Portsmouth and Southampton are the two big cities of the Solent, barely 19 miles apart, yet plenty of people only ever drive between them and sit in the M27 traffic. There are better options. A direct train, a quick motorway run or a cheap coach all link the two, and the right choice depends on your budget and the time of day.
You might also like
Here is how each way works, roughly how long it takes and what it costs, so you can pick the one that suits your trip.
By train, the simplest option
The train is the easiest way to do this trip. Direct services run through the day from both of Portsmouth’s main stations, Portsmouth and Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour, to Southampton Central, and the journey takes a little under an hour.
You arrive right in the middle of Southampton, a short walk from West Quay shopping and the old walls, with no parking to worry about. Buy ahead or travel off peak and the fare stays low. It is the option we reach for most, especially if the roads look busy.
By car along the M27
Driving is the most direct route on paper. You join the M27 westbound and follow it almost the whole way, covering the 19 miles in around 35 to 45 minutes when the road is clear.
The catch is the traffic. The M27 clogs up at rush hour and whenever there is an incident, and a clear run can double in bad conditions. Southampton also charges for most city centre parking, and a slice of the city falls inside a clean air zone for the dirtiest vehicles, much like the clean air zone back in Portsmouth. Check your route and your parking before you set off.
By coach and bus
If you are counting the pennies, the coach is the cheapest way across. National Express and other operators run between the two cities, and local bus services link the smaller towns in between for those in no hurry.
The trade off is time. A coach or bus takes far longer than the train, often the best part of ninety minutes or more once you add the stops, so it suits a relaxed day out rather than a tight schedule.
Which one to pick
For most people, most of the time, the train wins. It drops you in the centre, dodges the motorway and takes under an hour. Here is how the three stack up:
| By train | Under an hour, city centre to city centre, no parking |
| By car | 35 to 45 minutes clear, longer in traffic, pay to park |
| By coach or bus | Cheapest, but ninety minutes or more |
Drive if you are carrying a lot or heading somewhere the train does not reach. Take the coach to save money on a day with time to spare. Otherwise let the train do the work.
A small timing tip that regular commuters pass on.
Travel after 9:30 in the morning and the off peak train fare drops sharply, which often makes the train cheaper than the petrol and parking combined.
Whichever way you go, the two cities are close enough that a day trip hardly needs planning. Pick your moment, keep an eye on the M27, and Southampton is yours for lunch and back for tea.
