A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Southampton vs. Nottingham for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Southampton or Nottingham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Southampton or Nottingham? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Southampton

Southampton is a up-and-coming, waterfront, and dynamic port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Nottingham

Nottingham is a authentic, dynamic, and livable city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Southampton and Nottingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Nottingham?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Nottingham. Although Southampton and Nottingham are roughly the same size, Nottingham has more sights and attractions for tourists. Nottingham is very popular for its music, shopping, and big city activities, while Southampton attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Nottingham is more touristy than Southampton and is popular for its authenticity and local cuisine. It is also well known for Old Market Square. Southampton is famous for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Nottingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Nottingham and Southampton. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Southampton or Nottingham?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Southampton and Nottingham.

Southampton offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Nottingham. You'll find history and culture around town. Some of the notable landmarks include Wollaton Hall, the National Justice Museum, Nottingham Castle, and Old Market Square.

Is the Food Better in Southampton or Nottingham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Southampton and Nottingham can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

Southampton has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Nottingham area. You'll find a diversity of restaurants around town that range from local fish and chips shops to international options. Pubs, cafes, and fine dining are all available in town.

Is Southampton or Nottingham Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Southampton and Nottingham.

If you're looking for night time activities Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Nottingham. Head to the oldest pub in England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, for a pint or check out one of the trendy clubs around town. The city is also a big sports town, so see if there are any sporting events going on while you're visiting.

Is Southampton or Nottingham Better for Music?

Nottingham is a popular place for its live music scene. However, Southampton is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Nottingham is active and vibrant. Many of the best music concerts in the UK make there way to Nottingham. Check out Rock City, which hosts all kinds of concerts.

Southampton is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Nottingham?

Nottingham is a great city for its shopping opportunities. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its shopping areas.

Nottingham is well-known for its shopping. Head to the Lace Market, which is a popular shopping area. You can also wander around the center of town on foot and head to the pedestrian streets that are often lined with independent shops or international chains.

Many visitors go to Southampton to go shopping. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Is Southampton or Nottingham Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Nottingham.

Southampton offers lots of family activities. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.

Nottingham is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of parks and play areas that younger kids will enjoy. You can check out Wheelgate Park, White Post Farm, Rufford Abbey, or Sherwood Pines. Sundown Adventureland is a small theme park that's designed for younger kids under 10. If your kids are into museums, head to the Newark Air Museum.

Is Southampton or Nottingham Better for Couples?

Southampton is well known for romance. Also, Nottingham is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Southampton frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.

Nottingham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You'll find the typical date night activities around town like arcades, minigolf, and some interesting restaurants. There are also parks where you can enjoy a stroll in nature.

Is Southampton or Nottingham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nottingham is a great city for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.

The public transit in Nottingham can get you around easily. There are buses and trams around town that connect into the rail network. The multi-operator system is organized by the Robin Hood Network.

Public transit is generally limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

Is Southampton or Nottingham a more walkable city?

Nottingham is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its ease of walking around.

Nottingham is a very walkable city. It is trying to transform itself into a pedestrian-friendly city, and you'll find some areas that are particularly walkable. The city center is very compact and generally walkable.

Southampton is a somewhat walkable port city. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.

For even more information, also check out Is Southampton Worth Visiting? and Is Nottingham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nottingham or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Nottingham?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Southampton or Nottingham to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Southampton than Nottingham because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Southampton, and 1-2 days is enough time in Nottingham.

Families should spend more time in Nottingham than Southampton. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Nottingham, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nottingham than Southampton if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Nottingham.

One day in Southampton or Nottingham?

With museums and nightlife around the up-and-coming port city of Southampton, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Southampton, one day is sufficent for most.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the dynamic city of Nottingham. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Southampton or Nottingham?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Southampton, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this port city.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the dynamic destination of Nottingham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Southampton or Nottingham?

Southampton, a popular port city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

The authentic city of Nottingham offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Southampton or Nottingham?

Southampton is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting Nottingham. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.

When comparing the travel costs between Southampton and Nottingham, we can see that Southampton is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Southampton Expensive? and Is Nottingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Nottingham?

Nottingham has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of Southampton. When comparing the sizes of Southampton and Nottingham, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Southampton or Nottingham?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Southampton or Nottingham in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Nottingham. Many visitors come to Southampton in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Nottingham for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Nottingham. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 18°C (64°F), and Nottingham fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In the summer, Southampton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nottingham. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nottingham receives 196 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in July than Nottingham. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Nottingham receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Nottingham in the Autumn?

Both Nottingham and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Southampton for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nottingham because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Southampton is around the same temperature as Nottingham in the autumn. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Nottingham fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nottingham during autumn. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Nottingham receives 112 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Southampton usually receives more rain than Nottingham. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Nottingham receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Southampton or Nottingham in the Winter?

Both Nottingham and Southampton during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Southampton because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nottingham this time of year.

It's quite cold in Nottingham in the winter. The weather in Southampton can be very cold. In the winter, Southampton is a little warmer than Nottingham. Typically, the winter temperatures in Southampton in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Nottingham averages at about 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Southampton often gets less sunshine than Nottingham. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nottingham receives 61 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Nottingham. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nottingham receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Nottingham in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Nottingham. The natural beauty are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nottingham for the activities around the city.

In April, Southampton is generally a little warmer than Nottingham. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 9°C (48°F), and Nottingham fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nottingham during spring. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Nottingham receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Southampton usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nottingham. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Nottingham receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nottingham and Southampton