Northam Road Car Park is a council-run car park in Southampton city centre, popular for the St Mary’s community shopping district, the Northam commercial corridor and St Mary’s Stadium. This guide covers the latest parking charges, opening times, payment options and nearby attractions.
Northam Road 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 |
Northam Road 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 options, this surface lot has no overnight lock-up times.
- Charging Hours: Standard tariffs apply from 08:00 am until midnight, Monday to Sunday.
Where Is Northam Road Car Park?
The facility is located on the eastern fringe of the city centre core, offering straightforward vehicle access from major incoming eastern routes.
- Address & Entrance: Northam Road (near St Mary Street), Southampton
- Sat-Nav Postcode: SO14 0PD
- Digital Coordinates: what3words: ///dice.little.diner
- Driving Approach: Follow the local road signage for City Zone South to guide you directly to the entry layout.
How to Pay for Parking at Northam Road 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 805220. 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: 24 open-air surface parking bays.
- Blue Badge bays: 2 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: There are no vertical height clearance restrictions or barriers at this site, making it accessible for high-top vehicles.
Places Near Northam Road Car Park
Parking at this facility places you a short walk away from primary independent shopping, community, and sporting spots:
- St Mary Street Shopping District: Situated right next to the lot boundaries, providing immediate access to local retail shops, diverse international markets, and independent community cafes.
- St Mary’s Stadium: Located roughly an 8-to-10-minute walk southeastwards, making it an excellent, low-cost matchday base for Southampton FC fans looking to avoid stadium gridlock.
- Six Dials Junction & Avenues: A brief 3-minute stroll away, providing easy walking links across the northern and eastern commercial business lines.
- Solent University Campus: Around an 8-minute walk westwards, offering an economical alternative parking layout for university visitors or staff members.
Alternative Parking Options Nearby
Because of its competitive lower-tier tariff scale and small capacity, this 24-space open lot can fill up quickly with long-stay commuters and local workers. If you arrive and find the lot is full, the best alternative options within a 5-minute radius include:
- Six Dials Car Park (SO14 0SU): A larger council-managed open surface lot located just a short distance away, offering 72 spaces under identical lower-tier daily rates.
- Trinity Road Car Park (SO14 0BG): Another nearby council surface parking option that services the St Mary’s area under matching budget-friendly municipal tiers.
- Compton Walk Car Park (SO14 0BH): A council-run 35-space open flat lot situated slightly further north, which features an exclusive free 10-minute drop-off window.
Is Northam Road 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 completely flat layout features no overhead height barrier framework, allowing high-top delivery vans, large commercial utility vehicles, and motorhomes to park without clearance concerns.
- Value: Falling into the council’s lowest-tier pricing structure, it is incredibly economical for long stays, capping at an £8.00 daily maximum, and accepts standard off-street season tickets.
- Limitations: With a capacity of only 24 total spaces available on-site, finding an empty slot during peak weekday business hours or on home football matchdays requires a lot of luck.
Northam Road 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 Northam Road Car Park, provided the valid badge is displayed clearly on the dashboard.
What happens if I am locked in a car park overnight?
Northam Road 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.
