A taxi from London City Airport to Southampton’s City, Horizon or Mayflower cruise terminal costs £172.96 in a saloon with Onward Travel Solutions, and £174.91 to the Ocean or QEII terminals. That’s for up to three passengers with three large cases, the same fixed price on the way back, and paid to the driver on the day.
London City is popular with cruise passengers flying in from European cities and the Channel Islands, but it’s in the Docklands on the east side of London, about 85 miles from Southampton. The drive has to cross or circle the capital, which is where a fixed fare helps: the price doesn’t change if the traffic is heavy.
Fares by Terminal
| Terminal | Dock gate | Saloon fare |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Terminal | Dock Gate 4 (Eastern Docks) | £174.91 |
| QEII Terminal | Dock Gate 4 (Eastern Docks) | £174.91 |
| City Cruise Terminal | Dock Gate 10 (Western Docks) | £172.96 |
| Horizon Cruise Terminal | Dock Gate 10 (Western Docks) | £172.96 |
| Mayflower Terminal | Dock Gate 10 (Western Docks) | £172.96 |
London City to Southampton Cruise Taxi Prices
Full vehicle list to the Ocean and QEII terminals. The booking form shows the exact price for your terminal.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large cases | London City ↔ Ocean / QEII |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | 3 | 3 | £174.91 |
| Estate | 4 | 4 | £200.30 |
| Executive | 3 | 2 | £235.45 |
| People carrier | 6 | 5 | £235.45 |
| 8-seater minivan | 8 | 8 | £260.84 |
| Executive minivan | 6 | 6 | £317.13 |
| 12-seat minibus | 12 | 10 | from £524 |
| 16-seat minibus | 16 | 14 | from £595 |
Cost per person
| Group | Vehicle | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 people | Saloon | £174.91 | £58.30 |
| 4 people | Estate | £200.30 | £50.08 |
| 6 people | People carrier | £235.45 | £39.24 |
| 8 people | 8-seater minivan | £260.84 | £32.61 |
A return booked at the same time gets 5% off the return leg: £341.07 for a saloon there and back to Ocean or QEII, rather than £349.82.
The Drive
Depending on the time of day, your driver either heads west through London to the M3 or takes the M25 round the south. Either way it’s around 85 miles and roughly 2 hours, sometimes more if central London or the southern M25 is congested. For a same-day embarkation, plan your flight and pickup with a good margin before check-in closes.
Taxi or Train?
The rail route is the DLR into the City, the Underground to Waterloo, then South Western Railway to Southampton Central and a taxi to the dock, around two hours with two or three changes. It works with light bags, but cruise luggage makes the Underground stairs and escalators heavy going.
Southampton’s Cruise Terminals
Southampton has five cruise terminals in two separate dock areas, and the fare depends on which one you’re sailing from. Ocean and QEII are in the Eastern Docks through Dock Gate 4; City, Horizon and Mayflower are in the Western Docks through Dock Gate 10. Ships sometimes move terminal at short notice, so check your cruise documents and tell us the terminal when you book.
See our guide to which ships use which Southampton terminal.
Pickup at London City
London City’s arrivals hall is small and quick to get through, and your driver will be waiting when you come out. We track the flight and give you one hour of free waiting from landing.
Planning Your Day: London City to the Ship
London City is a quick airport to get through, which helps on a cruise day, but the drive to Southampton crosses or circles London and takes around two hours. Your cruise line gives you an arrival window at the terminal; work back from the end of it. A typical plan for a flight from Europe landing at 9:30am:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 9:30 | Flight lands at London City |
| 9:30 to 10:00 | Passport control and bags; London City is usually quick |
| 10:00 | Meet your driver outside arrivals |
| 10:00 to 12:15 | Through or around London to the M3 and Southampton |
| Around 12:15 | Arrive at your terminal |
London traffic is the unknown on this route. Mid-morning is usually better than the early rush, and a flight landing after about midday makes a same-day connection tight. If that’s your plan, consider a night in Southampton before the cruise.
