If you are taking a cruise from Southampton cruise port and flying into London Gatwick Airport, you may be wondering how to get to the port.
Luckily, London Gatwick Airport is one of the most convenient airports for cruising out of Southampton, and there are multiple options for making the journey.
How do You Get From Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port?
The best way to get from London Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port is by train or taxi.
The train takes as little as 2 hours at a cost of around £17/$23 if pre-booked. Taxi’s can range from £120/$160 – £200/$260 and take between 1.5 – 2 hours in typical traffic.
In this post, we will explore all options for getting from Gatwick Airport to the Port of Southampton.
We will look at the cost of each option and the average time it takes to make the journey, as well as any other things you should note before making your decision.
| Train | Taxi | Bus | |
| Typical Cost | £17/$23 (Pre-booked) | £120/$160 – £200/$260 | £24 ($30) |
| Average Time Taken | 2 Hours (Direct Train) | 1.5 – 2 Hours (Good Traffic) | 6 Hours |
| Other Notes | Will require an additional Taxi/Walk from Southampton station to Southampton cruise port |
How Far Is It From Gatwick Airport to the Southampton Cruise Port?
The distance between London Gatwick Airport and the Southampton Cruise Port is approximately 90 miles (or 145 kilometers) by road.
However, by train, the distance is shorter at 57 miles (or 92 kilometers).
The journey can take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours.
Taking the Train From Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port
Taking the train from Gatwick Airport to Southampton is relatively easy.
There are no longer any direct trains; typically, you have to change at Brighton. There are other routes available that include one or two changes.
Although the train can be an easy option, it’s important to remember that they can be busy at peak times.
The majority of UK trains don’t have adequate luggage space, so this may not be a good option for people with more than one suitcase per person.
Where is Gatwick Train Station in The Airport?
The Gatwick airport train station is located within the airport building at the South terminal.
If flying into the North terminal, there is a free shuttle train to the South terminal, so look out for that.
Train Routes and Stations
There are multiple ways to get to Southampton Cruise Port from Gatwick Airport by train.
The fastest possible train route would get you to Southampton in around 2 hours, involving one change. The slowest route could take 3 hours +
Below is a selection of routes from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Train Station. To find train times I usually use The Train Line website as seen below.
Many trains depart from London Gatwick train station for Southampton, but you will need to change, usually at Brighton.
The first train departs at 5.57 AM, and the last one departs at 10.32 PM. Trains run all week.
It’s important to be aware that engineering works often take place on Sundays in the UK. If this is the case, the train journey may be replaced by a bus, which can take considerably longer.
Train tickets can be used on replacement buses services, if they are in place.
Prices/Tickets
Prices can vary depending on the time of day, route, or class you decide to take. It can also depend on the season and if the time is peak or off-peak.
Ticket prices range in price from £17/$20 to £40/$50+. The trains do have a first-class available, but I’d argue that this isn’t worth the extra cost.
The only real benefit of first-class seating is a higher chance of being able to get a seat if the train is busy.
To get the cheapest train ticket possible, try doing the following:
- Booking Tickets in advance (Generally the further in advance, the cheaper the tickets will be). You don’t have to book for a specific train to secure the discounts just for a specific day.
- Buy group Tickets (If you are travelling in a group of 4 or over, you may be able to buy a group ticket at a slightly reduced rate. The saving is usually 1/3, but the group must travel together at all times).
- Use Railcards (If you are from the UK, consider using or getting a railcard. These will allow you to save a fixed amount on the journey, usually 1/3).
| Benefits of Taking The Train | Drawbacks of Taking The Train |
| Can be cheap if pre-booked | Possible cancellations/Delays |
| Good option if travelling alone | Can be busy |
| Reliable |
The train will only take you as far as Southampton train station. From here a taxi or other mode of transport is required to get to the port.
How to Get From Southampton Train Station to Southampton Cruise Port
The best way to get from Southampton Central Station to Southampton Cruise Port is to get a taxi, take a bus or walk.
journey by taxi costs around £10/$13 and takes 10 minutes. The walk takes around 25 minutes and is relatively easy if the weather is dry.
Walking can be a good option if you don’t have a lot of luggage and the weather is good.
I often do this and have always found it to be easy. The route is well signposted, but I’d recommend you download Google Maps.
Taking a Taxi From Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port
There are many options for getting a taxi from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port. A number of different companies operate this route.
There are multiple routes that the taxi may take depending on the time of day or the taxi driver’s preference.
In the image below from Google Maps, the route heads to the M25, which circles London, before heading down to the coast. All options take a similar amount of time.
