Southampton weather

Forecast and weather warnings

The Met Office forecast for Southampton includes the conditions expected in the city and any relevant weather warnings. For a day trip, the forecast at your destination matters too: Southampton city centre, an open New Forest walk and the Isle of Wight are separate places to plan for.

Things to do on a rainy day

The three museums cover different parts of the city's history:

• SeaCity Museum explores Southampton's maritime connections, including the Titanic and the people of the city who sailed aboard it.
• Tudor House & Garden combines a historic house with a garden in the Old Town. The indoor rooms and outdoor visit are distinct parts of the attraction.
• Solent Sky focuses on the aviation history of Southampton and the surrounding region, with aircraft displayed inside the museum.

Opening days differ, so the museum pages set out the individual visiting arrangements. For a short stay, one museum and a meal leave more flexibility than an itinerary built around several timed visits.

Walks in the Old Town

The Old Town lies south of the Bargate and extends towards Town Quay. Its streets, surviving walls and historic buildings form an outdoor visit that can be combined with Tudor House. The city route and access to individual wall sections are separate from the indoor museum visit.

For a port call, the walk back starts from the place where you finish sightseeing and ends at your actual cruise terminal. A shorter city visit leaves room for that journey when the weather changes.

Ferries and day trips

The vehicle ferry and Red Jet use different terminals in Southampton and arrive on different sides of Cowes. The ferry guide explains those choices. A city weather forecast does not describe a particular sailing.

The day trips guide compares Winchester, the New Forest and Stonehenge from Southampton. Winchester offers a city visit, while a New Forest outing needs a chosen station and walking route. Stonehenge involves travel to Salisbury and a separate connection to the monument.

Planning your visit

A forecast is useful for deciding the order of visits on the days you travel. Opening days, daylight and the time of your train, flight or ship determine how much of that day is available. The getting here guide covers the journey into Southampton; hotels compares locations for an overnight stay.