Coming Home: Ship to London City
Ships arrive back in Southampton early on the final morning and guests disembark in groups. London City’s last departures of the day leave in the evening and the airport has shorter check-in times than the big airports, so a mid- to late-afternoon flight home is usually comfortable. Give us your ship and disembarkation time when you book the return, and book both legs together for 5% off.
Business Travellers and Short Cruises
London City is the airport of choice for many business travellers, and some combine a meeting in London with a short cruise from Southampton. If you’re doing that, the Executive car gives you a quieter ride with room to work, and the fixed fare is confirmed in writing for expenses. If someone else is making the booking, put your own mobile number in the passenger details.
Which Vehicle for Cruise Luggage?
- Couple with two large cases: saloon.
- Couple with extra cases, or a folding wheelchair: estate at £200.30 to Ocean or QEII.
- Six people: people carrier at £235.45, which is £39.24 each.
- Eight people: 8-seater minivan at £260.84, or £32.61 each.
Flights into London City often use smaller aircraft with tighter baggage rules, but cruise passengers still tend to bring large cases. Tell us what you’re carrying and we’ll match the vehicle.
Travelling With Children or Reduced Mobility
Add child seats in the booking form with the children’s ages. For a folding wheelchair or walking aid, add a note and choose the estate or people carrier so it fits alongside the luggage. Your driver will help with loading at the airport and at the terminal.
Why Book With Onward Travel Solutions?
A fixed price agreed in advance means London traffic doesn’t change what you pay. You also get flight tracking with an hour’s free waiting, the right terminal and dock gate on the booking, and an OTS team you can call if your ship changes terminal. Nothing is paid online; you pay the driver on the day.
If Your Flight Is Delayed
We track your flight, so your pickup time follows the real landing time and the first hour after landing is free. On a cruise day, though, a long delay can put check-in at risk because of the two-hour drive. If your flight is badly delayed, call the OTS team and your cruise line straight away. Cruise lines can sometimes advise on the latest time you can board, and we’ll get you there as quickly as the roads allow.
Arriving at London City
London City has a single, compact terminal, and passengers are often out of the building within half an hour of landing. Your driver will be waiting nearby; call them on the number in your confirmation as you come through.
Paying and Changing Your Booking
Nothing is paid online. The fare is fixed when you book and you pay the driver on the day. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup through Manage My Booking; inside 24 hours, call the OTS team. Child seats and extra stops can be added in the booking form.
Related Transfers
- Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Southampton cruise terminals: which one is your ship?
- Stansted to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Luton to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- Heathrow to Southampton cruise terminal taxi
- London City Airport to Dover cruise terminal taxi
- London City Airport taxi: all routes and fares
London City to Southampton Cruise Taxi FAQs
How much is a taxi from London City Airport to Southampton cruise terminal?
£172.96 in a saloon to City, Horizon or Mayflower, and £174.91 to Ocean or QEII, for up to three people.
Is it the same price back from the ship?
Yes, the fixed fare is the same in both directions.
How long does it take?
Roughly 2 hours, longer if London traffic is heavy.
How far is it?
About 85 miles.
Do you take groups?
Yes. A people carrier for six is £235.45 and an 8-seater minivan is £260.84.
Can I fly into London City on the morning of my cruise?
Yes, if you land by about 10:00am for a typical early-afternoon check-in. London traffic is the main risk, so allow a margin.
What time should I fly home from London City after the cruise?
Mid to late afternoon is comfortable, allowing for disembarkation and a drive of around two hours.
Which Southampton terminals are cheapest from London City?
City, Horizon and Mayflower in the Western Docks are slightly cheaper, at £172.96 in a saloon, than Ocean and QEII at £174.91.
Book Your London City to Southampton Cruise Transfer
Enter your flight number, terminal and party size in the form at the top of the page to see the OTS Taxi price for every vehicle and book.