Kings Park Road Car Park is a council-run car park in Southampton city centre, popular for the Bedford Place shopping district, London Road commercial offices and the central Cultural Quarter. This guide covers the latest parking charges, opening times, payment options and nearby attractions.
Kings Park Road 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 |
Kings Park 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 Kings Park Road Car Park?
The facility is located in the northern area of the city centre, offering straightforward vehicle access from major incoming routes.
- Address & Entrance: Kings Park Road, Southampton
- Sat-Nav Postcode: SO15 2AU
- Digital Coordinates: what3words: ///rates.desire.silver
- 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 Kings Park 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 805224. 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: 76 open-air surface parking bays.
- Blue Badge bays: There are no wider, dedicated accessible spaces inside this particular surface lot. Blue Badge permits allow holders to use standard parking bays free of charge without time limit restrictions.
- Motorcycle spaces: Dedicated, marked motorcycle bays are available on-site. Motorbikes can utilize these specific bays free of charge with no time constraints.
- Height restrictions: There are no vertical height clearance restrictions or barriers at this site, making it accessible for high-top vehicles.
Places Near Kings Park Road 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:
- London Road Commercial District: Sits right alongside the street line, making it highly practical for professional office visits, bank branches, and local business hubs.
- Bedford Place & Carlton Place: Located just a 3-minute walk westward, providing quick access to independent boutiques, coffee shops, and popular dining strips.
- Watts Park & East Park: Positions you directly on the edge of these historic municipal green spaces, perfect for family walks or lunchtime breaks.
- Mayflower Theatre: Accessible within a 6-minute stroll west across the park lanes, serving as an excellent open-air alternative for theatre audiences.
Alternative Parking Options Nearby
Because of its highly convenient position close to core office zones and park lanes, this 76-space lot can fill up quickly during weekday morning business hours. If you find the spaces are full, the best alternative options within a 5-minute radius include:
- Ordnance Road Car Park (SO15 2FE): A smaller council-managed open surface lot located slightly northwards off London Road, operating under competitive mid-stay tariffs.
- Grosvenor Square MSCP (SO15 2BE): A large council-run multi-storey facility situated nearby, providing over 500 covered spaces and ground-floor EV charging points.
- Bedford Place MSCP (SO15 2TZ): A major multi-storey option nearby that uses automated ticketless ANPR entries and provides covered, secure spaces under standard council fees.
Is Kings Park 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 surface layout features no overhead height barrier framework, allowing large SUVs, high-top commercial transport, and delivery vans to park easily.
- Value: It accepts standard council anytime off-street season tickets, making it highly cost-effective for regular office workers and daily commuters.
- Limitations: Because it is fully open to the elements, your vehicle will not be protected against wet weather conditions or winter frost.
Kings Park 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 Kings Park Road Car Park, provided the valid badge is displayed clearly on the dashboard.
What happens if I am locked in a car park overnight?
Kings Park 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.
