This article was created in February 2024
Free and Paid Parking in Portsmouth
Table of Contents
While ParkingScout takes every step to ensure that the parking information provided is accurate at the time of writing, parking prices and availability change with time. ParkingScout accepts no responsibility for any fines or tickets, or loss of or damage to property as a result of using our website.
Happy parking!
Free, unrestricted residential street parking
As far as free streetside parking on residential streets goes, Portsmouth gets ParkingScout’s seal of approval. While many streets have ‘residents only’ restrictions, unlike other similarly sized cities, Portsmouth actually has a fair number of streets with zero or very limited restrictions. If you’re visiting Portsmouth and don’t mind leaving your car curbside, check out these streets to find free (and often unrestricted) residential streetside parking options.
Please note that all the distances indicate the approximate walking distance to the Cascades Shopping Centre, considered to be the centre of Portsmouth by the internet. Unless you’re visiting Portsmouth’s high streets, your destination is likely to be even closer.
East Portsmouth
You can find plenty of streets with ample free parking between Baffins Pond and Milton Park. These are great options for anyone planning on visiting the eastern shores of Portsmouth to see Milton Common or the Great Salterns Recreation Ground. Please remember to remove all valuables from sight and park in a way that doesn’t obstruct traffic or cause an inconvenience to others.
- Alverstone Road PO4 8RR (1hr max.) – 1.6 miles
- Walsall Road PO3 6DN – 1.7 miles
- Kimbolton Road PO3 6BZ – 1.5 miles
- Bonchurch Road PO4 8RZ – 1.7 miles
- Lichfield Road PO3 6DF – 1.6 miles
- Sunningdale Road PO3 6EX – 1.7 miles
- Ascot Road PO3 6EY – 1.8 miles
- Stride Avenue PO3 6HW – 1.9 miles
- Ruskin Road PO4 8RQ (1 hr max.) – 1.5 miles
- Frogmore Road PO4 8RB (1 hr max.) – 1.4 miles
- Carisbrooke Road PO4 8RF (1hr max.) – 1.5 miles
- Posbrooke Road PO4 8JJ – 1.8 miles
- Meon Road PO4 8NN – 1.9 miles
South Portsmouth
Towards the south of Portsmouth, you can find a handful of streets that offer free parking within half a mile or so of Southsea Beach and Southsea Common. Most of these streets are only one or two turns away from Victoria Road South, making them easily accessible from one of the main roads heading through Portsmouth.
- Grove Road South PO5 3HY – 1.2 miles
- Taswell Road PO5 2RQ – 1.7 miles
- Albany Road PO5 2AB – 1.2 miles
- Exmouth Road PO5 2QF – 1.4 miles
West Portsmouth
Free streetside parking can be found on a number of streets within a 10-minute walk east of Portsmouth City Centre (they’re still located in the western part of the city though). Remember to park respectfully and to adhere to any local parking regulations or signage to avoid being issued a PCN.
- Railway View PO1 1LF – 0.5 miles
- Buriton Street PO1 1JH (1 hr max.) – 0.3 miles
- Cottage View PO1 1LU – 0.5 miles
- Hale Street South PO1 4HY – 0.6 miles
- Maitland Street PO1 4PA – 0.6 miles
- Foster Road PO1 4HS – 0.5 miles
- Church Road PO1 1QD – 0.6 miles
- Timpson Road PO1 4JR – 0.7 miles
Free parking after 6pm/Overnight
Portsmouth offers plenty of free parking after 6pm within walking distance of pretty much everywhere. Feel free to look for free overnight streetside parking at any of these locations. Be sure to arrive after 6pm and leave before 8am to avoid a PNC. Outside of these hours, the hourly rate depends on the parking spot’s location, with prices ranging between £2.30 and £3.40 for 2 hours of parking. Once again, the distances indicated show the walking distance to the Cascades Shopping Centre.
