Southampton International Airport

Southampton International Airport is on the coast near the eastern border of Wessex. It is actually in the town of Eastleigh.

Southampton itself is a large city and port on the south coast of Hampshire Air services at the airport connect to and from - Kittila in Finland, Belfast in Northern Ireland, Hanover and Frankfurt in Germany, Aberdeen in Scotland, Varna in Bulgaria, Alghero in Sardinia, Alicante and Malaga in Spain and finally Faro in Portugal.

Transport Services

There is a link bus to city of Southampton itself. However all transport service information can be found here showing a map of Southampton plus local bus services and train services not only to London and Birmingham but also locally to the beautiful cities of Winchester, Portsmouth, Romsey, Poole, Bournemouth Weymouth and Salisbury

A really easy way for passengers from those cities in Europe to access the wonders of Wessex.

Taxis

There are normally plenty of taxis available at the airport.

Southampton airport railway station is Southampton Parkway.

Coach Services

National Express Bus Station Southampton   © Copyright Colin Babb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

By Road

- Basingstoke, Winchester and the West

The Portsmouth road. Quite a short motorway only about 25 miles long. Runs from Cadnum to Portsmouth.

Signs may say Eastleigh Airport on approach when you are coming back, this is Southampton International airport.

Car Parking

Go to Southampton airport car park your luggage will be loaded on to the transfer bus and you will be whisked off to the terminal. Returning, call the number you have been given and a bus will come and collect you to reunite you with your car!

Southampton airport

also has several car parking options including motor bikes.

Both options need booking for long stay.

Taxis

There are plenty of taxis available.

Hire Cars

Hire Cars available.

Accommodation

As Southampton is a large port city there is plenty of accommodation available.

The airport is actually situated in Eastleigh so accommodation may be preferred there

As always though it is advisable to book.

Great British Heritage Pass

This pass is a great idea. Open to folk from overseas. It allows those that hold the card to get into lots of attractions without having to wait! Quite a few of these attractions are in Wessex!

Earlier times

It is probable that the runway is built over a site of a Roman villa.

During the First World War the United States Navy used the area. Afterwards it was a transit camp for Russian refugees. Southampton Corporation bought the land in 1932 and the site became Southampton Municipal airport.

Spitfire Supermarine model Southampton airport erected 2004 Photograph Antony McCallum. Creative Commons Atribution Share Alike licence

History was made at the airport when in 1936 the first test flights of the famous Spitfire Supermarine aircraft were made from here. That almost life size model of a Spitfire on the approach road to Southampton airport is its commemoration.