Guide to London for When Your Ship Docks at Southampton Port
Your cruise ship just docked at Southampton, and London is calling. In this guide to London for when your ship docks at Southampton, we will cover the best places to visit. Read this guide with tips for your time in the city.
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But here’s the thing: you don’t have three days to explore. You have maybe eight hours before you need to be back on board. The clock is ticking, the city is 90 minutes away, and you need a plan that actually works.
There are plenty of walking tours of London, but you can easily do it by yourself if you plan what to visit. This is your blueprint for making Southampton to London worth every minute.
Getting in to London From Southampton
Trains from Southampton run in to 3 stations.
- London Waterloo
- London Paddington
- London Victoria
Waterloo would be an ideal choice as it is well located in London. Paddington would be my next choice, then Victoria.
When your train pulls into Waterloo Station, you’re dropped right in the heart of London.
Waterloo sits on the South Bank of the Thames, which means you’re a 10-minute walk from the London Eye, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. The Jubilee and Northern Tube lines run through here, connecting you to every major attraction in the city.
Here’s why Waterloo beats other entry points:
Direct trains from Southampton Central. No transfers, no confusion. You board in Southampton, you step off in central London.
Fast Tube access to everywhere. The Jubilee Line gets you to London Bridge, Westminster, and Baker Street in minutes. The Northern Line hits King’s Cross, Embankment, and Leicester Square.
Walking distance to massive attractions. If you want to skip the Tube entirely, the South Bank walk takes you past the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market, and Tower Bridge on foot.
Most cruise guides tell you to head straight to King’s Cross or Paddington. That’s a mistake. Waterloo drops you closer to the action and gives you more options fast.
Pro tip: Book your Southampton to Waterloo train ticket in advance through South Western Railway. Same-day tickets cost nearly double what you’ll pay if you book even 24 hours ahead.
If you do not wish to take the risk of a train, you could explore other options, such as a private Transfer. Executive cars offer cars from Southampton to London and beyond. Get a quote instantly here.
| Transport Method | Journey Time | Approximate Cost | Best For |
| Direct Train (Southampton Central to Waterloo) | 90 minutes | £30-50 return | Solo travelers, budget-conscious |
| Coach/Bus Service | 2.5-3 hours | £15-25 return | Extreme budget travelers with extra time |
| Private Car Transfer | 90-120 minutes | £200-300 total | Groups of 3-4, those with mobility issues |
| Cruise Line Excursion | Full day organized | £150-250 per person | Risk-averse, first-time visitors |
Handy Guide to London for when your Ship Docks at Southampton Port
This is your handy guide to London cruise excursions to help you enjoy your stay in the UK. So if you are off to London on a cruise or for a weekend break read this guide complete with London travel ideas and tips on travelling to London for the first time. If you are disembarking from Southampton and you wish to extend your cruise getting in to London from Southampton is very easy. Take a look at this practical information on London day trips for when your cruise ship docks in Southampton.
There are so many places to visit in London, you will want to see some of the most iconic historic places of London Town along with the hidden places that are off the beaten track.
Visit the oldest building in London, the Tower of London.
The White Tower, located in the Tower of London, is generally considered the oldest building in London. Discover the incredible history of the Tower of London. The Tower of London was built as a secure fortress and a royal palace. If you visit the castle, you will see the history of the tower and many hidden secrets.  There were storehouses for weapons, and it was the home of the Royal Mint , which produced the nation’s coins.
Explore Westminster and the Houses of Parliament
Visit Westminster and the Houses of Parliament on a totally unique tour. See where all of the action of the UK’s government takes place. You can even book a tour to go up the Elizabeth Tower and see Big Ben. Westminster Abbey makes for a very interesting day out too. This must be pre-booked in advance! You can even climb the tower and see Big Ben.
Buckingham Palace
No visit to London is complete without going to see the King! Visit the national home of the previous Queen and now the King at Buckingham Palace. This amazing building is open to the public throughout the summer and is a must-visit when in London. Booking can be done online prior to your visit.
Tour Tower Bridge
Visit Tower Bridge one of London’s most iconic sites! There are bridge opening times online so you can watch the traffic stop and the bridge open for boats to pass. You can even purchase tickets to take a bridge tour.
