The distance between Southampton and Canterbury is around 220km (137 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 20m.
We've found 4 different ways to get from Southampton to Canterbury by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Canterbury → Southampton if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Canterbury West.
Multiple train operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station and then to Canterbury.
There are several options for getting from Southampton to Canterbury by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £14 ($16) and will take around 4h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £25 ($30).
The distance between Southampton and Canterbury is around 220km (137 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 179km (111 miles)
It takes around 2h 35m to get from Southampton and Canterbury by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 20m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Southampton to Canterbury is to drive which takes around 2h 20m and will set you back approx £25 ($30).
The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Canterbury, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £14 ($16) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Canterbury. It typically takes around 2h 35m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Southampton to Canterbury. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo, Euston station and St Pancras International. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 35m.
South Western Railway, South Eastern Trains Service, Southern Service and Great Western Railway run train services between Southampton and Canterbury. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Southampton and Canterbury. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs every 4 hours.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Southampton to Canterbury. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in London Victoria Coach Station. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.
National Express run regular bus services between Southampton and Canterbury. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 4h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southampton to Canterbury. We recommend that you take the train to London Waterloo and then to Canterbury West. instead which will take 2h 35m.
The closest major airport to Canterbury is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 76km (47 miles) from Canterbury. 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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Southampton and Canterbury. The distance is around 220km (137 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 20m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Canterbury is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 35m and will usually cost around £83 ($100).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train + 1 similar | 2h 35m | £83($100) | hourly | 244km (151 miles) |
Train via Brighton | 4hrs | £51($60) | hourly | 228km (142 miles) |
Bus | 4h 50m | £14($16) | every 4 hours | 235km (146 miles) |
Drive | 2h 20m | £25($30) | on demand | 220km (137 miles) |
South Western Railway
South Eastern Trains Service
Southern Service
The following major airports near Canterbury offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.