Handford Place Car Park is a council-run car park in Southampton city centre, popular for the Bedford Place shopping and dining district, local independent cafes and northern commercial offices. This guide covers the latest parking charges, opening times, payment options and nearby attractions.
Handford Place Car Park Southampton Parking Charges
This car park offers both short-stay and all-day parking, making it suitable for shoppers, theatre visitors and longer city-centre stays. The regular daytime and evening pricing tiers apply as follows:
| Parking Duration | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £2.90 |
| Up to 3 hours | £3.80 |
| Up to 4 hours | £4.70 |
| Up to 5 hours | £5.60 |
| Up to 10 hours | £9.00 |
| All Day (Daily Maximum) | £11.00 |
Handford Place Car Park Southampton Opening Times
The operating schedules and standard charging sessions for this location are detailed below:
- Opening Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unlike local multi-storey buildings, this surface lot has no overnight lock-up closures.
- Charging Hours: Standard tariffs apply from 08:00 am until midnight, Monday to Sunday.
Where Is Handford Place Car Park?
The facility is located in the northern area of the city centre, offering straightforward vehicle access from major incoming routes.
- Address & Entrance: Handford Place (off Bedford Place), Southampton
- Sat-Nav Postcode: SO15 2DT
- Digital Coordinates: what3words: ///coach.leaned.bleak
- Driving Approach: Follow the local road signage for City Zone North to guide you directly to the entry layout.
How to Pay for Parking at Handford Place Car Park
Southampton City Council manages this site using traditional pay-and-display physical layouts alongside modern mobile applications.
- Pay and Display: Upon arrival, park within a designated bay and use the on-site terminal machinery to buy a physical ticket with cash or card. Ensure your ticket is displayed face-up clearly on your front dashboard area.
- Mobile App Payments: Drivers can pay digitally through their mobile device by opening the PayByPhone application. The unique location identification code for this specific site is 805228. Please ensure you confirm your correct car registration mark inside the app interface prior to finalizing your payment session.
Facilities and Space Information
The layout of this micro open surface facility contains dedicated areas for distinct parking demands:
- Number of spaces: 10 open-air surface parking bays.
- Blue Badge bays: There are no wider, dedicated accessible spaces inside this highly limited surface lot. Blue Badge permits allow holders to use standard parking bays free of charge without time limit restrictions.
- Height restrictions: There are no vertical height clearance restrictions or barriers at this site, making it accessible for high-top vehicles.
Places Near Handford Place Car Park
Parking at this facility places you a short walk away from the primary business, dining and cultural spots in the northern section of the city centre:
- Bedford Place Retail Strip: Located right at the entry point of the car park, providing immediate access to independent fashion stores, hairdressers, local cafes and bakery shops.
- Carlton Place & Restaurants: A brief 2-minute stroll away, highly popular for its outdoor pedestrianized dining squares and evening cocktail lounges.
- Mayflower Theatre: Accessible within a 6-minute walk westwards, serving as an open-air flat parking option if you are lucky enough to grab a space before a major stage show.
- Southampton Central Train Station: Approximately a 9-minute walk away, providing an option for quick drop-offs or rapid passenger pickups on the northern terminal line.
Alternative Parking Options Nearby
Because this micro lot contains only 10 total parking spaces, it is highly common to find it completely full. If you arrive and cannot find an empty bay, the best alternative options within a 2-minute radius include:
- Amoy Street Car Park (SO15 2DR): A council-managed open surface-level lot located just one street over, providing 54 flat outdoor spaces under identical Group A daily fee rates.
- Bedford Place MSCP (SO15 2TZ): A large council-run multi-storey facility situated right nearby, offering covered parking and fast EV charging points.
- Grosvenor Square North Car Park (SO15 2DA): A close open surface lot choice managed by the municipal network, providing flat outdoor spaces with no upper height boundaries.
Is Handford Place Car Park the Best Option?
This car park is a highly practical choice for drivers seeking flat, open-air city-centre parking close to the northern business and dining districts.
- Convenience: It offers the most immediate doorstep access to the central independent trading blocks of Bedford Place without navigating ramps or stairs.
- Value: It accepts council-issued anytime off-street season tickets and offers 24-hour access with no overnight gating gates, making it ideal for rapid express stops.
- Limitations: With an extreme limit of only 10 total parking bays on-site, it is highly unreliable for planned visits and lacks dedicated disabled or motorcycle spaces.
Handford Place Car Park Southampton FAQs
Can motorcycles park for free in Southampton council car parks?
Yes. Motorcycles can park completely free of charge with no time limits, provided they are parked inside the designated, marked motorcycle bays. If you choose to park a motorcycle in a standard car bay, regular parking charges apply and you must pay via the app or machine.
Do Blue Badge holders have to pay for parking?
No. Blue Badge holders can park free of charge with no time limit constraints across all open-air, surface-level council car parks in Southampton. This includes Handford Place Car Park, provided the valid badge is displayed clearly on the dashboard.
What happens if I am locked in a car park overnight?
Handford Place Car Park is an open surface facility that remains fully accessible 24 hours a day. Your vehicle cannot get locked inside overnight, removing the worry of clearing gates before a strict midnight closure window.
Can I park a motorhome or a large van in these car parks?
Only if it fits within a single marked bay and does not exceed 5 metres in length or 3.5 tonnes in weight. Because this site lacks a physical height restriction barrier, large high-top vans can safely enter, provided they fit inside a standard designated bay line.
How do I appeal a parking fine (PCN) in Southampton?
You can formally challenge a Penalty Charge Notice online through the official Southampton City Council portal within 28 days of receiving it. If you file your appeal within the first 14 days, the council will freeze the 50% early payment discount while your case is under review.