- Anglesea Road PO1 3HJ
- Arundel Street PO1 1JL
- Avenue De Caen PO5 2ET
- Bellevue Terrace PO5 3AT
- High Street PO1 2SX
- Burnaby Road PO1 2HB
- East Surrey Street PO1 1JY
- Greetham Street PO5 4LH
- Kingston Crescent PO2 8AB
- London Road PO2 0LN
- Nancy Road PO1 5EH
- Selbourne Terrace PO1 5AL
- Saint James’s Road PO5 4JB
- Trimmer’s Court PO1 2JJ
- Western Parade PO5 3RL
Free 2h parking/Customers only
If you’re sure that you’ll be back in your car in less than two hours, consider grabbing a parking space at one of these locations. Most of these spots are for customers only, but you can get around that by grabbing a coffee and getting your parking ticket validated for much less than what you’d pay at a private car park.
- The Bridge Shopping Centre PO1 1SL
- Tesco PO4 8FD
- The Pompey Centre PO4 8SL
- Ocean Retail Park PO3 5NP
- Mountbatten Centre PO2 9QA
Cheapest paid car parks in Portsmouth
Leaving your vehicle unattended on the side of the road might work for some, but we understand if you don’t consider this a viable option. If you’re looking for more secure options that don’t cost an arm and a leg, take a look at ParkingScout’s list of cheapest the paid car parks in Portsmouth.
- Stubbington Avenue Car Park PO2 0HS – £1.10 for 2 hours
- Victory Retail Park PO1 4QP – £1.60 for 2 hours
- Portsmouth and Southsea Station PO1 1BE – £1.95 for 2 hours
- Richmond Place PO5 3QQ – £2.00 for 2 hours
- Wickham Street Car Park PO1 3EF – £2.00 for 2 hours
- Old Commercial Road Car Park PO1 4QQ – £2.20 for 2 hours
- Clarence Street Car Park PO1 4AY – £2.20 for 2 hours
- Crasswell Street car park PO1 1RS – £2.70 for 2 hours
- Cascades Multi-storey PO1 4RS – £2.70 for 2 hours
Free and Paid Parking Near Popular Portsmouth Locations
Free Parking near Cascades Shopping Centre
Free Parking near Fratton Park
Free Parking near Kings Theatre
Free Parking near Portsmouth Distillery
Visiting Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a vibrant port city on the south coast of England, rich in maritime and naval history. Since the construction of the first dockyard at Portsmouth under the rule of King John in 1212, its history has been closely intertwined with the sea. While much has changed over the last 800 years (what hasn’t changed in this time?), today, it attracts around 14 million visitors per year and is one of the most visited cities on the south coast.
One of the city’s crouwn jewels is the Historic Dockyard, where visitors can step aboard the HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, as well as the HMS Warrior 1860, the first iron-hulled warship in the Royal Navy. Other notable attractions include the Mary Rose Museum, where visitors can see Henry VIII’s warship that was raised from the seabed in 1982, and Spinnaker Tower, which offers panoramic views across the city.
Portsmouth is also associated with a number of notable historical figures. It’s the birthplace of famed author Charles Dickens (1812) and is where the famed civil and mechanical engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, accelerated the pace of the industrial revolution with his groundbreaking designs and constructions in public transport and modern engineering.
Portsmouth isn’t only for history buffs, though. These days, it hosts a plethora of music, food, book, camping, fitness, and other festivals, with people from all over the world flocking to the city to enjoy all that it has to offer.
When it comes to parking, much like any other historical city with a bustling centre, Portsmouth presents its own set of challenges. The city is criss-crossed with pedestrian zones and one-way systems that confuse even locals, and with parking in high demand, especially near popular attractions, finding affordable and convenient parking can be a hassle. If you’re planning a trip to Pompey anytime soon, be sure to check out our guide to free and paid parking in Portsmouth to save you both time and money trying to pinpoint the best parking options.
