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Getting around Southampton

Public transport: 

First Southampton (tel: (023) 8022 4854; www.firstgroup.com) operates a comprehensive network of buses linking all parts of the city. Bus 14 operates between the city centre and the International Airport, as does the Unilink U1 service. Blue Star (tel: 0871 200 22 33; www.bluestarbus.co.uk) and UniLink (tel: (023) 8059 5974; www.unilinkbus.co.uk) also offer comprehensive services throughout the city.

Discounted fares, day travelcards and passes enabling travel of seven, 28 or 90 days are available for some services. For full details about fares, routes and discounts, contact the relevant bus company directly.

Taxis: 

Taxis can be hailed on the street or at ranks at the railway and bus stations. To pre-book a taxi try Abbeytax (tel: (023) 8032 2480), Radio Taxis (tel: (023) 8066 6666) or Streamline Taxis (tel: (023) 9252 2222; www.streamlinegosport.co.uk).

Car hire: 

There are numerous car rental firms operating in Southampton. Alamo (tel: 0871 384 1086; www.alamo.co.uk), Avis (tel: 0844 544 6019; www.avis.co.uk), Enterprise (tel: 0870 350 3000; www.enterprise.co.uk), Hertz (tel: 0870 850 4881; www.hertz.co.uk), Europcar (tel: (0151) 551 8205; www.europcar.co.uk) and National (tel: (023) 8065 2059; www.nationalcar.co.uk) all have offices either at the airport, in the city or both.

Bicycle hire: 

Southampton is relatively small and, for the most part, flat, so a bike is a great way to get around. There's bike hire from Coastal Leisure (tel: (023) 8033 2323; www.cyclehiresouthampton.co.uk) on the Town Quay. The're also one 13km (8 miles) away, in Fareham called Meon Valley Cycle Hire (tel: 07778 410532; www.meonvalley-cyclehire.co.uk).

GA Cycles, 65 Shirley Road (tel: (023) 8063 6648; www.gacycles.co.uk), in Southampton sells a good selection and is just a short walk from Southampton Central railway station.

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