Southampton

About Southampton

Southampton is a city port located in Hampshire. It is just 80 miles southwest of London and 20 miles to the west of Portsmouth. It is amongst the most populous cities in the south of England. With a rich maritime heritage, the city naturally has a significant focus on sailing, watersports and ocean racing. As one of the most important ports in the UK, Southampton is also a major cruise ship port and was shortlisted as one of the 2025 UK City of Culture locations. Housing the only geothermal Power Station in the UK, Southampton has some of the lowest emission levels of CO2 you will find anywhere in England, making it a very popular destination for those who want to enjoy the great outdoors.

As a major port city, Southampton has exceptional connectivity not only on a regional level but also on a national and international level too, making it an accessible choice for project management courses, with individuals travelling from most locations.

The train station in Southampton is served by a number of train operators offering direct connections to a wide range of cities across the country with trains to London taking around 1 hour 20 minutes, Birmingham 2 hours 30 minutes and Manchester around 4 hours 7 minutes. There are also good train links to London Gatwick Airport.

Southampton International Airport is located just a short distance from the city centre: 6 minutes by train and 20 minutes by bus. It is a popular destination for those travelling from many UK cities as well as the Channel Islands, Italy, Spain and France. Both London Heathrow and Gatwick offer good direct train links to Southampton for those coming from other destinations.

In addition to all of this, Southampton has excellent road links, with the M3 offering easy accessibility from London and the M27 providing a direct link between Southampton and Portsmouth. The city also has a good National Express link and can be reached by ferry from France, Spain and the Isle of Wight.

As many project management courses in Southampton will take place over several days, it can be a good idea to look for suitable local accommodation to make life easier. There is no shortage of four-star hotels in Southampton offering a superb range of amenities.

Moxy Southampton (SO15 1BA)

At just 850 yards from the nearest train station and a short 8km drive from Southampton Airport, the Moxy Southampton is a very accessible hotel. It also offers offsite parking at an additional cost for those guests who prefer to bring their own vehicles. The hotel has reached level 2 in sustainability and is also a Travel Proud hotel, making it a very welcoming environment. There are business services available to guests at the hotel, including a number of meeting rooms that can be hired, and guests can benefit from the onsite bar and restaurant, which serve a wide range of food and beverages.

Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton (SO30 3XH)

Overlooking the cricket ground, this hotel boasts thoroughly modern rooms that have been decorated to a very high standard. As you would expect from a property in the Hilton hotel group range, this hotel has all the amenities you would expect and has made considerable steps to ensure its sustainability. There is free onsite parking,  is just 2 miles from Southampton Airport and about 1 mile from the nearest railway station. The hotel offers photocopying and business facilities for those guests who may need to stay in touch with the office during their stay.

Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour (SO15 1AG)

This hotel is well placed for Southampton’s main railway station and a short distance from the airport. There is also onsite payable parking available, although this is limited, so must be booked in advance. Many of the rooms in the hotel offer stunning sea views or vistas of the city’s medieval walls. This is a spa hotel with a range of spa facilities, a swimming pool and a fitness centre available to guests. The hotel also offers a good range of business services.

Whilst you stay in Southampton for a couple of days, it is well worth exploring the local area, and there is certainly plenty to keep you occupied.

Restaurants

The diverse culture of  Southampton is reflected in its superb range of restaurants. Here, you will find everything from chain restaurants to good pub grub, small bistros to restaurants worthy of a Michelin star.

Whilst there are not currently any Michelin-star restaurants in Southampton, it may only be a matter of time before that changes. Hartnett Holder & Co (SO43 7FZ)  is a beautiful restaurant in the city serving classic and refined Italian dishes. The restaurant is run by chef patron Angela Hartnett who was awarded a Michelin star whilst at the Connaught in London. She currently holds a Michelin star for her restaurant Murano (in Mayfair), so you are sure to be in very safe hands. The restaurant features a daily changing menu with plenty to surprise and delight the palate.

There are several other restaurants in Southampton and the surrounding areas that have also merited a mention in the most recent Michelin guide, so when it comes to fine dining, you will be spoilt for choice. AO on London Road is well worth considering. It is run by Daniel Rogan, son of chef Simon Rogan of L’Enclume (a 3 Michelin star restaurant in Cumbria).

Entertainment

Whilst you are in Southampton, you may also want to see what the city has to offer in the evenings. Whilst you will find all the usual pubs and clubs that you would expect in a city of this size, Southampton also offers a wealth of more cultured options for a night out.

The city is packed with art galleries, venues where you will be able to listen to live music from a range of genres, museums and theatres, including the Mayflower Theatre, where you can expect to see everything from Opera to Comedy and West End productions to Musicals.