Southampton to Canterbury bus with National Express

Thu, Sep 17
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National Express
Unilink
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The cheapest and fastest buses from Southampton to Canterbury

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for Sep 17

Cheapest price on Sep 17

€27

Average ticket price on Sep 17

€30

Fastest journey on Sep 17

6 h 10 m

Average journey duration on Sep 17

6 h 15 m

Buses on Sep 17

2

Distance

178 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Southampton to Canterbury is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Southampton to Canterbury will cost around €30 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €27.

Fast buses

On Thu, Sep 17, we found 2 buses from Southampton to Canterbury, including 2 direct services.

On Thu, Sep 17 the direct buses cover the 178 km distance in an average of 6 h 15 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 6 h 10 m .

On Thu, Sep 17 the slowest buses will take 6 h 20 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

  • National Express
    6:30 PM6h20
    Southampton
    12:50 AMCanterbury
    271One-way
    0 transfers
  • National Express
    6:00 PM6h10
    Southampton
    12:10 AMCanterbury
    341One-way
    0 transfers

Travel Information

Compare bus and train for Southampton to Canterbury

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Southampton to Canterbury among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €30 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 47m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €30, while a train costs an average of €36.

Distance: 178 km

Compare bus with

Bus
Most popular
Train
Driving

€30

Average price

Cheapest

€36

Average price

€40

Average price

(fuel + tolls)

5h 30m

Average total duration

5h 0m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 47m

Average total duration

Fastest

3h 17m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 34m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

0.2 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

-

CO2 emissions

National Express

Most popular bus company

South Western Railway

Most popular train company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

The cheapest way to travel from Southampton to Canterbury is a bus with an average price of €30.

This is compared to other travel options from Southampton to Canterbury:

A bus is €6 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Southampton to Canterbury costing on average €36.

The fastest way to travel from Southampton to Canterbury is by train with an average journey time of 3h 17m.

Other travel options to Canterbury take longer:

Bus takes on average 5h 0m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Southampton and Canterbury including taking a bus and train.

Live departures

Southampton to Canterbury bus times

The table below shows live departures for Southampton to Canterbury buses for tomorrow, Thursday, September 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesTransfers
Tickets
National Express6:00 PM Southampton
6h10
12:10 AM Canterbury0 transfersDirect
National Express6:30 PM Southampton
6h20
12:50 AM Canterbury0 transfersDirect

This is the last bus of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Southampton to Canterbury by bus or train

Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Thu
Sep 17
Fri
Sep 18
Sat
Sep 19
Sun
Sep 20
Mon
Sep 21
Tue
Sep 22
Wed
Sep 23

Why should you book Southampton to Canterbury buses with Omio?

National Express as well as Unilink offer buses services from Southampton to Canterbury.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Southampton to Canterbury.

Why book with Omio vs National Express?

  • Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for National Express, but also compare tickets for the likes of Unilink to find the best option for your trip from Southampton to Canterbury.
  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are bus and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Southampton to Canterbury.

Why book with Omio over Wanderu?

  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and train to find the ideal travel option from Southampton to Canterbury.

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Southampton to Canterbury

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of bus

Buses from Southampton to Canterbury run on average 12 times per day, taking around 5h 0m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €18 if you book in advance.

The earliest bus runs at 02:20, the last at 22:23. The fastest bus covers the 178 km distance in 6h 10m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Distance
178 km
Average bus duration
5h 0m
Cheapest ticket price
€18
Buses per day
12
Fastest bus
6h 10m
First bus
2:20 AM
Last bus
10:23 PM
Cheapest Month
Jul
Cheapest Day
Thu
High Season
Jan - Mar
Low Season
Apr - Jun
Busiest Day
Sat
Least Busy Day
Fri
Best time to book
5 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information

Bus providers: National Express, Unilink from Southampton to CanterburyYou can travel by bus between Southampton to Canterbury with National Express, Unilink for as low as €18. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

National Express

About
National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach company, operating over 550 services per day and serving more than 900 destinations nationwide. It also runs frequent services to major UK airports — including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Bristol — 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches are air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. Most vehicles are equipped with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, allowing you to charge your phone or laptop during your journey. Ticket options include Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare, with the latter providing maximum flexibility for cancellations or changes.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average National Express Duration
6h 10m
Cheapest National Express Price
€18
Luggage included
Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Additional luggage
10€ per additional bag.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Amenities on board the bus
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Seat reservation
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Assistance; Priority seating; Accessible toilets.
Bikes
Folding Bikes are allowed; non-folding bikes are not allowed.

