Southampton sits on Southampton Water on the south coast, with deep-water berths able to take the largest container ships. It's a natural choice for cargo heading to the South, the South West, London and the Midlands, and many of the main Asia–Europe services call here as well as at Felixstowe.
Because the same ship often calls at both ports, choosing Southampton can mean a shorter road leg to your site and a different set of haulage options when the east coast is busy.
What moves through Southampton
- Deep sea imports from China, South East Asia and the Far East
- Reefer containers of fruit, vegetables, meat and pharmaceuticals
- Exports to Asia, the Middle East and beyond
- Out-of-gauge and project cargo on flat racks and open tops
How we handle containers at Southampton
- Pre-advice: send us the container number, vessel and ETA at Southampton, the delivery address and the gross weight.
- Customs clearance: we lodge the import declaration in-house, and duty and VAT are paid or deferred before release.
- Release and holds: we check the shipping line release and any customs, port health or carrier holds before a truck is sent.
- Collection: the container is collected from Southampton on a booked slot and delivered at the time agreed with your site.
- Empty return: the empty goes back to the terminal or the depot the shipping line nominates, inside free time.
Delivery times from Southampton
| Destination | Approximate distance | Typical driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth and Hampshire | Up to 30 miles | Under 1 hour |
| Bristol and the South West | 75 miles | 1.5–2 hours |
| London and the M25 | 80 miles | 2–2.5 hours |
| Birmingham and the West Midlands | 130 miles | 2.5–3 hours |
| Manchester and the North West | 220 miles | 4–4.5 hours |
| Leeds and Yorkshire | 235 miles | 4.5–5 hours |
Approximate. Times depend on traffic, terminal queues and driver hours. Rail can be cost-effective to the Midlands and the North.
Imports, exports and one point of contact
Whether you're importing through Southampton or exporting from it, we can handle the sea freight, the customs entry and the haulage together, so you deal with one team rather than three. We're also happy to quote Southampton haulage or clearance on its own. If space or haulage is tight, we'll tell you early and suggest an alternative.
Written by the 365 Freight team · Last reviewed . Rates, rules and schedules change, so we'll confirm the details for your shipment when we quote.