Everything you need to know about catching a National Express Coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal.
Can I catch a coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal?
No, not directly. National Express coaches stop at Southampton bus station in the city centre.
How far is Southampton Coach Station from the cruise terminal?
It is possible to walk to all five cruise terminals, but you must consider the distances involved before setting off:
- Mayflower Cruise Terminal – 1.4 miles
- Horizon Cruise Terminal – 0.7 miles
- City Cruise Terminal – 0.7 miles
- Ocean Cruise Terminal – 1.2 miles
- QE II Terminal – 1.9 miles
A taxi transfer to the docks is probably the smarter choice when dealing with large suitcases (see below).
Which is the nearest hotel to Southampton Coach Station?
Both the West Quay Premier Inn and the Moxy are a short walk away.
And no, you don’t have to walk around the second roundabout shown in the map above, saving some time and distance.
The map below shows some alternative accommodations. The cruise terminals are denoted by a flag in the image. You can see how few nearby options there are for the Mayflower and Horizon cruise terminals:
Don’t forget to check out the nearby Novotel and Ibis Budget too.
Special tip: Check out our complete guide to Premier Inn discount codes
Ticket Info
How much does it cost to travel from London to Southampton Cruise Terminal on National Express coaches?
The million dollar question with a surprising answer. The basic price for a National Express ticket between London and Southampton can be as low as £7.70 if you book far enough in advance.
The actual price of a ticket to Southampton Cruise Terminal will depend on where you are travelling from, the popularity of the route and at what time of day you want to leave/arrive. Tickets between Heathrow Airport and Southampton Cruise Terminal can be booked well in advance for just £16.50 each.
Normally you should be able to book tickets for approximately £20 per person – even for destinations as far away as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Can I buy National Express tickets at the bus station?
Yes, there is an automated ticket machine – but you can only use it when Southampton Coach Station is open. Buying tickets online may be a smarter move though – that way you can guarantee your seat on the coach to London.
National Express also accept telephone bookings – but they will apply an additional £3 booking fee for doing so.
What are my ticket options?
National Express offer three different ticketing options to balance cost and flexibility:
Restricted – The cheapest ticket option. Fares are non-refundable and cannot be amended. If you miss your bus, or make a mistake while booking, you are not entitled to a refund.
Standard – Booking can be changed any time before departure for a £5 online amendment fee. You may also be charged any difference in fare.
Fully flexible – The most expensive option, tickets can be amended or refunded up to 24 hours before your original outward journey for no additional charge . However, you may be charged any difference in fare.
Transfers from Southampton Coach Station to the cruise terminals
Can I get a taxi from Southampton National Express Coach Station?
Without pre-booking, probably not. There is a taxi rank just out the front of Southampton bus station (see map below) but there is rarely a queue of waiting vehicles. Instead, you will see a queue of coach passengers waiting for a passing taxi to spot them.
You could call an Uber or book a Radio Taxis taxi by calling +44 (0)2380 999 999.
Big money baller? You could always book a private transfer from the Cruise Terminal all the way to London – but at £275 each we can’t comment whether the service is good value or not.
Can I catch a regular bus to the cruise terminal at Southampton?
No. None of the cruise terminals is served directly by a public bus route. Even if you do manage to struggle onboard with your suitcases, you will still have to walk quite some distance from the nearest bus stop to your ship.
Article continues after the jump…
Luggage info
How much luggage can I take on the coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal?
National Express allow you to take one large suitcase (up to 20kg) and one carry-on item, roughly the size of a laptop bag or small backpack. The large suitcase must be put in the hold under the coach.
If you want to take more bags, they cost £10 each. You can add additional luggage to your booking in advance.
Does National Express charge extra for mobility scooters?
No. Your mobility scooter will not incur any additional charges. You should expect to answer questions about battery type and whether it can/is disconnected – just like when travelling on a plane.
