - CAR PRICES & VEHICLES 2023
STANDARD SALOON CAR (e.g. Toyota Prius)
Central London £260, Heathrow £193, Gatwick £226, Lon City Airport £261, Luton £251, Stansted £302
1- 2 passengers • 2 large, 2 hand luggage
ESTATE CAR (e.g. Ford Mondeo)
Central London £272, Heathrow £204, Gatwick £237, Lon City Airport £273, Luton £276, Stansted £314
3 passengers • 3 large, 4 hand luggage
MPV (e.g. Ford Galaxy)
Central London £290, Heathrow £223, Gatwick £255, Lon City Airport £291, Luton £281, Stansted £332
4 passengers • 4 large, 5 hand luggage
LARGE CAR / VAN (e.g. Mercedes Vito)
Central London £320, Heathrow £252, Gatwick £285, Lon City Airport £321, Luton £311, Stansted £361
5 - 8 passengers • 8 large, 8 hand luggage
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE CAR (e.g. Vauxhall Vivaro)
Central London £320, Heathrow £252, Gatwick £285, Lon City Airport £321, Luton £311, Stansted £361
1- 8 passengers • 8 large, 8 hand luggage
* London reference hotel used: Marriott Kensington hotel
Large luggage: 35.5 x 29.5 x 16in or 90 x 75 x 43cm (max: 25Kg)
Hand luggage: 22 x 18 x 10in or 56 x 45 x 25cm (max: 10Kg)
On-line instant reservations enable you to book your transfer instantly and securely.
PUBLIC SHARED SOUTHAMPTON CRUISE SHIP TOUR TRANSFERS
Our cruise ship tour transfers are exclusive to cruise customers disembarking or boarding ships at Southampton cruise port. A great opportunity to include world class sightseeing on your journey to or from your cruise ship.
Important note regarding timings for 2023
It is not expected that there will be covid restrictions for the 2023 cruise season. However the situation will be monitored and possible timed embarkation procedures may be introduced. If so, it may be necessary to amend slightly the advertised timings. This is to ensure guests arrive at the cruise terminal at their allocated embarkation time. If timed embarkation policies are introduced, all customers will be contacted prior to the transfer to confirm their specific timings.
Half day tour transfers travelling between London & Heathrow Airport and Southampton
Choose between a Stonehenge pre-cruise transfer, stopping off at Stonehenge en route to Southampton, or a post cruise transfer visiting Windsor Castle from Southampton to London.
For the pre-cruise transfer you will be met at a centrally located London hotel in the early morning to visit Stonehenge and then arrive at your cruise ship around early afternoon.
For the post cruise transfer you are met at the cruise port and taken via Windsor Castle to a centrally located London hotel.
You will spend around 2 hours at your chosen sightseeing attraction, with entry included.
Also see our door to door service for straight transfers: Southampton direct cruise ship shuttle service. This service also drops at Heathrow passenger terminals.
Pre-cruise transfer stopping off at Stonehenge en route to Southampton. Entry to Stonehenge included.
Post cruise transfer visiting Windsor Castle from Southampton to London. Entry to the Castle is included.
Full day tour transfers travelling from Southampton to Heathrow Airport & London
Your driver will meet you at the terminal building exit from 08:00am and will accompany you to the coach. We plan to leave Southampton by 08:30am. There is a typical walk of about 75 yards to the vehicle where the driver will load your luggage into the hold. In the unlikely event your ship is delayed into port, we will delay our departure. Some transfer tours include Heathrow, others go directly to London after the tour. Do double check when booking your tour covers the drop-off you need.
Drops begin at Heathrow Airport (when applicable, hotels and passenger terminals) typically around 5:00pm and Central London hotels about one hour later.
Cotswolds, Downton Abbey locations
& pub lunch
Enjoy a 2-course lunch in a 15th century inn in Cotswolds plus visits to "Downton Village" (Bampton), Burford & Stow-on-Wold.
Warner Bros. Studio - Harry Potter
Enjoy a full day tour at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter with transfer to London or Heathrow from Southampton.
Salisbury, Stonehenge & Windsor
This transfer takes you to Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge and finally Windsor Castle. Entrances are extra and can be added on at time of booking.
Georgian City of Bath & Windsor
This transfer from Southampton will take you to the beautiful city of Bath to visit the Roman Baths and also the majestic Windsor Castle. Entrances can be added on at booking.
