It is hard to park for free in the city of Southampton in Hampshire, but we have found you the best places and alternatives, so you don’t waste your hard-earned cash on parking on the same roads you have already paid to drive on. Rant over, let’s get started.
Free Parking in Southampton, UK
Where is there Free Parking in Southampton? Here are some streets with free parking in Southampton:
- Court Road
- Horseshoe Bridge
- Belmont Road
- Vinery Gardens
- Monks Wood Close
- Imperial Road
- William Street
- Manor Road South
- Gordon Avenue
- North Road
But Do Read On! As you also want to know where is the nearest free parking in Southampton to where you are going. So Where are you going?
Free Parking near West Quays & the High Street
Finding free parking near Southampton’s West Quays Shopping centre and the high street is a very tall order indeed. This is because the land the city centre occupies is wedged between the River Test and River Itchen, making space here a very precious thing indeed.
Not to say we haven’t gone and found the nearest free parking in Southampton city centre because we have. But at a 22-minute walk, you may wish to consider paying for parking if you have a mass shopping spree in mind for your day.
But here it is, the best roads with free parking nearest to West Quays Shopping Centre and Southampton High street. Check out the map below as well.
| Free Parking near West Quays & the High st | Approx Walking Time to West Quays |
| Court Road | 22 mins |
| Cavendish Grove | 24 mins |
| Atherley Road | 24 mins |
| Earls Road (North End) | 25 mins |
| Arthur Road | 26 mins |
| Bond Street | 27 mins |
| Gordon Avenue | 28 mins |
| Westwood Road | 28 mins |
| Portswood Park | 28 mins |
| Imperial Road | 30 mins |
Free Parking near IKEA, Southampton
Parking near IKEA has the same issues for the same reason as with the Quays & High street. But below is a list of the roads we find with free parking nearest to IKEA Southampton. See the map above for directions.
Also, check out our tip lower down on how you can park in nearby car parks for free.
| Free Parking near to IKEA | Approx Walking Time to IKEA |
| Atherley Road | 23 mins |
| Arthur Road | 23 mins |
| Western District Cut | 24 mins |
| Stafford Road | 25 mins |
| Thornbury Avenue | 25 mins |
| Suffolk Avenue | 26 mins |
| Darwin Road | 26 mins |
| Richmond Road | 28 mins |
| Charlton Road | 28 mins |
| Norfolk Road | 30 mins |
How do you Park for Free at IKEA Southampton?
Is Parking Free at IKEA Southampton? If you spend £20 or more at IKEA, Southampton, you get 3 hours of free parking in both the IKEA car park and the West Quay multi-storey car park just next door. As a bonus, you can use the tunnel to walk between IKEA & West Quay Shopping Centre
IKEA Southampton – Opening Times
- 10 am to 9 pm – Monday to Friday
- 9 am to 9 pm – Saturday
- 11 am to 5 pm – Sunday
| Address: | Tel: | Website: |
| IKEA West Quay Road Southampton Hampshire England SO15 1GY United Kingdom | 0203 645 0000 | ikea.com/ Southampton |
Free Parking near the Guild Hall & City Art Gallery, Southampton
The nearest free parking to both The Southamptons’ Guild Hall & its’ City Art Gallery is a 16-minute walk away. This isn’t so bad when put in the context with the nearby Car Parking.
The cheapest paid car park is £3 for 4 hours and is a 14-minute walk away (this being the Trinity Road car park) & the nearest car park is a 7-minute walk away and costs £4.50 for a 4-hour stay.
So what do you think, fancy saving £3 and walking a few more minutes? See the list of roads near the Guildhall & city gallery that are free to park on.
| Free Parking near the Guild Hall & City Art Gallery | Approx Walking Time to the Guild Hall & City Art Gallery |
| Court Road | 16 mins |
| Atherley Road | 18 mins |
| Cavendish Grove | 18 mins |
| Stafford Road | 20 mins |
| Arthur Road | 20 mins |
| Earls Road | 20 mins |
| Westwood Road | 25 mins |
| Gordon Avenue | 25 mins |
| William Street | 27 mins |
| Bond Street | 28 mins |
Free Parking near Southampton Railway Stations
There are a whole lot of railway stations in Southampton, 8 in total, and these are:
- Southampton Central
- St Denys
- Bitterne
- Millbrook
- Swaythling
- Redbridge
- Woolston
- Sholing
We have sourced the best free parking near the main Southampton central railway station and listed them below. Below that is another epic list of the other 7 Southampton-based railway stations with the best nearest parking to them as well.
