How to travel from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

The distance between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea is around 181km (112 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 5m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea by train, bus, subway and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out Southend-on-SeaPortsmouth if you're planning a return trip.

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train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Southend Central.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    £47($56)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station then take the train to Prittlewell.

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £27($32)
Operated by

Multiple operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Southend-on-Sea.

  • Duration2h 5m
  • Distance195km (121 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea

There are several options for getting from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea by train, bus, subway and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around £27 ($32) and will take around 3h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £34 ($40).

The distance between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea is around 181km (112 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 149km (93 miles)

It takes around 2h 35m to get from Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 5m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea is to drive which takes around 2h 5m and will set you back approx £34 ($40).

The cheapest way to travel between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around £27 ($32) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea. It typically takes around 2h 35m and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo and West Ham station. These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 2h 35m.

South Western Railway, c2c, Southern Service and London Underground (Tube) run train services between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 2h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea. We recommend that you drive to Southend-on-Sea. instead which will take 2h 5m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea. We recommend that you take the train to London Waterloo and then to Southend Central. instead which will take 2h 35m.

The closest major airport to Southend-on-Sea is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 46km (29 miles) from Southend-on-Sea. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea. The distance is around 195km (121 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 5m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 35m and will usually cost around £47 ($56).

How do I get from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea

Compare travel optionsbetween Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea

Transport options from Portsmouth to Southend-on-Sea
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 35m
£47($56)
every 30 mins181km (112 miles)
Train via London Victoria3h 55m
£40($47)
hourly200km (124 miles)
Bus and Train
3h 40m
£27($32)
every 4 hours193km (120 miles)
Drive
2h 5m
£34($40)
on demand195km (121 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Portsmouth and Southend-on-Sea

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Southend-on-Sea

The following major airports near Southend-on-Sea offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
46km (29 miles) from Southend-on-Sea
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
50km (31 miles) from Southend-on-Sea
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
75km (47 miles) from Southend-on-Sea