Free Museums in London
London has some amazing free spaces and places to go. There are many galleries and museums that are free. One of our favourites is the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Beware, these will be busier in the height of the season and at weekends.
Free Art Galleries
If art is more your thing visit one of London?s art galleries such as my personal favourite the Tate Britain or the National Portrait gallery. One of my favourites is The Wallace collection a private collection tucked away around the back of Oxford Street.
Free outdoor parks in London
London also has many open spaces with an abundance of royal parks. Pop into a local supermarket, grab some drinks, and go rent a deckchair out in one of London’s local parks.
One of my favourite London Parks is Kensington Park. Did you know you can see London’s ring-necked parakeets in Kensington Park? Take a walk down to the park to feed the parrots its sure to be spectacular.
Grab a Hop on Hop off Bus
Take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Yes, this is a touristy thing to do, but you can get to see so much in a day. Let the bus be your guide to London with a guided speaker tour alongside. You can be whisked around London on a never-ending mystery tour, see all the main sites and more.
Visit the House of Someone Famous who Lived in London
London has what is called a blue plaque scheme, these houses document and commemorate where a person of achievement once lived. You can download the app or pick up a book in a London bookshop to do your own walking tour.
There are also lots of smaller privately owned museums in and around London  where famous people once resided or frequented. Try The house of Handal or Hendrix or the Charles Dickens museum . If you fancy something a bit more spooky, try the Jack the Ripper museum and walking tour.
Visit the London’s Theatre
No trip to London is complete without catching a London theatre show. You can pick up many tickets at the last minute and on the day at very low prices, so check out the Leicester Square ticket booth. Alternatively, you could try your luck with a lottery ticket by visiting one of the theatre websites directly or downloading the Today’s Tix app.
London Eating Out, China Town
You have so much choice to eat in London including street foods markets, restaurants, and fine dining. The list is endless! here are a few ideas for something a bit different.
China Town has a bucket load of restaurants, including bubble tea shops and crepe and bubble wrap shops. Have some authentic Chinese food in this bustling community. Try a pre-theatre menu for a good value meal.
Borough Market
Borough Market is well known for its amazing food stalls. Head over to the southeast and visit London’s oldest street food market, Borough Market. Serving fruit and veg, cheeses and everything in-between. Pop down to this market in the city for a tasty street food snack or pick up some food to take home. Beware, Borough Market will be extremely busy at weekends.
Discover London’s Neighbourhoods
London is a big place but many of the underground stations are close together some only a 5 minute walk. You discover more of London’s quirky neighbourhoods this way too. Londons neighbourhoods go far and wide and are very diverse. The West End covers, Covent Garden, Soho and China Town.
You can practically walk everywhere in the West-End which is full of theatre’s, shops, pubs, bars, famous landmarks and shops.
Visit the urban end of the East End of London such as Shoreditch and admire some of the best markets and trendy thrift shops. There is plenty to do for kids in Camden, too, including an abundance of street art to look for.
Visit the London Postal Museum and Mail Rail
What are the best things to do with children in London? Kids get bored easily so keeping them entertained with lots of interactive places is essential.
I love the London Postal Museum and Mail Rail for a good, well-rounded day out!
The London Postal Museum and Mail Rail is a fabulous example of a great thing to do with kids in London.
Harry Potter in London!
Check out the Harry Potter Statue in Leicester Square. Take a visit to Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross station or visit the fabulous Minalima shop in Greek Street for a fabulous Harry Potter fix.
Take a canal ride to Little Venice
Little Venice is a beautiful canal area of London. Hop on a canal boat from Camden and explore this serene part of the city. Hop off at the other end at Little Venice. What even better its right near London Zoo!
Shopping in London
When it comes to shopping in the London the you can’t beat Oxford street with its huge department stores and many flagships stops lining its length you will find everything you want. If luxury is more your way of shopping then head on over to Bond Street for designer shops.
Camden is the perfect place for vintage thrift shops and markets plus amazing street food markets.
Covent Garden is perfect for beauty shops and gift stores.
