Getting here and getting around
Train
Our closest station is ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø and Southsea. It’s a 5-minute walk from the buildings on our Guildhall campus.
There are daily direct trains from London Waterloo and London Victoria (2 hours), and regular services from Southampton, Bournemouth, Chichester and Brighton. We’re only a 2-hour journey away from Bristol too.
You can plan your route with or .
Car
Take the M275 into ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø (signed 'ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø West') whether approaching from the east (A3(M)/A27) or the west (M27 Junction 12). Ignore the junctions signed to Southsea and Hilsea.
Park and ride
As with any city, parking in ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø is limited. Therefore it's best to use the at the entrance to the city on the M275. The cost is £4 per vehicle and buses run into ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø every 12 minutes. Up to 5 people can travel using 1 ticket.
Parking in the city
If you want to park in the city, follow signs for 'Historic Waterfront/Seafront' from the end of the M275. This takes you across 3 roundabouts to traffic lights by Unicorn Gate (entrance to the naval dockyard) and St John's Cathedral.
These are the traffic lights at the top of the Guildhall Campus map – the route you take from here depends which part of the campus you're heading to.
Car parks and limited on-street parking is available in the city centre for a small charge, but spaces fill up quickly.
You’ll need a visitor’s permit if you want to use a University car park. To apply for one, email car.parking@port.ac.uk. Sorry, we can’t guarantee you a space in advance.
If you have an electric car, there are a number of charging points around the city that you can use. You can find the locations for all of the points using the .
Parking discounts
Students and University staff can park at Gunwharf Quays Car Park during weekdays for the discounted rate of £5 for up to 12 hours per day. The discounted rate is not available on weekends, during ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø school holidays and one-off events.
Please visit the car park office at Gunwharf Quays (G Section of the Upper Basement Level) at the start of the day to get your ticket validated for the discount, you will have to provide valid student or staff ID.
Gunwharf Quays can also offer student discount at Wickham Street Car Park - 3 Wickham Street, PO1 3EF on weekdays during school holidays.
If you have any questions, please call 02392 836773 or email gunwharf.quays@apcoa.com
Parking at the University
The University has a number of car parks with spaces available on a first-come first-served basis
University car parks are open to the general public and staff/students without permits outside of permit hours (from 4.00pm - 7.00am Mon - Fri and anytime at weekends) using the pay and display tariff.
Parking charges can be paid by using the Pay By Phone app or by visiting . You can also pay by phoning 0330 400 7275. You will need the location number of the car park which will be displayed on signage at your chosen car park.
EV charging is also available in selected car parks using the SEE-V app at 55p per KW. You will need to pay for both the car park charge and EV charge separately.
- All parking charges are paid through Pay By Phone by using the app, website or by phoning 0330 400 7275
- Charges apply per hour
- You will need the location code which you can find on signage within the car park
- You will need a valid credit or debit card and your vehicle registration number
- Public parking is not allowed between 7.00am – 4.00pm Monday - Friday to prioritise staff permit holders
- For more support with payments visit paybyphone.co.uk
Monday - Friday
4.00pm - 7.00am
|
Up to 2 hours |
£3.20 |
|
Up to 3 hours |
£4.20 |
|
Up to 4 hours |
£6.00 |
|
Up to 5 hours |
£7.00 |
|
Up to 7 hours |
£9.00 |
|
Up to 9 hours |
£12.00 |
|
Up to 10 hours |
£14.00 |
|
Up to 15 hours |
£16.00 |
All Tariffs expire at 7.00am
Friday 4.00pm - Monday 7.00am
Same charges as above
All tariffs expire Monday 7.00am
How can I pay for parking?
Payment can be made using the Pay By Phone app, website or by phoning 0330 400 7275
How long can I park for?
Vehicles can be parked for up to 15 hours as long as they are not during permit hours. Please refer to charges above for parking rates.
When can I use the car park?
Those without University parking permits are able to park using the pay as you go tariff at the following times:
- Monday - Friday from 4.00pm to 7.00am the following day
- Friday from 4.00pm until Monday at 7.00am
What if I need to extend my parking time?
You can easily extend your parking session by using the same method you used previously to pay for your parking. Simply select ‘extend’ and pay for the additional time you wish to use.
How many car parks are there? Can I use any of them?
There are 17 pay and display car parks as listed below. Car parks available for public parking will have relevant signage. Ravelin Sports Centre car park is for sports centre use only.
What if my car is still parked there outside the designated public parking times?
The car parks are monitored by ANPR and failure to comply with terms and conditions of the car park will result in a £70 parking charge.
What if I move my car to a different University car park during my pre-paid parking session?
You will be charged for the full pre-paid session whether you stay for the full session or not.
This applies even if you move your car to a different car park as you would still pay for the previous session before it runs out and will need to pay for the new session in the new car park.
What if I have issues paying through the app?
Support with the app can be found at .
Can I use the EV parking spaces?
Yes, you are welcome to use the EV parking spaces as long as you park outside of the permit hours listed above. There is an additional charge for using the chargers which is separate to the parking charges.
To use the charging stations simply download the SEE-V app, register and set up payment details, plug in and start charging. Charging will cost 55p per KW and drivers will need to move the vehicle once charging is complete to avoid idle fees.
Please note that vehicles cannot be left in charging bays for long term or overnight parking.
Car Parks & Spaces
Below is a map of the University car parks with total spaces, disabled bays, and EV charging points.
Taxi
If you're travelling to ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø from one of the major London airports, taxis are fairly expensive, costing between £100 and £200. For this reason, we don't recommend taking a taxi for your journey. If you do choose to take a taxi, you should book it in advance to get the best offers possible. Once you arrive in ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø, taxis are common and journeys will generally cost no more than £15 to £20.
Coach
Regular daily direct coach services run to ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø from London, Bristol, Birmingham, Heathrow and other locations around the country.
All these services call at The Hard Interchange by ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø Harbour railway station, which is a 15-minute walk from our Guildhall campus.
You can find out coach times and routes with and .
Air
From London
For all international connections, we’re only 1 hour 30 minutes from both Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
From Southampton
Southampton International – which has regular flights to Paris, Cherbourg, the Channel Islands, Belfast, Glasgow and more – is just 30 minutes by car and easy to reach by train too.
Sea
There are between ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø and Caen, Le Havre and St Malo in France. There are also twice-weekly services to Bilbao and Santander in Spain, and regular services to Jersey and Guernsey.
There are crossings each day to the Isle of Wight too, by , , and . A also runs across the harbour to Gosport.
Local bus services
Our is available during term-time. The runs from Monday to Friday, close to where many students live in Southsea.
ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø has excellent city bus services too. You can catch local and intercity buses from the main bus station at The Hard Interchange, next to ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø Harbour railway station. There is also a from the M275 terminal with stops in the centre of the University campus.
Bike or foot
ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø is fairly flat and there's plenty to see, so the best way to discover the city is on foot or by bike. You’ll find plenty of footpaths and cycleways to follow across the city.
Whether you’re looking for information about local cycle routes, walking maps, or links to public transport you can plan your journey using or the travel app.
Accessible travel
Blue badge holders can park free of charge in most ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø City Council car parks and most on-street parking spaces.
If you have special requirements, please contact us.