Unilink

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Unilink Duration
4h 55m
Cheapest Unilink Price
€38
Unilink frequency
3 a day

FAQs: Bus from Southampton to Canterbury

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Southampton to Canterbury by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Canterbury, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap coach tickets from Southampton to Canterbury can start from as little as €18 when you book in advance. The average coach ticket price for Southampton to Canterbury is €30; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by coach from Southampton to Canterbury is 6h 10m to travel the 178 km long trip. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner to search for a specific date.
The earliest coach from Southampton to Canterbury leaves at 2:20 AM. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.
The latest coach from Southampton to Canterbury leaves at 10:23 PM.
There are 12 coaches a day from Southampton to Canterbury which require at least one change with National Express, Unilink. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer coaches.
When taking a coach from Southampton to Canterbury, you can count on National Express, Unilink for the best way to get you to Canterbury. You can also check all possible coach companies who offer a service between Southampton and Canterbury and compare the amenities they offer before buying a coach ticket.
When departing from Southampton , you have various coach station options to start your trip from including Southampton, Coach Station, Southampton, University . When arriving in Canterbury , you can end your trip in coach stations like Canterbury, Bus Station, Canterbury, University Of Kent .Passengers board the coach most frequently from Southampton, Coach Station, which is located around away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Canterbury, Bus Station, located 0 away from the city centre.
A trip to Canterbury from Southampton is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 6h 10m each way. Check with Omio app the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a coach from Southampton to Canterbury is July.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Southampton and Canterbury including taking a bus and train.
Yes, the following accessibility options are available when taking the coach from Southampton to Canterbury:
  • National Express
    • Assistance
    • Priority seating
    • Accessible toilets.
Yes, there are bathrooms on board the coach from Southampton to Canterbury for coach company National Express.
Whether you can cancel your coach ticket from Southampton to Canterbury depends on the coach companies:
  • National Express
    • You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Yes, bikes are allowed on board the coach with coach company National Express.
Tickets are often cheaper when booked early. Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money. Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options. Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
No, there is no food available to purchase on board the coach from Southampton to Canterbury.
Yes, the following luggage options are included when booking a coach ticket from Southampton to Canterbury:
  • National Express
    • Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Yes, the following additional luggage options are available when booking a coach ticket from Southampton to Canterbury:
  • National Express
    • 10€ per additional bag.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the coach from Southampton to Canterbury.
You can reserve your seat on the coach from Southampton to Canterbury with the following coach company: National Express
Yes, there are USB plugs on board the coach from Southampton to Canterbury with the following coach company: National Express.
Yes, there is Wifi on board the coach from Southampton to Canterbury with the following coach company: National Express.

popular bus stations

Popular bus stations from Southampton to Canterbury

Most Southampton to Canterbury buses use the Southampton, Coach Station to Canterbury, Bus Station station pair, with some services arriving at Canterbury, University Of Kent. Use this guide to compare Southampton and Canterbury bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.

Departure bus stations in Southampton
Arrival bus stations in Canterbury

Which Southampton station do buses to Canterbury leave from?

Buses from Southampton to Canterbury leave from Southampton, Coach Station. The station is from Southampton city centre at Harbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1BA, United Kingdom.
Southampton, Coach StationHarbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1BA, United KingdomWifiParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCTicket Office
City-centre transport

Getting to Southampton, Coach Station from Southampton city centre

BusX4, X5 · 5m · €2 · every ~20 min

Southampton, Coach Station bus station facilities and services

Southampton, Coach Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.

Food and drink

Food options include: Café Express (in the station), Sandwich Bar (in the station).

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the entrance for cash withdrawals.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Southampton, Coach Station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Southampton, Coach Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Southampton, Coach Station: Elevators, ramps.

Southampton, UniversityUniversity Rd, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UKWifiParkingATMTaxisAccessibilityWCShowerTicket Office
City-centre transport

Getting to Southampton, University from Southampton city centre

Southampton, University is 3 km from Southampton city centre. Public transport options include:

BusU2b, U2 · 11m · €2 · every ~6 min
U1a, U1n, U1e · 25m · €2 · every ~37 min
U1a, U1n, U1e · 29m · €2 · every ~37 min

Southampton, University bus station facilities and services

Southampton, University has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Wi-Fi is available at Southampton, University. ATMs are available at Southampton, University.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Southampton, University.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Southampton, University: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Southampton, University: Basic accessibility features are available for passengers.

Most popular bus connections from Southampton

More options for your journey from Southampton to Canterbury

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

Most popular bus connections to Canterbury

HomeBusesBuses in United KingdomSouthampton to Canterbury bus

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