How to travel from Southampton to Preston, United Kingdom

The distance between Southampton and Preston is around 349km (217 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 30m.

10 routes found

We've found 10 different ways to get from Southampton to Preston by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out PrestonSouthampton if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston.

  • Duration2h 30m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £225($265)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Preston.

  • Duration4h 40m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £135($160)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and then to Preston Lancashire.

  • Duration7hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £16($19)

1 similiar route

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

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Preston.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Distance394km (245 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Southampton and Preston

There are several options for getting from Southampton to Preston by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £16 ($19) and will take around 7hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £225 ($265).

The distance between Southampton and Preston is around 349km (217 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 330km (205 miles)

It takes around 4h 40m to get from Southampton and Preston by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Southampton to Preston is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 30m and will set you back approx £225 ($265).

The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Preston, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £16 ($19) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Preston. It typically takes around 4h 40m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Southampton to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo and Euston station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 40m.

South Western Railway, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Northern Rail and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Southampton and Preston. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 40m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Southampton and Preston. It typically takes around 7hrs and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Southampton to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 7hrs.

National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Southampton and Preston. Buses run once daily and take around 7hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southampton to Preston. We recommend that you fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston. instead which will take 2h 30m.

The closest major airport to Preston is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 48km (30 miles) from Preston. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) 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 Southampton and Preston. The distance is around 394km (245 miles) by road and it will take around 4hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Preston is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 40m and will usually cost around £135 ($160).

How do I get from Southampton to Preston

Compare travel optionsbetween Southampton and Preston

Transport options from Southampton to Preston
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 4 similar
2h 30m
£225($265)
every 30 mins349km (217 miles)
Train and Plane3h 45m
£235($280)
hourly427km (265 miles)
Fly to Glasgow (GLA), Train4h 5m
£310($365)
hourly910km (565 miles)
Fly to Edinburgh (EDI), Train4h 15m
£290($345)
every 2 hours892km (554 miles)
Fly to Liverpool (LPL), Train4h 50m
£265($315)
hourly1,853km (1,151 miles)
Train + 1 similar
4h 40m
£135($160)
hourly477km (296 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly5h 10m
£125($145)
every 4 hours414km (257 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
7hrs
£16($19)
once daily420km (261 miles)
Bus via Manchester Airport Bus Station7hrs
£32($38)
once daily419km (260 miles)
Drive
4hrs
£68($81)
on demand394km (245 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Southampton and Preston

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Preston

The following major airports near Preston offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Preston
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
52km (32 miles) from Preston
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Preston