Transport

Coach

There is an extensive network of coaches (long-distance buses) in Britain, and coaches are much cheaper than trains. If you are under 25 years old, or older but in full-time education, you can buy a Discount Coachcard for £9, valid for one year. You need a passport photograph and an International Student Identity Card (not your normal university student card). This gives you 20% - 30% off all coach fares. It has immediate validity, so you could use it on the day you arrive to get to Southampton. Discounted fares are shown below by the phrase "with card". Buy it from a National Express booking office, e.g. at Heathrow or Gatwick, but not from a coach driver. (You can’t use one at Stansted as coaches there are not National Express.) This is especially useful if you wish to travel round Britain after your language course. The main coach station in Britain is at London Victoria, 600 metres from the railway station. From here you can get to every corner of the country.

Coaches leave London Victoria for Southampton on Sundays at these times:
7.15, 9.00 then on every hour until 21.00, then 21.30, 22:00, and 23.30. The coach number is normally 032 but sometimes 030 or 035. Journey time is around 2 hours 30 minutes.

Air

Southampton arrival
If at all possible, try to fly direct to Southampton. There are daily flights with FlyBe from Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Hannover. The airport is very close to the city centre and you will save alot of time and energy by avoiding London airports.

Bournemouth arrival
Air Berlin flies direct to Bournemouth from Paderborn. From the airport take the airport bus to Bournemouth station and from there you can go by coach or train to Southampton. This again avoids London airports and is to be recommended.

Stansted arrival
The cheapest flights to G.B. are usually to Stansted Airport (about 60 km. north of London), but it is quite a long way from Southampton. Most flights are not available in travel agents: you book on the internet and pay by credit card.

From Stansted take the National Express coach, service 797, to Heathrow Airport. There are usually two of these every hour. At Heathrow you will have to change coaches and take either the service 032 or 205 to Southampton.

Only fly to Stansted if the flight is much cheaper. The expense and length of the journey form Stansted to Southampton should be considered when you make your decision. Southampton and Bournemouth (and even Heathrow) are easier options.

Gatwick arrival
There are two main options:

• (1) by train
• (2) by coach.

(1) Go to Gatwick Airport Railway Station. To get to Southampton you change trains once or twice. Ask when you buy your ticket exactly where you have to change. Don’t forget to change trains!

Important note: There are engineering works on many railway lines on Sundays, causing delays. You may have to make part of the journey in a bus. Ask at the booking office before you buy your ticket which route is the quickest on that day.

Heathrow arrival
At the National Express office buy a coach ticket to Southampton. Coaches leave from Heathrow Central Bus Station, Stand 13 (sometimes 12 or 14), service no. 032 (sometimes 035).

Train

Waterloo (London)
On Sundays there are usually 2 trains every hour direct from Waterloo Station to Southampton.

Dover arrival
Make your way to Dover Priory Station and take the train from there to Waterloo East (London). There are usually two trains each hour. From Waterloo East go on foot or by taxi the 300/400 metres to Waterloo Station, where you get the Southampton train.

You can buy a discount Coachcard for £10, valid for one year.

Car

Portsmouth landing
M27 motorway direct to Southampton (20 - 35 minutes).

Dover or Folkestone landing
Warning! Don’t take the coastal route - it’s an exhausting five- or six-hour journey through numerous towns!

A20 from Dover to Folkestone, going past entrance to Channel Tunnel; from Folkestone M20, bypass Maidstone, M number changes to M26, bypass Sevenoaks, where M number changes to M25. Bypass Reigate and Epsom, stay on M25 till it meets the M3 towards Basingstoke / Southampton, then stay on the M3. On approaching Southampton, follow A33 Southampton, then Southampton docks, then city centre signs. (2 hours 15 minutes - 3 hours 30 minutes, depending mainly on the M25 traffic!).