If possible, fold your scooter so it doesn’t take up too much hold space. This will also help to protect your mobility scooter against damage if luggage shifts during the journey.
Will I get charged for taking extra suitcases on National Express?
YES. There is limited storage space under the coach so drivers will check each case carefully. And they will charge anyone trying to sneak an extra case onboard.
Are there any luggage restrictions on National Express?
According to National Express, large suitcases should weigh no more than 20kg. However, baggage is not weighed and we have never encountered any issues when our bags were slightly overweight.
Southampton Coach Station info
What facilities are there at Southampton Coach Station?
You will find toilets and a small shop at Southampton Bus Station – if it is open. There is a roof to shelter under if the weather is bad. There is also a small coffee shop, payphone and an automated ticket machine.
Is there a toilet at Southampton Coach Station?
Yes. But it is only accessible when the bus station is open. And if it is like the toilet at Victoria Coach Station, wear a mask – the stench is probably quite bad.
The toilet is not free – you will need a 20 pence coin to gain access.
Top tip: Make sure you have a 20p coin handy if you want to use the toilet. Otherwise you may have to walk one block uphill to the nearby Asda supermarket. Or wait until you can use the one on the coach.
When is the coach station open?
The current opening hours are:
Monday – Thursday: 08:00 – 17:30 (8:00am – 5:30pm)
Friday: 06:45 – 17:30 (6:45am – 5:30pm)
Saturday – Sunday: 07:15 – 17:30 (7:15am – 5:30pm)
Note that coaches do arrive and depart outside these hours, but you will not be able to access any of the facilities inside the station – including the toilets. So if you need to go, use the toilet on the coach before disembarking.
If the coach station is closed, you can still buy tickets using the automated machine on the wall outside the station. Or by using the National Express app.
What is the phone number for the National Express Southampton Coach Station?
You cannot call the Southampton bus station direct. However, you can contact customer services for more information on 08717 81 81 81. Calls cost an eye-watering 13p per minute however.
BONUS TIP: You can avoid sky high call charges by using the local-rate number instead: +44 (0)371 781 8181
Is there a left luggage office at Southampton Bus Station?
No. And there are no luggage storage options at the nearby railway station either. But there are a few storage options nearby.
Check out our Complete guide to Luggage Storage in Southampton to see all the options.
UK hotels tend to store luggage free of charge which may be a better option if you are staying in Southampton overnight.
Is the coach station accessible?
Access from street to coach is completely step-free. But you will need to climb several steps once you are on the bus.
Update 26th July 2024: The ‘gangway’ at the front of the station is quite narrow, particularly when people are queueing at the same time as others are disembarking. This can make it particularly hard for mobility scooter and wheelchair users to manoeuvre toward their coach.
Article continues after the jump…
London Airports to Southampton Cruise Terminals
What about coaches from London Heathrow Airport to Southampton?
National Express operate several coaches daily between Southampton and London Heathrow Airport direct. The bus is a viable transfer option if you are doing a fly-cruise vacation.
What about National Express coaches from Gatwick to Southampton?
Travelling between Gatwick Airport and Southampton Cruise Terminal is a two-leg trip. Ironically you must first catch a bus to Heathrow Airport, then change to reach your final destination. The same is true if you are hoping to connect with London Stansted Airport.
Probably not the best option if you’re already tired and jet-lagged.
Can you travel by coach to Southampton on the same day you sail?
If your cruise leaves in the afternoon or evening, you could arrive in Southampton in the morning. Just remember that coaches are subject to the same traffic conditions as cars, so if there is a traffic jam anywhere along the route, it will affect arrival times.
And don’t forget – you must also factor in the time required to get from the coach station to your cruise terminal too.
Are there any other coach lines serving Southampton Cruise Terminal?
The UK has two other national coach lines to consider – Megabus and FlixBus.
Megabus
As of 2025, Megabus has cancelled all of their Southampton routes.
