Car Parking in Chichester
City centre car parks, charges and tips
Parking in Chichester is a perennial concern for visitors and residents alike. The city is compact and busy, and the demand for parking spaces, particularly during peak shopping hours, market days and summer weekends, frequently exceeds supply. Understanding the options and planning ahead can save time and frustration.
Avenue de Chartres is the largest car park in the city centre, with over 500 spaces on a multi-storey site off the A286. It is the default choice for most visitors and is well signposted from the main approach roads. Charges are applied on a per-hour basis, and the cost adds up for longer stays. The car park is busiest on Saturdays, during the Christmas period and on warm summer days when visitors combine a trip to Chichester with a drive to the coast.
Northgate car park, near the Festival Theatre, is another popular option. It is convenient for the theatre, Priory Park and the northern end of the city centre. Little London car park, close to the cathedral and the Pallants, serves the southern part of the city and is useful for visitors to the cathedral, Pallant House Gallery and the Bishop's Palace Gardens.
The cattle market car park, east of the city centre, provides additional capacity and is sometimes used as an overflow on busy days. There are also smaller car parks dotted around the edges of the city, and some on-street parking is available, though spaces are limited and time-restricted.
Charges vary between car parks and are set by Chichester District Council. Short stays of an hour or two are relatively affordable, but full-day parking is more expensive and can deter those who want to spend a leisurely day in the city. Season tickets and regular user passes are available for commuters and frequent visitors, offering savings over daily rates.
Park and ride services have been discussed and trialled over the years, with varying success. The A27 bypass creates a natural boundary, and park and ride from sites outside the bypass could, in theory, reduce the pressure on city centre parking. However, the viability of such schemes depends on frequency, reliability and pricing.
Disabled parking bays are available in all the main car parks and on-street. Blue Badge holders can park in designated bays and on yellow lines subject to the usual restrictions. Electric vehicle charging points are being installed across the car parks, reflecting the growing number of electric cars on the roads.
For those who can avoid driving into the centre, walking, cycling and the bus services from surrounding areas provide alternatives. The railway station is a short walk from the city centre, and the Centurion Way cycle and walking path provides a traffic-free route from the north.
Park and ride services have been discussed and trialled over the years, with varying degrees of success and public enthusiasm. The A27 bypass creates a natural boundary around the city, and park and ride from sites outside the bypass could, in theory, reduce the pressure on city centre parking. However, the viability of such schemes depends on frequency, reliability and pricing, and the history of park and ride in Chichester has been chequered.
Disabled parking bays are available in all the main car parks and on-street. Blue Badge holders can park in designated bays and on yellow lines subject to the usual restrictions. Electric vehicle charging points are being installed across the car parks, reflecting the growing number of electric cars on the roads and the need to provide infrastructure to support the transition away from petrol and diesel.
For those who can avoid driving into the centre, walking, cycling and the bus services from surrounding areas provide alternatives that also save the parking charges. The railway station is a short walk from the city centre, and the Centurion Way cycle and walking path provides a traffic-free route from the north.