We then added all of the stations as roads to a google map for easy use and google directions. EPIC!
Southampton Central Railway Station
| Free Parking near Southampton Central Railway Station | Approx Walking Time to Southampton Central Station |
| Atherley Road | 12 mins |
| Arthur Road | 14 mins |
| Stafford Road | 13 mins |
| Thornbury Avenue | 14 mins |
| Darwin Road | 15 mins |
| Suffolk Avenue | 16 mins |
| Charlton Road | 19 mins |
| Western District Cut | 16 mins |
| Raymond Road | 18 mins |
| Norfolk Road | 19 mins |
Southampton – Other Railway Stations
| Free Parking near The Railways Stations in Southampton. | Approx Walking Time |
| St Denys Railway Station | To St Denys Railway Station |
| Osborne Road South | 6 mins |
| Adelaide Road | 9 mins |
| South Road | 10 mins |
| Priory Road | 12 mins |
| North Road | 9 mins |
| Eastfield Road | 11 mins |
| Bitterne Railway Station | To Bitterne Railway Station |
| Macnaghten Road | 2 mins |
| Harcourt Road | 5 mins |
| Bullar Road | 5 mins |
| Whitworth Crescent | 6 mins |
| Cobbett Road | 6 mins |
| Swaythling Railway Station | To Swaythling Railway Station |
| Havenstone Way (Narrow Road) | 2 mins |
| Westbrook Way | 2 mins |
| Farmery Close | 3 mins |
| Friars Way | 4 mins |
| Wessex Lane Around 10 spaces between Friar’s way & the Cresent of Wessex Lane | 6 mins |
| Redbridge Railway Station | To Redbridge Railway Station |
| Old Redbridge Road | 2 mins |
| Brunel Road | 4 mins |
| Tate Road | 4 mins |
| Oakridge Road | 8 mins |
| Parkside Avenue | 12 mins |
| Woolston Railway Station | To Woolston Railway Station |
| Garton Road In front of the Station at the far end | 30 Seconds |
| Manor Road South | 2 mins |
| Porchester Road | 5 mins |
| Millais Road | 9 mins |
| Bishops Road | 10 mins |
| Millbrook Railway Station | To Millbrook Railway Station |
| Lakelands Drive | 11 mins |
| Somerset Terrace | 11 mins |
| Testwood Road | 13 mins |
| Foundry Lane | 16 mins |
| Richmond Road | 15 mins |
| Sholing Railway Station | To Sholing Railway Station |
| Cranbury Road | 1 min |
| Station Road | 4 mins |
| Radstock Road | 6 mins |
| Temple Gardens | 8 mins |
| Archery Grove | 10 mins |
Free Parking Near the Southampton General & the Royal South Hants Hospital
There are two hospitals in Southampton, the main one is Southampton General Hospital, and the second is the Royal South Hants Hospital. We will start with the Main General Hospital and a list of roads that are nearby with free parking.
The nearest road we found is Palm Road. It is just an 11-minute walk away. Also, see the map below shows the general hospital (in red) to the left of the map with the free roads dotted around it.
| Free Parking near the Southampton General Hospital | Approx Walking Time to the Southampton General Hospital |
| Palm Road | 11 mins |
| St Winifred’s Road | 11 mins |
| St James Park Road | 12 mins |
| Vinery Gardens | 14 mins |
| Aldermoor Avenue | 14 mins |
| Conifer Road | 14 mins |
| Holly Oak Road | 14 mins |
| Brightside Road | 14 mins |
| Outer Circle | 16 mins |
| Seymour Road | 17 mins |
Is there free parking near Royal South Hants Hospital? You can park for free on Imperial Road, Southampton. It is only an 11-minute walk to the Royal South Hants Hospital. See the chart below for more free parking nearest to Royal South Hants Hospital.
