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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.
Are there any car hire companies located in the City Centre?
There are several car hire companies located in the West Quay Road area of Southampton which is just a five minute taxi journey from the City Centre or any of the cruise terminals.
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 Visitor Information Service.
Are there any guided walking/bus/boat tours around the city?
Southampton Tourist Guides Association offer 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 Visitor Information Service in the Central Library.
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.
What is the taxi fare between Southampton Airport and the city centre or the cruise terminals?
Taxis waiting at the airport charge £ 15 - 16 to the city centre and £19 - 20 to the cruise terminals.
A pre-booked taxi will charge £10 - 11 to the city centre and £14 - 15 to the cruise terminals.
Are there any left luggage facilities in Southampton?
In the present security situation, there are no conventional left luggage facilities.
The De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel offers 'Lazy Luggage' for cruise passengers.
Go to the concierge at the hotel, there is no need to pre-book. The hotel makes a charge per item stored, and the baggage will be numbered. Tickets are issued and must be handed in when luggage is collected.
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.
There is also Access Self Storage located at Third Avenue, Millbrook, Southampton.Tel 0800 731 6026 for further details.
Do you need to have excess baggage, personal effects or souvenirs packed and shipped back home?
Pack & Store in Southampton provide a full range of packing and international or domestic shipping services.
How far is Southampton Central Railway Station from the cruise terminals?
The Queen Elizabeth II Terminal and the Ocean Cruise Terminal are 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 Railway 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 £7.00.
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.
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.
Ocean Terminal has a short stay car park and visitors can use the main lounge to enjoy panoramic views of the ships as they depart. Proof of identity is not required for access to this area.
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 on to West Marlands Road. There is very limited parking in front of the Civic Centre facing on to Civic Centre Road, 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 Railway 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.
There are other coach parking options around the city.
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 Southampton Central 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 15 minutes, with a journey time of 7 minutes. Please see the City Link timetable.
