Taxis at Southampton

Are taxis readily available at the dock after a cruise? We are debating about taking a coach to Heathrow but will need to get to the station or just hiring a car service.

Thanks for any information.

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We saw taxis just outside the terminal building

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There are many taxis there.

Keith

The train is not the easiest route to LHR - most people use a coach which goes direct. You are advised to book in advance though on http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx You may still want a taxi to the coach station.

If you want to book a car service you should try one of these -: All recommended on this board

http://www.smithsairportcars.co.uk/

http://www.aquacars.co.uk/

http://westquaycars.com/

edit - Sorry, I see you are thinking about a coach, but to me, the "station" is the train station.

Check on board most cruise lines will offer transfers to Heathrow or to Victoria Station for reasonable cost.

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Thanks to all who answered.

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Does anyone know if there are wheelchair accessible taxis in Southampton?

Does anyone know if there are wheelchair accessible taxis in Southampton?

Yes, there are.

Ask, or look down the taxi line at your cruise terminal.

A variety of vehicles are used as taxis in Southampton.

Some are purpose-built "London taxis" https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=london+taxi&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKwa7DlszYAhVQzqQKHcbnDvAQ_AUICigB&biw=1920&bih=890

which are guaranteed to be wheelchair-accessible but there are other models (mainly van-based designs) that are wheelchair-accessible too.

If there's not a suitable taxi in the line, ask any driver in the line & they'll radio for one for you.

Or pre-book with www.westquaycars.com

Yes, even that short journey can be pre-booked & will cost no more than a pound or two extra.

National Express buses are wheelchair-accessible, but you do need to advise when booking - if all 48 passengers turned up for the bus in wheelchairs they might have a bit of a problem ;)

And yes, Nat Express bus is waaaay better than the train for Southampton to Heathrow.

JB :)

National Express buses are wheelchair-accessible, but you do need to advise when booking - if all 48 passengers turned up for the bus in wheelchairs they might have a bit of a problem ;)

And yes, Nat Express bus is waaaay better than the train for Southampton to Heathrow.

 

JB :)

Thanks John for the great information on wheelchair accessible transportation in Southampton. We are actually heading the opposite direction - London to Southampton. Is the advice the same if traveling from Southwark to the cruise port in Southampton - is the bus better than the train (two people, one wheelchair, one service dog)?

Dianne

From Southwark, your best bet is a train from Waterloo. You can take a taxi to Waterloo Station (<£20) and then a direct train to Southampton. You should pre-book this as the price can vary wildly and there are some good bargains - as little as £9.10 each. (The dog goes free)

You may find this link about wheelchairs on the trains helpful. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/disabled_passengers.aspx

Thanks John for the great information on wheelchair accessible transportation in Southampton. We are actually heading the opposite direction - London to Southampton. Is the advice the same if traveling from Southwark to the cruise port in Southampton - is the bus better than the train (two people, one wheelchair, one service dog)?

 

Dianne

Hi Dianne,

There's no easy train journey between Heathrow & Southampton , hence the Nat Express bus is easiest

But between central London & Southampton I'd agree with Bob - particularly from Southwark because Waterloo train station (direct trains to Southampton central station) is only a mile from Southwark Bridge (surely not £20 by taxi, Bob, more like £6?) whereas the Nat Express bus station at Victoria (direct buses to Southampton coach station) is about 3 miles (more like the £20 taxi quoted by Bob?)

Trains are very frequent, about 3 per hour & journey time is about 90 minutes, whereas the buses are approx. hourly & journey time 2hrs to 2hrs 30.

A difficulty with the trains (well, for me at least :o) is the hideously-complicated fare structure.

No doubt Bob is right that you can pre-book for a variety of fares from as little as £9.10, but the walk-up fare is over £40

The Cotswold's resident Eagle gives an overview of the fare structure at https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2583270

(ignore the Eagle's figures, they're for a different journey)

The coach fare with Nat Express is usually under £10

So there are pros & cons between train & bus, particularly where you are based in central London.

JB

Thank you so much Bob and John for all of the helpful information. I think we will try and brave the train (not something we do here in California) - I have a quote for a wheelchair accessible vehicle at £150. It would be much cheaper to take the train or bus even if we have to take a taxi to the station.