See the list below, and use the map above to guide you to your destination. The Royal South Hants Hospital is located on the right on the map in red, and clustered above it are the nearby roads you can park on for free.
| Free Parking near the Royal South Hants Hospital | Approx Walking Time to the Royal South Hants Hospital |
| Imperial Road | 11 mins |
| Portswood Park (narrow) | 14 mins |
| Spring Crescent | 16 mins |
| Woodside Road | 19 mins |
| Lawn Road | 16 mins |
| Tennyson Road | 21 mins |
| Shakespeare Avenue | 20 mins |
| Horseshoe Bridge | 17 mins |
| Avenue Road | 14 mins |
| Earls Rd (North Half Only) | 12 mins |
Free Parking near the University of Southampton Campus & Glen Eyre Halls of Residence
It is funny to see how the permit-only areas cling around the University Campus and the Glen Eyre Halls of Residence campus. The message is clear: WE DON’T WANT STUDENTS PARKING HERE!
But Don’t fear, as this is only a 3-minute problem as just 2 or 3 roads beyond these restricted roads lies steams of flowing empty roads that you can park on for free.
So to help you find free parking, we have provided you with three things below:
- A-List of Free Parking near the University of Southampton
- A Map with Google directions of the Free Parking nearest the University of Southampton Campus & Glen Eyre Halls of Residence
- A list of the Free Parking nearest to the Glen Eyre Halls of Residence.
| Free Parking around Southampton University | Approx Walking Time to Southampton Uni |
| Honeysuckle Road (East End) | 12 mins |
| Bluebell Road | 14 mins |
| Lobelia Road | 16 mins |
| Poppy Road | 16 mins |
| Langhorn Road | 17 mins |
| Lupin Road | 17 mins |
| Carnation Road | 19 mins |
| Laburnum Road | 19 mins |
| Stoneham Lane | 23 mins |
| Phillimore Road | 24 mins |
| Willis Road | 25 mins |
| Free Parking near Glen Eyre Halls of Residence | Approx Walking Time to the Halls of Residence |
| Bassett Green Village | 1mins |
| The Park Way | 7 mins |
| Aspen Holt | 10 mins |
| Spindlewood Close | 10 mins |
| Courtland Gardens | 11 mins |
| Redwood Way | 12 mins |
| Bassett Wood Drive | 12 mins |
| Bassett Green Close | 15 mins |
| Bluebell Road | 19 mins |
| Monks Wood Close | 19 mins |
Free Parking near St Mary’s Stadium – Southampton F.C.
“Come on, You Saints” Find us some free parking!
Here are the nearest roads to Southampton football clubs, St Mary’s Stadium, where you can park for free. Check out the map below and use Google maps to get you to your location.
| Free Parking near St Mary’s Stadium, Southhampton | Approx Walking Time to the Stadium |
| William Street | 10 mins |
| Bond Street | 12 mins |
| Whitworth Road | 28 mins |
| Garfield Road | 28 mins |
| Bullar Road | 28 mins |
| Cobbett Road | 29 mins |
| Cross Road | 29 mins |
| Garfield Road | 28 mins |
| Whitworth Crescent | 31 mins |
| Midanbury Lane | 36 mins |
Free Parking near Southampton Airport
We didn’t think it was possible, but it was. Here are the best and nearest roads to Southampton airport, where you can park for free. Use the google directions on the map below this list.
| Free Parking near Southampton Airport | Approx Walking Time to the Airport |
| Claudeen Close | 16 mins |
| Walnut Avenue | 17 mins |
| Walnut Avenue | 17 mins |
| Pilgrim Place | 19 mins |
| Monks Way | 21 mins |
| Howard Close | 22 mins |
| Stoneham Cemetery Road | 24 mins |
| Chestnut Avenue – By Cricketers Arms Pub | 27 mins |
| Falcon Square | 33 mins |
| Wren Road | 32 mins |
Free Motorcycle Parking in Southampton City Centre
With big thanks to Southampton.gov for clearly stating where the motorcycle parking is. I have been able to bring you the below list and the super helpful map with google directions showing you the Free Motorcycle Parking in Southampton City Centre.
| Free Motorcycle Parking in Southampton | Near to: |
| High Street | High Street & West Quays |
| Harbour Parade | West Quays & IKEA |
| Ogle Road | West Quays & Guild Hall |
| Grosvenor Square | Watts & East Park & Guild Hall |
| Bellevue Road | Royal South Hants Hospital |
| Bond Street | Spartans Gym & Northam area |
| Central Station | Central Station, IKEA & Guild Hall |
| Colonnade Portsmouth Road Oakbank Road Victoria Road | Woolston Railway Station & Local Shops |
| Crosshouse Hard | Itchen Toll Bridge & Rowing Club |
| Platform Road | Queens Park & Ocean Village |
| Henstead Road | The Polygon |
Free Disabled Parking in Southampton Town Centre
Remembered your Blue Badge? Great stuff! Here’s a great list of the best Free Disabled Parking in Southampton Town Centre where you can put your Blue badge to work. Don’t forget to display it clearly on the dashboard.
