How to travel from Southampton to Reading, United Kingdom

The distance between Southampton and Reading is around 75km (47 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 50min.

4 routes found

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

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Reading.

  • Duration50min
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £38($45)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+
train
+

Bus and Train

Take the bus to Basingstoke then take the train to Reading.

  • Duration1h 25m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £15($18)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3
taxi
+

Taxi

Take a taxi to Reading.

  • Duration57min
  • Departson demand
  • Typical cost
    £125($150)
Operated by

West Quay Cars

+ 7 others
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Reading.

  • Duration57min
  • Distance78km (48 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Southampton and Reading

There are several options for getting from Southampton to Reading by train, bus, taxi and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around £15 ($18) and will take around 1h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 50min, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £38 ($45).

The distance between Southampton and Reading is around 75km (47 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 69km (43 miles)

It takes around 50min to get from Southampton and Reading by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 57min to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Southampton to Reading is to take the train which takes around 50min and will set you back approx £38 ($45).

The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Reading, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around £15 ($18) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Reading. It typically takes around 50min and departs every 3 hours.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Southampton and Reading with no changeovers required. The train runs every 3 hours and takes 50min.

CrossCountry run train services between Southampton and Reading. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 50min, 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 Southampton and Reading. We recommend that you take the train to Reading. instead which will take 50min.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southampton to Reading. We recommend that you take the train to Reading. instead which will take 50min.

The closest major airport to Reading is Heathrow Airport (LHR) (LHR) which is approximately 36km (22 miles) from Reading. London Luton Airport (LTN) (LTN) and Southampton Airport (SOU) (SOU) 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 Reading. The distance is around 78km (48 miles) by road and it will take around 57min in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Reading is to take the train which takes, on average, 50min and will usually cost around £38 ($45).

How do I get from Southampton to Reading

Compare travel optionsbetween Southampton and Reading

Transport options from Southampton to Reading
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
50min
£38($45)
every 3 hours75km (47 miles)
Bus and Train
1h 25m
£15($18)
every 4 hours76km (47 miles)
Taxi
57min
£125($150)
on demand78km (48 miles)
Drive
57min
£9($11)
on demand78km (48 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Southampton and Reading

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Reading

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

LHR
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
International Airport
Distance
36km (22 miles) from Reading
LTN
London Luton Airport (LTN)
International Airport
Distance
62km (39 miles) from Reading
SOU
Southampton Airport (SOU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
63km (39 miles) from Reading