How far is Cardiff from Southampton?

The distance separating Cardiff and Southampton is 87 miles (140 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Cardiff to Southampton?

Most of the buses traveling from Cardiff to Southampton leave from Cardiff University (o/s Cathays Rail Stn) and arrive at Southampton Coach Station. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can find others that could fit better into your travel plans.

What are the best sights and things to do in Southampton?

Once in Southampton, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Southampton’s Parks, Mayflower Theatre, Southampton’s Old Town, Bike The Tracks Of New Forest and Tudor House & Garden.

Bus Cardiff to Southampton from $17 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Cardiff to Southampton on November 24
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Bus	5:00pm	Cardiff (Gabalfa Interchange, o/s Clinic)	6h 50m	11:50pm	University of Southampton	Cheapest
Bus	6:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 40m	1:25pm	Southampton University	Fastest
Bus	3:25am	Cardiff (Gabalfa Interchange, o/s Clinic)	7h 35m	11:00am	University of Southampton	No tags
Bus	6:45am	Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens)	6h 55m	1:40pm	Southampton	No tags
Bus	3:25am	Cardiff (Gabalfa Interchange, o/s Clinic)	7h 35m	11:00am	University of Southampton	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Last Tuesday at 11:38 PM GMT.

Compare 3 ways to go from Cardiff to Southampton

We recommend taking the train

Among the sustainable travel choices, the train stands out as the good way to reach Southampton. The journey takes about 2 hours 36 minutes and with fares starting at just $34, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

5train per day

2h 36mAverage Duration

86 milesDistance

3kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average Price$19 - $79	Average Duration7h 7m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$34 - $296	Average Duration2h 36m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average Price$15 - $15	Average Duration2h 40m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in Cardiff and Southampton?

Stops in Cardiff

A
Cardiff University (o/s Cathays Rail Stn)
50 Park Place (Bus Stop, o/s Cathays Rail Stn), Cardiff CF10
B
Sophia Gardens
2 Sophia Cl, Cardiff CF11, UK
Visit page
C
Cardiff Coach Station - Sophia Gardens
22 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9LJ, UK
Visit page
D
Cardiff - Castle Street Bus Stop
21A Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BT, UK
E
National Museum
Gorsedd Gardens Rd, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK
F
Cardiff Bus Stop - Westgate
206 Westgate St, Cardiff CF10, UK

Stops in Southampton

A
Southampton Coach Station
20 Harbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1BA, UK
Visit page
B
Southampton Bus Stop
563 Vincents Walk, Southampton SO14, UK
C
W. Esplanade Bus Station - Southampton
Wyndham Pl, Southampton SO15, UK
D
Bus Stop Queensway
51-55 Above Bar St, Southampton, Southampton SO14 7DZ, UK
E
Southampton Central
Western Esplanade, Southampton SO15 1QJ, UK
F
Ferry Terminal
7 Town Quay, Southampton SO14 2ET, UK

Compare bus companies

National Express

4/529,728 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness4

Cleanliness4.7

Wifi3.4

Based on 29728 reviews, the company was rated 4.2 stars on Busbud. Travelers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the staff but often complained with the wifi. National Express ticket prices on this trip start at $19

National Express Cardiff Southampton recent customer reviews

Very helpful drivers, great info about getting to our final destination. Pretty full as it was half-term but journey was good. Looking forward to the return trip in 16 days time. Good value for money.

Judith H.

February 13, 2024

FlixBus

3.5/511,420 reviews

Staff4.2

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

GB bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, National Express

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Cardiff to Southampton by bus

How far is Cardiff from Southampton?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Cardiff to Southampton?
What are the best sights and things to do in Southampton?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11/22

No data

11/23

No data

Today

$21

11/25

$18

11/26

$20

11/27

$19

11/28

$17

11/29

$24

The cheapest trip from Cardiff to Southampton was searched and found on Nov 28, 2025 with a price of $17

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Cardiff to Southampton, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $17 to $64 for a bus ticket from Cardiff to Southampton based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $17 which is on 2025-11-28.

Usually National Express will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.