Wimbledon to Southampton cruise terminal
Wimbledon is one of the easiest parts of London to start a cruise from: the A3 and the M3 take you to Southampton without crossing central London. A private car collects you from home and drives you to your ship's terminal in about an hour and three-quarters, around 77–78 miles, from £150 per car.
Fares from Wimbledon to each cruise terminal
| Ship terminal | Saloon up to 4, 2 cases | MPV up to 6, 4 cases | Executive up to 3 | 8-seater up to 7 | Road miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Cruise Terminal | £151 | £166 | £181 | £211 | 78 |
| QEII Cruise Terminal | £152 | £167 | £182 | £212 | 78 |
| City Cruise Terminal | £150 | £165 | £180 | £210 | 77 |
| Horizon Cruise Terminal | £150 | £165 | £180 | £210 | 77 |
| Mayflower Cruise Terminal | £151 | £166 | £181 | £211 | 78 |
Guide fares per vehicle, one way, from Wimbledon Village (SW19) for a weekday daytime journey, luggage included. Other addresses in SW19, SW20 and the surrounding area are priced at a similar level. Fridays, weekend mornings and peak hours carry a supplement and the exact fixed fare shows before you pay. A return booked together costs 1.9 times the single fare.
The route from SW19 to the port
Being south-west of the centre, Wimbledon gets a head start. There are two main ways out:
- The A3: south past New Malden and Tolworth to the M25 at Wisley, then a short stretch of M25 to the M3 and on to Southampton.
- Via Kingston: through Kingston and Hampton to join the M3 near Sunbury. Useful when the A3 or the M25 is slow.
Either way, you are on the motorway within 20 to 30 minutes, and the rest is a steady run down the M3 past Basingstoke and Winchester. The driver follows live traffic and the fixed fare stays the same.
When to leave Wimbledon
| Your check-in slot | Weekday pick-up | Saturday or Sunday pick-up |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00–12:00 | 09:00 | 09:15 |
| 12:00–13:00 | 09:45 | 10:00 |
| 13:00–14:00 | 10:45 | 11:00 |
| 14:00–15:00 | 11:45 | 12:00 |
The times allow about two hours door to terminal and get you to the port early in your slot. On a summer Saturday, when the M3 carries holiday traffic as well as several ships' worth of passengers, add 15 minutes.
Cruising during the Championships
Wimbledon fortnight, from late June into July, brings road closures, parking restrictions and heavy traffic around Church Road, Wimbledon Park and the Village. If your cruise starts or ends then, tell us your exact address when you book; the driver will plan a way in and out that avoids the closed roads, and we may suggest an earlier pick-up.
Home from the ship
For the return, the driver tracks your ship, waits while you disembark and brings you home, usually by late morning. Wimbledon's quick route back means you are often home before you would have reached Waterloo by train.
Train comparison: from Wimbledon you would take a train to Clapham Junction or Woking and change for Southampton Central, then a taxi to the dock. It is cheaper for one or two people travelling light; for a family with cruise cases, an MPV at about £41 each for four people is the simpler choice.
Wimbledon to Southampton out of tennis season: winter and festive sailings
Most people associate Wimbledon traffic with the Championships fortnight, but the winter roads have their own patterns. The A3 and M3 are the usual route, around 77–78 miles and about an hour and three-quarters, and on December mornings fog on the M3 and Christmas shopping traffic around Kingston can both add time. For an early boarding slot, your driver will suggest leaving a little earlier than in summer, and will check conditions the evening before.
Festive cruises from Southampton mostly depart between Saturday 19 and Tuesday 22 December, and MSC Preziosa sails on Christmas Day. Over the holidays the rail route south is at its least dependable, with engineering works and replacement buses common, and there is little or no rail service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A car from your door in SW19 means no cases on a replacement bus and no taxi queue at Southampton Central.
Coming back in winter, ships are usually alongside by about 06:00, but a stormy crossing can make them late. Your driver tracks the ship and waits, so on a normal morning you can be home in Wimbledon Village or Raynes Park by mid-morning without watching the clock, and on a rough one the car is still there when you finally come ashore.
- Driver allows for Kingston shopping traffic and M3 fog in December
- Ship monitored on return so the pickup follows any weather delay
- Warm car with luggage included, and no carrying cases to the station
- MPV for families with up to four large cases
Through the quiet winter weeks, our Winchester to London chauffeur and Chewton Glen country hotel chauffeur are popular for a short break south of SW19.
Questions
How much is a car from Wimbledon to Southampton cruise terminal?
From £150 for a saloon (up to 4 people, 2 large cases) and £165 for an MPV (up to 6 people, 4 cases), per vehicle, one way, luggage included.
How long does it take to drive from Wimbledon to Southampton docks?
About 77–78 miles, normally 1 hour 40 minutes and up to 2 hours 10 minutes on a weekday morning or a summer Saturday.
Which way does the driver go from Wimbledon?
Usually down the A3 to the M25 at Wisley and round to the M3, or through Kingston to the M3 at Sunbury. Both avoid central London; the driver picks on the day.
Does the tennis affect cruise transfers from Wimbledon?
During the Championships, from late June into July, roads around the All England Club are busy and some are closed. We plan pick-ups around the closures and allow extra time.
Do you cover nearby areas such as Raynes Park and New Malden?
Yes. We collect anywhere in Merton and the neighbouring areas, including Raynes Park, Southfields, Earlsfield, Morden, Mitcham and New Malden, at similar fares.
Do you drive from Wimbledon to the ship for Christmas and winter cruises?
Yes, all year, not just around the Championships. We cover festive itineraries departing from 19 to 22 December, Christmas Day sailings such as MSC Preziosa, and Queen Mary 2's regular transatlantic crossings. Pricing is per car rather than per person, settled at booking, with cases included.
How do you track the ship if winter weather delays our return to Wimbledon?
Your driver checks the ship's live position and berthing updates before leaving and on the way down. If a storm pushes its arrival past the usual 06:00, the pickup moves with it, with no need for you to call. Once you are through the terminal, the driver brings the car to the set-down point and you head up the M3.