Winchester is a cathedral city located just north of Southampton on the South Coast. If you are visiting for the day or even a few days, there is free parking in Winchester without restrictions.
What to consider when parking free in Winchester
What this article covers
When parking, please take into consideration:
- Be considerate – most free parking is on residential streets, so do not block driveways or exit routes
- Ensure there is enough space for larger vehicles to pass, especially if you park in a residential area
Here are our list of available free parking in Winchester, so if you are here on holiday, you can save money by finding a free parking spot.
3 places to park for free in Winchester (2023)
You can park for free in Winchester on the following streets near to the town centre:
- Monks Road
- St Stephen’s Road
- Silverwood Mews
You can expect a 15-20 minute walk to your free parking spots or you could jump on the regular bus service that heads into the town centre.
Cheapest all-day parking in Winchester
We found the cheapest car park in Winchester to be Tesco Winchester car park, which you can book even if you are not a customer – but it must be pre-booked.
You book this car park all day (9am – 5pm) for just £5, so it’s a great option for commuters or those visiting Winchester for the full day.
Cheapest monthly parking in Winchester
We found the cheapest car park for monthly parking in Winchester to be Premier Inn car park, which costs £65 per month, making it ideal for commuters.
You can use this car park 7 days a week, including overnight, and leave and re-enter the car park as many times as you need to.
Free car parks in Winchester
You can park for free in Winchester between 6pm and 8am at the following car parks:
- Chesil Multi Storey Car Park
- River Park Leisure Centre Car Park
- Cattle Market Car park
- Hillier Way Car Park
Chesil Multi Storey is the closest car park to Winchester centre with just 14 minute walk.
| Car Park | Address | Spaces | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesil Multi Storey Car Park | Barfield Close, Winchester, SO23 0HU | 616 | 6pm – 8am |
| River Park Leisure Centre Car Park | 15 Gordon Road, Winchester, SO23 7DE | 174 | 6pm – 8am |
| Cattle Market Car Park | Worthy Lane, Winchester, SO23 7AB | 202 | 6pm – 8am |
Free on-street parking in Winchester
If you would prefer to park in an on-street parking bay close to the city centre, you can park for free in Winchester for 30 minutes, all day Sunday and after 6pm Monday to Saturday at the following locations:
| Street | Free Parking |
|---|---|
| Andover Road | First 30 minutes, all day Sunday and after 6pm Mon – Sat |
| Colebrook Street | First 30 minutes, all day Sunday and after 6pm Mon – Sat |
| Market Lane | First 30 minutes, all day Sunday and after 6pm Mon – Sat |
| Parchment Street | First 30 minutes, all day Sunday and after 6pm Mon – Sat |
| St Peter Street | First 30 minutes, all day Sunday and after 6pm Mon – Sat |
Winchester Park & Ride Sites
Winchester has five park and ride sites that offer reduced parking charges and allow you to get into the city centre without having to battle the traffic, particularly at rush hour.
The four sites are located conveniently around the city so there is a park and ride site no matter which direction to come from.
Parking is capped at £3.50 at each of these sites (free after 4pm at Barfield and St Catherines). Note that there is no park and ride service on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.
| Park and Ride Site | Address | Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| East Winchester (Barfield) | Barfield Close, SO23 9SQ | 195 |
| East Winchester (Barfield Phase II) | Barfield Close | 250 |
| East Winchester (St Catherines) | Garnier Road, SO23 9NP | 583 |
| South Winchester | Access via M3 Junction 11 | 884 |
| Pitt | Romsey Road, SO22 5PR | 199 |
Free overnight parking in Winchester
If you are parking in Winchester after 6pm, you can park for free at the following on-street parking locations, providing you return to your car by 8am the following day to prevent a parking charge:
| Street | Free Parking |
|---|---|
| Andover Road | 6pm – 8am |
| Colebrook Street | 6pm – 8am |
| Market Lane | 6pm – 8am |
| Parchment Street | 6pm – 8am |
| St Peter Street | 6pm – 8am |
Alternatively, you can park for free overnight in Winchester at the following car parks:
| Car Park | Address | Spaces | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesil Multi Storey Car Park | Barfield Close, Winchester, SO23 0HU | 616 | 6pm – 8am |
| River Park Leisure Centre Car Park | 15 Gordon Road, Winchester, SO23 7DE | 174 | 6pm – 8am |
| Cattle Market Car Park | Worthy Lane, Winchester, SO23 7AB | 202 | 6pm – 8am |
Free coach parking in Winchester
Coaches visiting Winchester may park at Worthy Lane coach park (SO23 7AB), which is free on Sundays and after 6pm daily. Whilst this car park is not free outside of these times, it is cheap at just 80p per hour.
If you are just looking to drop off/ pick-up passengers, you can use Broadway by King Alfred’s statue and Sussex Street which both have a 20 minute limit.
Free motorcycle parking in Winchester
Winchester has plenty of free motorcycle parking in and around the city centre. When you park your motorcycle, you must park in a dedicated motorcycle bay otherwise you’ll be required to purchase a parking ticket:
- Chesil Street Multi Storey
- Colebrook Street
- Cossack Lane
- Friarsgate Multi Storey
- Gladstone Street
- Guildhall Yard (Public parking on Saturdays only)
- Jewry Street
- Middle Brook Street
- River Park Leisure Centre
- The Brooks (Area is situated outside of the car park on the ground level, off Friarsgate)
- Tower Street Multi Storey
Free motorhome parking in Winchester
If you’re travelling to Winchester by motorhome, you can park at Worthy Lane coach park (SO23 7AB) which is free on Sundays and after 6pm Mon – Fri, and just 80p per hour outside of these times.
Free disabled parking in Winchester
If you are a blue badge holder, you can park for free in Winchester at council run car parks providing you display your blue badge. These car parks include:
| Car Park | Address |
|---|---|
| Chesil Multi Storey Car Park | Barfield Close, Winchester, SO23 0HU |
| River Park Leisure Centre Car Park | 15 Gordon Road, Winchester, SO23 7DE |
| Cattle Market Car Park | Worthy Lane, Winchester, SO23 7AB |
Permit parking in Winchester
If you are a resident of a restricted parking zone in Winchester, you can apply for a residents parking permit, which allows you to park your car on any street in that zone.
Residents permits cost around £30 for 12 months. In order to apply for a permit, you will need proof of residence and proof of vehicle.
You can also purchase visitor passes which cost around £13 for 10.
About Winchester
Winchester is a cathedral city that is steeped in history and culture, including Winchester Cathedral, which stands proudly in the city centre and Winchester City Mill which is thought to be one of the oldest working watermills in the UK.
If you’re visiting the city as a family, there’s plenty of attractions to explore, including Winchester Science Centre and Marwell Zoo, both suitable for children of all ages.
Other towns and cities nearby
If you’re visiting the area for a short trip or just looking for things to do nearby, you can explore these towns and cities that are near to Winchester:
- Bournemouth
- Salisbury
- Basingstoke
- Southampton
About the Author
Hi, my name is Amber and I’m here to help find you suitable free parking in towns and cities across the UK.
When I visit new towns and cities, I always take note of where you can (legally) park for free, whether this be on-street parking bays or council run car parks, which offer free parking during certain hours of the day.
Although I take every effort to ensure this information is up to date and correct, if you notice an issue, please get in touch so I can rectify it for everyone.
Amber
