What is the best route?

A12 to M25 to M3 is the standard route.

Southwold

Southampton

Train Driving

Southwold to Southampton

Updated: 28 May 2026

The journey from Southwold to Southampton takes you from the North Sea coast to the English Channel. By car, you will traverse the A12, M25, and M3. By train, you must travel into London Liverpool Street, cross to London Waterloo, and take a direct South Western Railway service to Southampton Central. The distance is roughly 160 miles.

Total Distance: 260 km driving distance, 210 km straight-line air distance.

Fastest Way

Driving, during off-peak hours.

Cheapest Way

Train, using a split-ticket booking service.

Compare Southwold to Southampton Routes

	Train Connecting	Driving Direct
Duration	5 hours	4 hours
Avg Price	45 GBP - 90 GBP	50 GBP - 80 GBP in fuel
Operator	Greater Anglia and South Western Railway	Personal Vehicle
Route	Southwold to Halesworth, train to London Liverpool Street, transfer to Waterloo, train to Southampton Central.	A12, M25, M3.
Tip	The walk between Liverpool Street and Waterloo is long; take the Central Line or a taxi.	The M3 can be congested near Winchester; plan your departure accordingly.

Travel Tips

Train Tickets
Use the Trainline app to find the cheapest fares.
London Transfer
Allow at least 60 minutes for your transfer between London stations.
Parking
Southampton parking is expensive; use park and ride if available.
Fuel
Fill up in Suffolk as motorway service stations are pricier.
Off-Peak
Travel after 09:30 to save on train ticket costs.