Easiest Way from London Stansted to Southampton?

[kasi1979]

Hi,

 

we are going on a TA this november leaving from Southampton.

Due to flight prices being the most resonable going to London Stansted,

that is from where we will need to get to Southampton.

 

We will arrive at the airportbefore 7am on a saturday, our cruise leaves Southampton on Sunday.

As we know London, we decided to head straight out to Southampton.

 

Here is what I found by now for transportation (we are 2 adults with 3 suitcases).

- Stansted Express to Liverpool Street station

- Taxi to Waterloo station

- Train to Southampton

- Taxi or walk to our hotel

 

Has anyone a better idea as to how to get to port for a reasonable price?

National Express seems to allow only one suitcase per person, so that option won´t work...

 

Any ideas appreciated...

[sddsddean]

Just so you know, NE will let you take 2 medium suitcases each.

However, the route you have planned by train/cab/train is the way I'd do it. You need to do a couple of checks to get the best price. I assume you have used the National Rail website http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search to do your research, but check to see if it is cheaper to get one ticket Stansted to Liverpool Street and then use www.megatrain.co.uk for the ticket from Waterloo to Southampton. Its exactly the same train as on the National Rail site, but is usually about £6 (sometimes as low as £1) instead of the normal £35 one way fare. You can only book megatrain fares about 44 days before travel.

 

Simon

[John Bull]

Just so you know, NE will let you take 2 medium suitcases each.

However, the route you have planned by train/cab/train is the way I'd do it. You need to do a couple of checks to get the best price. I assume you have used the National Rail website http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search to do your research, but check to see if it is cheaper to get one ticket Stansted to Liverpool Street and then use www.megatrain.co.uk for the ticket from Waterloo to Southampton. Its exactly the same train as on the National Rail site, but is usually about £6 (sometimes as low as £1) instead of the normal £35 one way fare. You can only book megatrain fares about 44 days before travel.

 

Simon

 

No Megatrain tix on a sunday, Simon.

So it'd be the regular train fare at around £36.

Or mebbe check out the slower trains (but cheaper tickets) from Victoria train station with http://tickets.southernrailway.com/

Destination is Southampton central.

 

Simplest & cheapest would be Nat Express.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

Total journey time about 4 hrs 45 due to a 45 minute change at Victoria coach station, but only £22 per person & just that one simple switch of coaches at Victoria. The 9am from Stansted would be a good time (the 8am might be cutting it a bit fine if delayed by airport formalities) & you'd be in Southampton at 1.40pm.

Destination is Southampton coach station (even if going direct to ship, because the cruise terminal option applies only to Fred Olsen cruises)

 

Ibis, Ibis Plus, Novotel, Premier Inn West Quay, and possibly Holiday Inn Herbert Walker Ave & Grand Harbour are walkable from Southampton coach or rail stations, other city centre hotels are a £5 to £8 taxi ride.

 

JB :)

[scottbee]

Stansted is a very poor airport to get to Southampton from, as it's the 'wrong' side of London.

 

If you're stuck with STN, you might also want to consider

Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale

London Underground Victoria Line to Green Park

London Undreground Jubilee Line to Waterloo

Southwest trains from Waterloo to Southampton Central

or;

Stansted to Harlow Town

Harlow Town to Stratford

Jubilee Line to Waterloo

Southwest trains to Southampton

That at least gives you stations for the underground where there are lifts for transfers

 

However, if you can change airports:

SOU/Southampton, BOH/Bournemouth, LGW/Gatwick, LHR/Heathrow,and BHX/Birmingham and BRS/Bristol are all better choices for Southampton. (BHX at 1st glance seems silly, but there's a fastish direct train)

[kasi1979]

Thanks for all the Information.

I just found resonable rental car Prices, so that might be an Option, too.

Is there a gas Station in downtown Southampton, as I could turn in the car at Hertz on West Quay Road...

[John Bull]

Thanks for all the Information.

I just found resonable rental car Prices, so that might be an Option, too.

Is there a gas Station in downtown Southampton, as I could turn in the car at Hertz on West Quay Road...

 

Yes, car rental is an option.

 

All gas stations on your 130mile direct route are motorway service areas including the last one, Rownhams Services on the M27 just outside Southampton & close enough to Hertz to return "full". Green B on this map.

Gas prices at motorway service stations are heavy, typically about 8pence per litre more expensive than regular gas stations, but there are no other easy-to-access gas stations before you get to Hertz & the difference of under £2 isn't worth the complication.

At a guess your fuel cost for a direct run will be around £22 to £25.

 

Since you're not sailing same-day, you could leave the boring motorway system before Southampton & visit Stonehenge, Salisbury & the New Forest on your way down. Loads of other route options too.

 

BTW, although Hertz address is West Quay Road, it's actually a spur off the main West Quay Road. On this map, but your hotel is best-placed to give you directions at the time. (despite the ship immediately behind in the photo, no direct access to the port.)

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Stansted+Airport,+Stansted&daddr=Days+Inn+Southampton+(Rownhams),+Nursling+and+Rownhams,+Test+Valley+District+to:W+Quay+Rd&hl=en&ll=50.903493,-1.404448&spn=0.008742,0.047722&sll=50.900841,-1.412086&sspn=0.009635,0.023861&geocode=FVq1FwMdaaUDACFIJjVrl9CkMCm3GyqluAR2SDFIJjVrl9CkMA%3BFeaKCQMdzevp_yEl045W2bWO9ilDV8mvVHR0SDEl045W2bWO9g%3BFTqxCAMd-HPq_w&oq=Days+Inn+&mra=dme&mrsp=2&sz=16&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=50.901275,-1.41218&panoid=d1cpGDGQJq_gV-2JCzX8pA&cbp=11,241.34,,0,0

 

 

JB :)

[sddsddean]

No Megatrain tix on a sunday, Simon.

JB :)

 

 

BUT they say they are arriving at Stansted on Saturday for a cruise Sunday. There are tix on Saturday...I checked:D.

 

As I was always told, 'read and answer the question you were asked!'

 

Simon

[John Bull]

BUT they say they are arriving at Stansted on Saturday for a cruise Sunday. There are tix on Saturday...I checked:D.

 

As I was always told, 'read and answer the question you were asked!'

 

Simon

 

:o:o:o

 

JB :o:)