Six Dials Car Park is a council-run car park in Southampton city centre, popular for the St Mary Street shopping district, the Northam Road area and the eastern edge of the city centre. This guide covers the latest parking charges, opening times, payment options and nearby attractions.
Six Dials Car Park Southampton Parking Charges
This car park offers both short-stay and low-cost long-stay parking options, making it highly practical for budget-conscious visitors and daily workers. The regular daytime and evening pricing tiers apply as follows:
| Parking Duration | Standard Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £1.20 |
| Up to 2 hours | £2.20 |
| Up to 3 hours | £2.70 |
| Up to 4 hours | £3.20 |
| Up to 5 hours | £3.70 |
| Up to 10 hours | £6.00 |
| Over 10 hours (Daily Maximum) | £8.00 |
Six Dials 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 Six Dials Car Park?
The facility is located near the prominent Six Dials signalized junction on the eastern edge of the central district, offering straightforward vehicle access from major incoming routes like the A33 and A3024.
- Address & Entrance: Trinity Road (near St Mary Street / Northam Road), Southampton
- Sat-Nav Postcode: SO14 0SU
- Digital Coordinates: what3words: ///canny.cloud.slime
- Driving Approach: Follow the local road signage for City Zone North to navigate directly toward the entry area.
How to Pay for Parking at Six Dials 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 805221. 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 open surface facility contains dedicated areas for distinct parking demands:
- Number of spaces: 72 open-air surface parking bays.
- Blue Badge bays: 4 wider, dedicated accessible spaces are available on-site. Blue Badge permits allow holders to use these spaces free of charge without time limit restrictions.
- Height restrictions: An overhead entrance clearance restriction framework limits incoming vehicle heights to below 2.06 metres (6 feet 9 inches).
Places Near Six Dials Car Park
Parking at this facility places you a short walk away from primary independent shopping, professional, and civic spots:
- St Mary Street & Northam Road: Located just steps away from the parking lines, providing immediate access to diverse local convenience stores, community shops, and family eateries.
- Charlotte Place Commercial District: A brief 5-minute walk westwards, making it convenient for those visiting corporate business quarters or local hotel developments.
- Solent University Campus: Around a 6-minute walk away, serving as an economical parking alternative for visiting students or campus guests.
- St Mary’s Stadium: Located roughly a 10-to-12-minute walk eastwards, making it a handy base for Southampton FC matchday fans who want to avoid the immediate traffic gridlock near the grounds.
Alternative Parking Options Nearby
Because of its highly competitive lower-tier tariff scale, this 72-space surface lot can fill up quickly with long-stay commuters. If you arrive and find the lot is full, the best alternative options within a 5-minute radius include:
- Trinity Road Car Park (SO14 0BG): A council-managed open surface parking lot situated right nearby, providing an alternative flat footprint under identical lower-tier daily rates.
- Compton Walk Car Park (SO14 0BH): Another nearby council surface lot option that offers 35 spaces and features a free 10-minute drop-off window.
- Bond Street Car Park (SO14 5QN): A council-run surface facility located slightly southwards, perfect for drivers navigating the eastern central boundaries.
Is Six Dials 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: The open-air, flat layout means you can pull in and park without navigating narrow multi-storey ramp structures or tight concrete internal pillars.
- Value: Placed inside the lower-tier municipal long-stay structure, it features a highly economical daily maximum cap compared to core central multi-storey facilities and has a Safer Parking Award designation for extra peace of mind.
- Limitations: The 2.06-metre entrance bar limits access for high-top commercial transport, and because it is completely open to the elements, your vehicle will not be protected against wet weather or winter frost.
Six Dials 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 Six Dials Car Park, provided the valid badge is displayed clearly on the dashboard.
What happens if I am locked in a car park overnight?
Six Dials 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. For this specific car park, any vehicle must also safely clear the physical entrance clearance limitation bar framework height limit of 2.06 metres.
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.