FlixBus
FlixBus has recently added routes from London Victoria to Southampton with stops at the University or in the city centre. Tickets can be booked from just £4.99 – just don’t forget to factor in the cost of luggage when booking.
There are also Flixbus coaches running from London Heathrow Airport if arriving in the UK by plane. Sadly there is no direct option for any travellers flying into London Gatwick Airport.
Don’t worry – the page will auto-redirect to the UK!
Also note that Southampton University is much further away from the cruise terminals so make sure you check where your Flixbus coach stops.
Which is the best coach travel to Southampton cruise terminal?
FlixBus is out of the equation immediately. And because of its circuitous routes to London, Megabus is probably not an option for international cruisers – particularly anyone flying out of Heathrow or Gatwick.
National Express is relatively cheap, reliable and clean. For us the best option is National Express to Southampton Cruise Terminal (or back to London).
Is there anything else I should know?
- Southampton Central railway station is a short walk away, as is the Westquay Shopping Centre.
- There are three coach bays – make sure you board the correct bus if travelling away from the cruise terminal.
- Speak to the agent at the gate if you have mobility issues. They may be able to board you first, saving a lot of the hassle and discomfort of boarding with the other passengers.
Read our review of the London to Southampton National Express journey.
Would we recommend catching National Express to Southampton Cruise Terminal?
Yes, absolutely. There are several reasons to consider catching a coach to Southampton:
- National Express coach tickets are much cheaper than port parking.
- You don’t have to worry about where to leave your car on a one-way cruise.
- Coach travel is usually much cheaper than train travel in the UK.
- Speed limits, one-way systems and traffic are all someone else’s problem – much more relaxing than driving yourself!
Do you have another question? Leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to find an answer to your questions about catching the National Express to Southampton Cruise terminal.
Page last updated: 19th September 2025
Things to do in Southampton
So you’ve arrived on the coach and checked into your hotel. Now what? Here’s the three top rated activities in Southampton:
1. Secrets of the Titanic Guided Walking Tour
Explore the Southampton’s relationship with the ill-fated Titanic on this guided walking tour. Soak up sights along the way on the QE2 Mile walkway and Oxford Street. Finish your tour with some classic pub fare and a pint with the included 20% off at The White Star Pub.
Learn more
2. Private Southampton Walking Tour
You will see some of the most important monuments in the city such as the City Walls, the famous Tudor House, different churches, the Mayflower memorial, and locations related to the history of the Titanic. You will learn about local heroes and explore the turbulent past of this historic town. Covering a period from the Middle Ages to the Second World War, Southampton has more to offer than originally meets the eye.
Learn more
3. Transport to London With 3 Sightseeing Stops
(This excursion is probably best for after you get back from your cruise)
Departing from Southampton, drive to the monoliths of Stonehenge, which have confounded people for over 5,000 years. Listen to some of the theories about how it was built from your guide.
Continue to the market town of Salisbury, best known for its 13th-century cathedral. Built during the reign of Henry III, it boasts the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom at 404 feet (123 meters) and is one of the finest examples of early Gothic English architecture.
Upon arrival at the cathedral, be welcomed by a specialist Salisbury Cathedral Guide and receive an introductory talk before taking a guided tour. Marvel at the Magna Carta, the famous agreement made between King John and his barons at Runnymede in 1215, and now housed in the Chapter House.
Afterward, explore Royal history with a visit to the queen’s official residence, Windsor Castle. Witness the changing monarchical tastes in the decor of the State Apartments over the centuries, and see paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci and Rembrandt.
Admire Queen Mary’s dollhouse, the most famous dollhouse in the world, and visit St. George’s Chapel, the final resting place for several monarchs. After your sightseeing trip, head to London for drop-off at your location of choice.
Book now
Please note that we use sponsored links on this blog. Although we may earn a referral fee or bonus points on some of these products and services mentioned, we never recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves.
Check out our full Affiliate Disclosure Policy for more info.