| Free Disabled Disabled Parking in Southampton | Nearest to: |
| High Street | High St, West Quays & Queens Park |
| The Quays South | Quays Swimming Complex, IKEA, West Quays & High St |
| Commercial Road | Central Station, Guild Hall & Watts Park |
| Ordnance Road | Royal South Hants Hospital & Crown & Magistrates Court |
| Peel Street | St Mary’s Stadium – Southampton F.C. |
| Southampton General Hospital in Both the Main Car Park & by Ronald McDonald House | Southampton General Hospital |
| Mayflower Park | Mayflower Park |
| Bridge Road | Woolston Railway Station & Shops |
| Albion Place Car Park | West Quays, High Street & Masonic lodge |
| AB Parking | Marine Robotics & National Oceanography Centre |
Free Parking in Southampton City Centre after 6 pm, 10 pm & on Weekends
Can You Park for Free in Central Southampton after 6 pm? There are restricted Parking Zones you can park in for free from 6 pm. These are Zones 7, 9, 11, 12 & 19 from Monday to Friday and all day Saturday & Sunday. As well as Zones 4, 5, 8, 16, 17 & 18 from Monday to Saturday & all Day Sunday
Can You Park for Free in Central Southampton after 8 pm? You can Park in restricted Parking Zone 23 from 8 pm, but also Zones 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17 18, & 19 from 6 pm. Some of these zones are also free to park on all day Saturday & Sunday. Check the chart below for more details.
Can You Park for Free in Central Southampton after 10 pm? You can Park in restricted Parking Zones 1 to 12, 16 to 19 & Zone 23 from 10 pm to 8 am the following morning. You can also park in a lot of these zones from as early as 6 pm and all day Saturday & Sunday. See the chart below for more details.
Can You Park for Free in Central Southampton on Sunday? You can park for free on Sundays in restricted Parking Zones 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 All Day. You can also park for free in Zone 18 on Sundays from 6 pm to 8 pm the following Morning.
Restricted Parking Zones in Southampton & When it’s Free to Park in Them.
O.K. Great question, and the chart below explains when parking in each of the 25 restricted parking zones in Southampton city is free.
| Restricted Parking Zones in Southampton & When it’s Free to Park in them. | When You can Park for FREE |
| Zone 1 | Mon to Sat from 10 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 2 | Mon to Sun from 10 pm to 8 am the next day |
| Zone 3 | Mon to Sun from 10 pm to 8 am the next day |
| Zone 4 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 5 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 6 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 7 | Mon to Fri from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun |
| Zone 8 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 9 Varies within different parking places | Mon to Fri from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun Mon to Fri from 3 pm to 11 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun Mon to Fri from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun (1st Oct to 31 May) |
| Zone 10 | Mon to Fri from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun |
| Zone 11 Varies within different parking places | Mon to Fri from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 12 | Mon to Fri from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun |
| Zone 13 | None |
| Zone 14 | None |
| Zone 15 | None |
| Zone 16 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 17 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sunday |
| Zone 18 | Mon to Sat from 6 pm to 8 am the next day Sun & Bank Holidays 6 pm to 1 pm |
| Zone 19 | Mon to Fri from 3 pm to 8 am the next day Free all day Sat & Sun |
| Zone 20 | None |
| Zone 21 | None |
| Zone 22 | None |
| Zone 23 | Mon to Sun from 8 pm to 8 am the next day |
| Zone 24 | None |
| Zone 25 | None |
Portsmouth is a young and buzzing city in the county of Hampshire with lots of things to keep you entertained. But, if you do fancy a day trip away to a nearby place, may we suggest Winchester, Portsmouth, Worthing or Salisbury, Bournemouth, or Poole as we have also visited and found the best free parking in these spots too.
Wow! that is a lot of info, I’m not expecting you to read it all, but I do hope you managed to take from it the info you needed to get you parked for free near the Southampton amenity you are visiting.
Have a safe drive, and keep safe.
