How it works
Meet and Greet will be available for students arriving for Semester 2 in January 2024.
Our Meet and Greet team will meet you at London Heathrow Airport (Terminal 3 international arrivals lounge) or London Gatwick Airport (North Terminal international arrivals lounge).
They will be there to help direct you towards onward public transport and answer your questions on the following days:
London Heathrow, from 9:00 to 20:00:
- Sunday 28 January 2024
London Gatwick:
- Sunday 28 January 2024
If you live in University of Southampton Halls of Residence, a limited coach service can take you and your luggage from the airport to your university halls. This service must be booked in advance.
If your flight is delayed and you miss your coach booking, your space will be released to another student on the waiting list and you will need to make your own way to your accommodation.
Due to the limited space, family and friends cannot accompany you on the coach services. If you are a PhD student travelling with your own young family, please contact the Meet and Greet team on MeetandGreet@soton.ac.uk.
If you need to cancel your booking, please email us as soon as possible so your space can be released to other students.
Please contact MeetandGreet@soton.ac.uk if you have any further questions.
Luggage
The amount of luggage you can bring is limited to:
- 2 large suitcases
- 1 item of hand luggage
- 1 rucksack or laptop bag
You are responsible for carrying your own suitcases. We understand airlines may offer you more than this luggage allowance, however there is no space available for additional luggage on the Meet and Greet coach.
Please contact the Meet and Greet team if you will have more than the allowance before you book your seat or to discuss other options available to you.
Independently Travelling
If you arrive after the last Meet and Greet service you can take a National Express coach to Southampton Central Coach Station, Winchester or a direct train from London Gatwick Airport to Southampton.
There will be signs directing you to National Express or National rail trains in the airports, or you can ask one of the Meet and Greet team from 8:00 to 20:00 or at the airport Information Desk. National Express coaches run throughout the night.
If you are using National Express, you will need to take a taxi to your University accommodation.
The recommended taxi company in Southampton is Radio Taxis.
Contact Radio Taxis: +44 (0) 2380 666 666
Please note, if you are using the National Express Coach Service, or arriving by train at Southampton Central Train Station or Winchester, this travel cost, including the taxi, is to be paid by you and is not covered by the Meet and Greet service.
Getting to Southampton