From the first county cricket of spring to the last pantomime show in January, there is nearly always something on in Southampton. This guide follows the year venue by venue. It explains what each event is, roughly when it happens, and how Southside Travel can take you there and bring you home.

Summer cricket at Utilita Bowl

Utilita Bowl is Hampshire Cricket’s home ground at West End, just off the M27 on the east side of Southampton. The county season starts in spring and finishes in early autumn. Summer adds T20 evenings and England matches, and a men’s Ashes Test is due at the ground for the first time in summer 2027.

No railway station sits beside the ground, so a pre-booked car is the easy option from the city centre, a hotel or the cruise terminals. Our tip: on a sold-out day, set your pick-up a little after the close of play, once the first rush has gone.

The Boat Show at Mayflower Park

The Southampton International Boat Show runs for more than a week every September in Mayflower Park, right on the waterfront. Visitors come to see boats on shore and afloat in the show marina.

The park is only a few minutes by taxi from Southampton Central station or a city hotel. Cruise ships use the nearby terminals during the show, so the roads by the water fill up early. Our tip: arrive before mid-morning if you can, and fix your return time in advance.

Saints matches at St Mary’s Stadium

Southampton FC play their home games at St Mary’s, a stadium for more than 30,000 fans on the east side of the city centre. The football season lasts from August until May, with cup ties along the way.

Going by taxi saves the hunt for match day parking. The streets around the stadium are crowded before and after the game. Our tip: pick a meeting point a few minutes’ walk from the ground, where your driver can pull in and get away easily.

Christmas market, ice rink and Snow Windows

Southampton Christmas Market opens in mid November and trades until late December. Its stalls line Above Bar Street, Guildhall Square and the Bargate. Westquay On Ice stands on the Esplanade into early January, and the free Snow Windows trail has more than 20 window displays to find around the city.

The market streets are for pedestrians, so we drop off and collect at the nearest point a car can reach. Our tip: weekday evenings are calmer than weekends, and a bigger car leaves room for your shopping.

Pantomime at the Mayflower Theatre

Each winter the Mayflower Theatre on Commercial Road stages a big pantomime from December into early January. This season it is Robin Hood, starring Ashley Banjo and Diversity. For the rest of the year the stage hosts touring musicals, drama, dance, opera, live music and comedy.

The theatre is near Southampton Central station and simple to reach by car from every part of the city. Our tip: add the return time when you book, so your car is waiting when the curtain comes down.

Official sites for dates and tickets: Utilita Bowl, Southampton International Boat Show, Mayflower Theatre and Visit Southampton.

Planning your journey

• Book early for event days. Cars are in demand when a match, a show and a cruise ship fall on the same day.
• Give us the venue, the start time and the time you expect to leave.
• Coming as a group? One vehicle carries up to 8 passengers. See our 8 seater taxi and MPV taxi pages.
• Arriving by train or ship? We meet you at Southampton Central station or the cruise terminals.

Frequently asked questions

Does Southside Travel sell event tickets?

No. We provide the transport only. Tickets come from the venue or the organiser.

Can you take a group to a match or a show?

Yes. We carry up to 8 passengers in one vehicle. For a bigger party, book two vehicles.

Do you have wheelchair accessible vehicles for event travel?

Yes. Tell us when you book so we send the right vehicle. Details are on our wheelchair accessible taxi page.

How do I find out the fare?

Enter your journey on the booking page for an instant fixed price, or see our taxi fares page.

Book your event taxi

Get an instant fixed price on our online booking page, call 02380 017 327 or WhatsApp 07310 115803.