Flights from Manchester to Southampton

Modern Southampton

Southampton is a modern, vibrant city, with a foot firmly in it's seafaring past. With plenty of cafes and pubs and open spaces to choose from, it is considered the gem of the South coast.

Southampton travel, attractions and tips

Southampton is mostly warmer and sunnier than some other UK cities. This is due in part to it's southern location and also because it is sheltered by hills. Southampton hosts many popular festivals including The Common People Holiday which takes place on May bank holiday. Soundclash Festival takes place in early May. The Southampton Beer Festival in early June features over 90 real ales and ciders. The Mela Festival in July is a free festival showcasing music from South Asia. Cowes Week takes place for 8 days in August. This is the oldest and most famous regatta in the world. The Isle of Wight hosts Bestival, a music festival during September. The International Boat Show in held on the docks in September. 

Important information before getting to Southampton

Southampton has a seafaring past with many attractions dedicated to this. Visit the Sea City Museum for historical facts. Great attractions are the Tudor House and Southampton City Art Gallery. Prices in Southampton are average for UK but around 10% cheaper than London. You can get a cheap meal out for around £12. A pint of beer costs around £3.

Southampton: arrival, accommodation and transport

The train from Southampton airport Parkway to Southampton city centre takes around 7 minutes and costs £4 or thereabouts. The bus U1C to central Southampton costs around £2. A train to Winchester will take 10 minutes and to London Waterloo about 70 minutes. 

A b&b in Southampton is usually priced at £20 or so; a single room in a hotel goes from about £65. 

There is a regular bus services within the city centre and also to towns and cities nearby. An adult single for the Southampton city zone costs around £1.50 (return ca. £2.50); a day pass is roughly £3.20. The night buses run after midnight and will also travel to other towns around Hampshire. The ferry service to the Isle of Wight charges £9 or so for a one-way ticket for foot passengers. There is a free CityLink bus service from Southampton main station to the city centre leaving every quarter of an hour. Several tourist information points exist around the city.

Southampton has good access to the New Forest and the Isle of Wight.