Taxi Rank at Gatwick Airport
At Gatwick Airport, there is a large taxi rank, where you will find a variety of car styles with varying capacities.
Some taxis do have a limit on the number of pieces of luggage taken per person, so make sure you research this ahead of time if you are worried about having too much luggage.
A standard-sized saloon car can usually transport one to three people and take three large pieces of luggage, in addition to hand luggage.
If you have more people, it may be a good idea to get a taxi minibus that holds up to eight people. A minibus can also carry up to eight suitcases per vehicle.
You will find taxi minibuses at the airport’s taxi rank, but if you do require one, I’d usually recommend you pre-book, as there can be long wait times for larger cars.
Benefits of Taking a Taxi
- Less Time Taken Compared to Other Methods. The journey from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port can be as little as 1 hour and 40 minutes.
- Your Taxi Will Wait. If you’ve pre-booked a taxi and your flight is delayed, your taxi driver will be able to adjust their plans so that they can pick you up at the right time.
- No Extra Fees. All taxi prices include taxes and parking fees. In the UK, it is appreciated if you tip the taxi driver, although this isn’t expected. An average tip would be between 10% and 20% of the taxi fare.
How Much Does a Taxi from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port Cost?
A taxi from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port costs between £120 ($160) and £200 ($260).
This price may increase on certain days or at certain times, and taxis should always be pre-booked to secure the best price.
| Small Car (1-3 Passengers) | Large Car (1-5 Passengers) | Minibus (1-8 Passengers) | |
| Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port Taxi Estimated Price | $160 (£122) | $180 (£137) | $210 (£157) |
While the prices may be higher than taking a train or a bus, the journey is much more convenient. If you are travelling as a group, it often doesn’t work out much more expensive to get a taxi.
| Benefits of Taking a Taxi | Drawbacks of Taking a Taxi |
| Pick you up directly from airport | Motion sickness |
| No changing | Can be expensive if travelling alone |
| Could be slow if traffic is bad |
Taking an Uber from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port
Getting an Uber from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port will cost a minimum of £94/$125 and take around 1 hour 40 minutes if the roads are clear.
The prices of Ubers are similar to the price of pre-booking a taxi, so I would usually recommend you pre-book a taxi if this is something you’d like to do.
That said, if you haven’t pre-booked, getting a taxi can be expensive and an Uber can be a cheaper option.
Hiring a Car
Hiring a car for a day to drive from Gatwick airport to Southampton cruise port is an option.
Cars can cost between £100/$130 £150/$200, and companies like Enterprise provide shuttle buses at either end.
I’d recommend using a website like RentalCars.com to find a car.
That said, it isn’t much cheaper to rent a car than to get a taxi. A taxi is much easier so I’d usually suggest this.
If you are staying in Southampton for a couple of days before your cruise, it may be worth renting a car to get the most our of your trip.
The prices above are for drivers aged 30 and over.
Taking a Bus From Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port
The cheapest option is to get a bus/coach. The most popular company to offer this route is National Express, although other alternatives are available.
All National Express buses offer bathroom facilities, free WiFi, power sockets, and lots of luggage space, but the journey by bus takes a long time.
If you decide to take the bus, you could realistically spend 6 hours making a 2.5-hour journey by car.
Bus services are limited, and the bus will take you to the coach station, not the cruise port, so an additional taxi or walk would be required to get to the port.
Bus Prices
Ticket prices for the journey will start at approximately £24/$30, but are often higher than this.
I am usually a big fan of taking the bus, but to get from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port, I recommend that most people take the train instead.
| Benefits of Taking a Shuttle Bus/Coach | Drawbacks of Taking a Shuttle Bus/Coach |
| Good when traveling alone | Shared with other people |
| Reliable (Many options to choose from) | Takes much longer than a taxi or the train |
| Cheap |
Personal Recommendations:
Below are my personal recommendations.
I would recommend the majority of people make the journey on the train, unless travelling in a group of 3 or more, where the cost of a taxi isn’t much more expensive than getting the train.
| Passengers Traveling | Transport Recommendation from Gatwick Airport to Southampton Cruise Port |
| 1 Person | Train |
| 2 People | Train |
| 3 People | Train or Taxi |
| 4+ People | Taxi |
Alternatives:
An alternative may be to fly directly into Southampton Airport.
There are limited flights to the airport and not all countries have routes to Southampton airport, but if the place you are traveling from does this can be a much easier option.
Before You Go
To learn more about the journey from Southampton Airport to Southampton Cruise Port, check out this post next:
Southampton Airport to The Cruise Port: Complete Transport Guide
Find out your options if you are flying into London Heathrow here:
London Heathrow Airport to Southampton Cruise Port: Transport Guide
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