Frequently asked questions

FAQs

Is there a park and ride service in Southampton?

Southampton City Council does not currently provide any park and ride facilities. There are over 10,000 parking spaces in the city centre, so visitors can easily find somewhere to park. During the Southampton Boat Show, there is a park and ride service, usually off the M271 from the M27 Junction 3 which is clearly signed from the M27 and M3 motorways.

What possibilities are there for secure long term parking in Southampton when I go on my cruise?

There is a dedicated parking service run by Cruise and Passenger Services, Tel: 023 8033 4883. It is also possible to leave cars at some of the larger hotels, if passengers stay at the hotel the night before the cruise. A sheet with details of these hotels is available in PDF format on our website page Cruise Parking or by contacting the Tourist Information Centre.

Are there any guided walking/bus/boat tours around the city?

Southampton Tourist Guides Association offer free guided walks, lasting about 90 minutes, starting from the Bargate in the city centre. For further information view the Guided Walks page or contact the Tourist Information Centre.

There are harbour tours run by the Blue Funnel cruise company. We recommend that you telephone on 023 8022 3278 to check sailing times. Alternatively, take a 12 minute crossing on the Hythe Ferry to sail past the QE2 terminal in the Eastern Docks and visit the little town of Hythe with its Victorian pier and electric train.

During summer months, Open Top Bus tours visit parts of the city and the Eastern and Western docks.

What is the taxi fare between Southampton Airport and the city centre?

Taxis waiting at the airport charge £ 13 - 14, and a pre-booked taxi will charge about £12.

Are there any left luggage facilities in Southampton?

In the present security situation, there are no conventional left luggage facilities. There is a self-storage company, Lok'nStore, which allows passengers to leave pieces of luggage at their warehouse in the Millbrook region of the city. Please see their web site, or telephone 023 8078 3388 for further details. The airport has offered this service in the past, please telephone the Information Desk on 0870 040 0009 for more information.

How far is Southampton Central train station from the cruise terminals?

The Queen Elizabeth II Terminal is 2.2 miles away in the Eastern Docks, a taxi ride of about 10 minutes. Access to the Eastern Docks is via Dock gate 4. There are local taxis and Unilink buses that operate between Southampton Central rail station and the Eastern Docks.
The other 2 terminals are in the Western Docks, the City Cruise Terminal being 1 mile away and the Mayflower Terminal about 1.5 miles away, about 5 minutes taxi ride. Access to the Western Docks is via Dock Gate 10 and there are taxis available to take you the short 5 minute journey from the station costing approximately £6.00

Can friends come to the cruise terminals to wave passengers off?

At the Queen Elizabeth II terminal there is short stay parking and a visitor's lounge, and at the Mayflower terminal there is short stay parking and a viewing gallery which will be open 1 hour before departure. Proof of identity will be needed for access to these terminals. At the City Cruise terminal there are no facilities for visitors, but it is very close to Mayflower Park which is an excellent vantage point for all ships leaving the Western Docks.

For further details please see the Cruise Terminal information.

Where is the Guildhall, and can I park nearby?

The Guildhall is part of the Civic Centre complex and faces onto West Marlands Road. There is very limited parking in front of the Guildhall and Council Offices, so we recommend that you use the nearby multi-storey car parks at Grosvenor Square,, West Park or The Marlands. All of these are within 5 minutes walk of the Guildhall, open 24 hours a day and are protected by CCTV.

Can you recommend accommodation?

All the accommodation listed on the Visit-Southampton web site has been assessed by Quality in Tourism, the AA or the hotel chain itself, e.g. Hilton, Holiday Inn, De Vere etc.
Visitbritain accommodation ratings

Where can coaches park or drop off?

There are 4 coach parking bays in Blechynden Terrace, behind the Mayflower Theatre, just north of the Central Station.

Passengers can be dropped off in Commercial Road, just outside the Art Gallery, in Portland Terrace either by the bus stop outside the Marlands Shopping Mall, or by the bus stop under the bridge of the WestQuay shopping centre.

Are there any hotels which offer special pre cruise deals where I can stay before my cruise?

Yes. Please see the Pre Cruise Hotels page.

How can I get from the railway station to the Isle of Wight ferry terminals?

There is a free shuttle bus service connecting the railway station to the Red Funnel terminal 1 for the vehicle ferry and to Terminal 2 for the Red Jet hi-speed catamaran.
The stop for this City Link bus is found to the left of the platform 4 exit from the station, and during the peak part of the day the buses run every 10 minutes, with a journey time of 7 minutes. Please see the Unilink web site for timetable information.