Dianne

JB-

Can I pick your brain for advice on a stop in Southampton in terms of a day trip to London? We’d like to head to London and see what we can, likely DIY. We are on MSC. Stated time in port is 8am to 8pm on 4/26. We are in the YC so we should be able to disembark relatively quickly. 2 adults, 2 teens. All very fit and we are not afraid to save time by spending money. Any help appreciated!

Carolyn

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JB-

 

Can I pick your brain for advice on a stop in Southampton in terms of a day trip to London? We’d like to head to London and see what we can, likely DIY. We are on MSC. Stated time in port is 8am to 8pm on 4/26. We are in the YC so we should be able to disembark relatively quickly. 2 adults, 2 teens. All very fit and we are not afraid to save time by spending money. Any help appreciated!

 

Carolyn

 

 

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Hi Carolyn,

Best bet for shortest journey time is undoubtedly the train from Southampton central station (SOU) to London Waterloo station (WAT).

Trains are frequent, about 3 per hour, and journey time is about 90 minutes - that's quicker than by road, especially at the times you'll be travelling. Fares are a minefield - from as little as about £11 one-way for advance purchase (and you're restricted to the train that you book) to over £40 one-way walk-up fare.

On a random date there are several suitably-timed trains to London at under £20 one-way for advance booking, ditto for trains back to Southampton.

With an 8pm sailing your latest back-on-board time is likely to be 7.30pm, and you'll want to allow at least 30 mins for delayed train / no taxi immediately available. So a train at 5.35pm or 5.48 would do the job, but you may not want to rely on the last possible trains & instead book for the 5.05pm train.

So you should have 6 hours or more in London.

Missing your rain in either direction will mean throwing away your advance ticket & buying at the walk-up price. But at least there are plenty of trains.

Two caveats

- on sundays there are fewer trains

- best to stick to direct trains (ie 0 changes)

If your date is too far out, for research use a closer date but same day-of-the-week. Advance fares are sometimes not available or more expensive close to your date.

Southampton central station is under 5 mins from MSC's berth by taxi (about £6) and there'll be taxis at the cruise terminal. (tell the driver you're London-bound, so he'll drop you at the easiest entrance. Or it's a 15-20 minute walk.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

The routes of both ho-ho operators are close to London Waterloo station, and it's close to the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, etc.

Consider taking Original ho-ho's yellow route (live commentary) for a complete / almost complete circuit to get an overview, then spend some time around Parliament Square & walk up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square.

JB :)

Edit - oops, just noticed your date, 26th April.

A Thursday & not a long holiday weekend.

Very simple

Hi Carolyn,

Best bet for shortest journey time is undoubtedly the train from Southampton central station (SOU) to London Waterloo station (WAT).

Trains are frequent, about 3 per hour, and journey time is about 90 minutes - that's quicker than by road, especially at the times you'll be travelling. Fares are a minefield - from as little as about £11 one-way for advance purchase (and you're restricted to the train that you book) to over £40 one-way walk-up fare.

On a random date there are several suitably-timed trains to London at under £20 one-way for advance booking, ditto for trains back to Southampton.

With an 8pm sailing your latest back-on-board time is likely to be 7.30pm, and you'll want to allow at least 30 mins for delayed train / no taxi immediately available. So a train at 5.35pm or 5.48 would do the job, but you may not want to rely on the last possible trains & instead book for the 5.05pm train.

 

So you should have 6 hours or more in London.

 

Missing your rain in either direction will mean throwing away your advance ticket & buying at the walk-up price. But at least there are plenty of trains.

Two caveats

- on sundays there are fewer trains

- best to stick to direct trains (ie 0 changes)

If your date is too far out, for research use a closer date but same day-of-the-week. Advance fares are sometimes not available or more expensive close to your date.

 

Southampton central station is under 5 mins from MSC's berth by taxi (about £6) and there'll be taxis at the cruise terminal. (tell the driver you're London-bound, so he'll drop you at the easiest entrance. Or it's a 15-20 minute walk.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

The routes of both ho-ho operators are close to London Waterloo station, and it's close to the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, etc.

Consider taking Original ho-ho's yellow route (live commentary) for a complete / almost complete circuit to get an overview, then spend some time around Parliament Square & walk up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square.

 

JB :)

Edit - oops, just noticed your date, 26th April.

A Thursday & not a long holiday weekend.

Very simple

Thank you again for all this!

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