Car Rental - Southampton
Rent a car in Southampton and explore one of Europe’s busiest ports. Southampton is at the heart of the UK cruise industry and a popular destination for visitors to the south of England. If you’re arriving by sea, renting a car in Southampton is a great way to begin your journey, with museums, galleries and music venues as well as leafy green parks and modern stores and restaurants to enjoy.
Rent a car in Southampton for easy access to other destinations along England’s south coast, with the New Forest and South Downs National Parks nearby. You can also get to the capital city of London in just under two hours – but it might be worth spending a couple of days there to take in all the sights.
Whatever you’ve got planned, renting a car in Southampton is the perfect way to get around. You’ll find our collection points located around the city, including at Southampton Airport.
With no credit card fees or hidden charges, you can find a great deal on Southampton car rental when you reserve online with us.
Southampton Locations
A Quick Guide to Southampton
With its fascinating history, links to the Titanic and thriving cultural scene, Southampton is home to an impressive range of attractions. With a rental car it’s also possible to venture further afield into the New Forest, where you can explore some of the most beautiful parts of the English countryside.
Seafaring City
One of the most popular visitor attractions in Southampton is its Sea City Museum. Here, you can take a fascinating journey into the story of the Titanic. The doomed White Star liner set sail from Southampton in 1912 but never reached its destination. More than 500 of the city’s households lost a family member in the tragedy.
At the exhibition you can explore an interactive model of the ship and hear powerful stories from survivors. Elsewhere at the museum, you can explore the Gateway to the World exhibition and learn all about Southampton’s connection to the sea, dating back to Roman and Saxon times. The museum is open to visitors seven days a week and it’s possible to reserve tickets online in advance.
As well as its maritime history, this region of England is also known for being the birthplace of the famous Spitfire plane. You can learn all about how this unique aircraft was produced at the Solent Sky Museum, which tells the story of the city’s aviation history including its contribution to the fight for aerial dominance in the two world wars.
Old Town Charm
The historic heart of Southampton is its old town, complete with a circuit of medieval walls that are almost a mile in length. A great place to begin your journey is at the Bargate, the original entrance to the city where you can still see the impressive gates that have stood here for hundreds of years.
This section, along with Eastgate, forms the oldest parts of the walls, and many of the original towers are also still standing.
Along the way you can enjoy impressive views of Southampton’s historic monuments and the nearby waterfront, with ships traveling in and out of the busy working port. You’ll find plenty of information panels along the walls, where you can find out all about the history of this seafaring city.
Forest Adventures
With a rental car you can travel just a few miles out of Southampton to the New Forest, a huge National Park that covers south-west Hampshire and parts of Wiltshire. This area is famous for its hiking and cycling routes, with several conveniently placed parking lots where you can leave your car to continue on foot or by bike.
If you’re feeling particularly active you’ll find horse riding and water sports facilities available within the park, and there are also several golf courses where you can practice your swing. Make sure you keep an eye out for the New Forest’s most famous residents, the New Forest Ponies – there are thousands of these animals that roam freely across the heathland and pastures.
Driving In and Around Southampton
Southampton is one of the largest cities in Hampshire. It’s connected to much of the surrounding area by the M27 highway (known as a motorway in the UK), which links it with Portsmouth further along the coast. You can also follow this route to join the M3, which leads north through the town of Basingstoke to London, just 80 miles away from Southampton.
When driving around the center of Southampton in your rental car you’ll find plenty of convenient parking lots, including at the Westquay Shopping Center. On-street parking is also available around London Road and the High Street. Like many other UK cities, Southampton has bus lanes within some of its central areas which are off-limits to cars.
Remember that UK motorists use the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right. At a roundabout, priority is given to traffic approaching from your right – unless you’re directed otherwise.
With a Southampton rental car it’s also possible to take the A36 out of the city to Salisbury, home to one of the most famous cathedrals in the UK. This route then leads further north-west to the spa city of Bath and cultural hub of Bristol, where you’ll find a thriving art and music scene.
If you’re keen to explore some of the UK’s coastal destinations, you’ll find many of them easily accessible in a rental car from Southampton. The coastal resort of Brighton is less than 70 miles away along the A27, while the dramatic cliffs and beautiful beaches of Eastbourne are just 20 miles further along the same route.
Renting a car on your trip to Southampton opens up the possibility to see all this and much more during your time in the UK.
