Southampton Traffic Cameras: 800+ Live Cams

National Highways Feeds

Live camera streams from National Highways covering the M27, M3, and strategic road network around Southampton

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Southampton is a city defined by its port. With a population of around 260,000 and a wider travel-to-work area approaching 500,000, this south coast city handles traffic volumes driven by one of Europe's busiest cruise terminals, a major container port, and its position at the junction of the M27 and M3 motorways.

According to the Department for Transport, 0.62 billion vehicle miles were travelled on roads in Southampton in 2024. The M27 corridor, which runs east-west across the top of the city connecting Southampton to Portsmouth, is the south coast's primary strategic route and carries some of the highest traffic volumes in Hampshire. The busiest section of the nearby M3 at Chandler's Ford has historically carried around 130,000 vehicles per day.

TrafficVision aggregates feeds from National Highways, Hampshire County Council, and Southampton City Council traffic management systems into a single platform. For broader coverage, see the United Kingdom traffic cameras country guide and the England regional guide.

M27 and M3: The Strategic Corridor

The M27 is Southampton's most important strategic road, running 24 miles east-west from Cadnam (Junction 1) to Portsmouth (Junction 12). It serves as both a local commuter route and a strategic corridor connecting the two major south coast port cities. Junctions 3-5 serve central Southampton, and congestion at these exits during peak hours is a daily occurrence.

The M27/M3 interchange at Junction 14 is one of the highest-volume interchanges on England's south coast. Traffic from the M3 (London, Winchester) meets M27 cross-flows here, creating merge and weave movements that frequently cause delays. Cameras at this junction are among the most-viewed in the region.

The M3 connects Southampton to Winchester and London, serving as the primary route for commuters, freight, and through-traffic heading north. The M271 spur provides a direct motorway connection from the M27 (Junction 3) into the Western Docks and city centre, carrying heavy port-related traffic.

City Centre and Arterial Roads

Southampton's city centre road network is shaped by the medieval city walls and post-war reconstruction. The A33 (The Avenue / Bassett Avenue) is the primary north-south arterial, running from the M3 Junction 14 area through the university quarter and into the city centre. This corridor carries heavy commuter traffic and is particularly congested around the Common and Civic Centre.

The A3024 inner ring road (Commercial Road, West Quay Road, Platform Road) circuits the city centre, providing access to the West Quay shopping centre, the railway station, and the cruise terminals. Millbrook Road and Redbridge Road serve the western approaches and industrial areas, while Northam Road and Itchen Bridge connect the eastern neighbourhoods.

The Itchen Bridge is Southampton's only eastern crossing of the River Itchen within the city, creating a persistent bottleneck for traffic between the city centre and Woolston, Sholing, and Netley. Cameras on the bridge and its approaches are essential for commuters deciding between the bridge and the longer detour via the M27 at Junction 8.

Port Traffic and Cruise Terminals

Southampton handles approximately 2 million cruise passengers per year, making it the busiest cruise port in the UK and one of the busiest in Europe. On turnaround days — typically Saturdays and Sundays from April through October — thousands of vehicles converge on the cruise terminal access roads simultaneously.

The Western Docks host the main cruise terminals, accessed via the M271 and Dock Gate 4. The Eastern Docks handle a mix of cruise, vehicle export, and container traffic, accessed from the A3024 inner ring. The DP World container terminal at the Western Docks generates steady freight traffic throughout the week.

Cameras along port approach roads are critical for cruise passengers timing their arrivals and for regular commuters whose routes are affected by surge port traffic. TrafficVision lets you bookmark these cameras as favourites for quick checks on cruise turnaround days.

Southampton Airport and Rail Connections

Southampton Airport (SOU) sits just northeast of the city near Eastleigh, accessible via the A335 Wide Lane and the M27 Junction 5. While smaller than nearby Bournemouth or the London airports, it handles regional flights and generates local traffic on the Eastleigh-Southampton corridor.

The railway station in the city centre is a major interchange on the South Western Main Line, and traffic around the station quarter — particularly on Blechynden Terrace and Western Esplanade — can be heavy during commuter peak times. Cameras in the station area help drivers navigating around rail-related traffic.

Weather and Seasonal Patterns

Southampton's coastal position means wet weather is a regular factor in driving conditions. Heavy rain can cause surface water flooding on lower-lying roads near the River Test and River Itchen, particularly around Redbridge and Northam. Cameras help identify flooded sections before you commit to a route.

Summer cruise season (April-October) brings the most significant seasonal traffic impact, with multiple ships arriving and departing each week. Port traffic peaks coincide with weekend leisure traffic heading to the New Forest (west via M27) and Isle of Wight ferry traffic at Red Funnel's terminal in Town Quay.

For tips on setting up a daily camera monitoring routine, see how to check traffic before your commute. You can also explore cameras in other English cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and London.

How TrafficVision Helps Southampton Drivers

TrafficVision provides 135,000+ cameras across 130+ countries, including comprehensive coverage of Southampton and the surrounding road network. Key advantages:

• Unified access to National Highways M27/M3 cameras and local council traffic feeds in one platform
• Favourites for bookmarking your daily interchange cameras and cruise terminal approaches
• Route builder for mapping commutes from Eastleigh, Totton, or Hedge End into the city
• Grid view for scanning conditions across multiple corridors simultaneously
• Free 24/7 access on any device with no account required