Southampton is a popular port town on the South Coast of England, so if you’re visiting for the day, or even longer, find the best free parking spots in Southampton without restrictions for a stress free trip.
9 places to park for free in Southampton (2026)
You can park for free in Southampton on the following streets near to the city centre:
West of Southampton:
North of Southampton:
What to consider when parking free in Southampton
When parking, ensure you park your vehicle considerately:
- Ensure you don’t block any driveways
- Park across one bay only
- Don’t double park
- Look out for newly installed parking signs
Free parking near University of Southampton
If you are visiting or even studying at the University of Southampton, the on-site parking charges can soon add up, but you can park for free within a 15 minute walk of the campus at the following locations:
- Langhorn Road
- Portswood Road
- Pointout Road
Free parking near Mayflower Theatre
The Mayflower Theatre is located in the city centre but does not have its own car park. Most visitors would use one of the multi-storey car parks located close by.
If you are looking for free parking near Mayflower Theatre to keep costs down, you can use the following streets:
- Albany Road
- Dyer Road
- Nelson Road
You can expect a 20 minute walk to the Mayflower Theatre from these free parking spots, so it’s recommended you leave enough time to get to the theatre for the start time.
Free car parks in Southampton
You can park in Southampton’s council run car parks after midnight Monday to Friday and on Sunday’s before 12pm and after 6pm. Car parks include:
| Car Park | Address | Spaces | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Way Car Park | SO14 2DD | 76 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| James Street Car Park | SO14 1PH | 16 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Compton Walk Car Park | SO14 0BH | 35 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Bedford Place Car Park (Multi-Storey) | SO15 2ZT | 289 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| College Street Car Park | SO14 3DZ | 168 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Harbour Parade Car Park | SO15 1BA | 64 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Eastgate Car Park (Multi Storey) | SO14 3HH | 709 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Gloucester Square Car Park | SO14 2GH | 90 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Albion Place Car Park | SO14 2BN | 52 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
| Commercial Road Car Park | SO15 1GD | 11 | Mon – Fri: 6pm – 8am Sundays: before 12pm and after 6pm |
Free on-street parking in Southampton
You can park for free in Southampton at a number of on-street parking bays between 8pm and 8am daily and before 1pm on Sundays:
- Queen’s Terrace
- Orchard Place
- Bell Street
- Canal Walk
- Bernard Street
- Western Esplanade
Cheapest all-day parking in Southampton
We found the cheapest car park in Southampton to be West Quay Road car park, which you can book even if you are not a customer – but it must be pre-booked.
You book this car park all day (9am – 5pm) for just £3.90, so it’s a great option for commuters or those visiting Southampton for the full day.
Cheapest monthly parking in Southampton
We found the cheapest car park for monthly parking in Southampton to be West Quay Road car park, which costs £70 per month, making it ideal for commuters.
You can use this car park 7 days a week, including overnight, and leave and re-enter the car park as many times as you need to, although you must pre-book.
Free overnight parking in Southampton
If you are looking for free overnight parking in Southampton, you can park in the following parking bays between 8pm and 8am daily and before 1pm on Sundays:
- Queen’s Terrace
- Orchard Place
- Bell Street
- Canal Walk
- Bernard Street
- Western Esplanade
Free disabled parking in Southampton
Blue Badge Holders can park at the following pay and display on-street parking locations in Southampton free of charge with no time limit:
Inner Zone (Red)
- Park Walk Commercial Road
- Grosvenor Square
- Bedford Place
- Carlton Crescent
- Bellvue Road
- Asylum Road
- Kings Park Road
- London Road
- St Mary’s Street
- Palmerston Road
- East Street
- Canal Walk
Outer Zone (Green)
- Rockstone Place
- Morris Road
- Henstead Road
- Wilton Avenue
- Queen’s Way
- Threefield Lane
Free coach parking in Southampton
If you are travelling to Southampton by coach, you should know where to park before you set off.
There is a dedicated coach parking area at Mayflower Theatre coach park which has room for 4-5 coaches who can park for up to 10 hours free of charge. For smaller buses such as Minibuses, you can park for free for up to 10 hours at the following loacations:
- Palmerston Road (SO14 1NH)
- Herbert Walker Avenue (SO15 1HJ)
Motorhome parking in Southampton
If you travel to Southampton by Motorhome, you can park at the following location, which has no height restrictions:
- Harbour Parade long stay Car Park, SO15 1BA
You must park in the dedicated oversized parking bay when parking your motorhome in this car park. It is also not permitted to sleep in your motorhome whilst parked up overnight.
Residential parking permits in Southampton
If you are a resident living in one of Southampton’s permit parking areas, you can apply for a residents parking permit. Costs range from free to £100 for the year, depending on the area/zone you live.
To apply for a Resident Permit you will need proof of address and proof of vehicle ownership.
About Southampton, UK
Southampton is located on the South Coast of England and is steeped in history. The port city has structures dating back to the Medieval times, with plenty of architecture to take in.
If you’re looking for entertainment, there’s no shortage in Southampton, with plenty of high street shops to explore and restaurants to sample.
If you’re visiting as a family or live locally, there’s plenty of activities to enjoy with the little ones, as well as plenty of free things to do, including visiting Southampton Common, walk the city walls and head off on the Titanic trail.
Other towns and cities nearby
If you’re visiting the area for a short trip or just looking for things to do nearby, you can explore these towns and cities that are near to Southampton:
About the Author
Hi, my name is Amber and I’m here to help find you suitable free parking in towns and cities across the UK.
When I visit new towns and cities, I always take note of where you can (legally) park for free, whether this be on-street parking bays or council run car parks, which offer free parking during certain hours of the day.
Although I take every effort to ensure this information is up to date and correct, if you notice an issue, please get in touch so I can rectify it for everyone.
Amber
Information was last updated on January 12th, 2024