Parking in Gosport

Town centre, waterfront, and beach car parks

Parking in Gosport is generally straightforward compared to nearby Portsmouth, though the town centre and Stokes Bay can fill up at busy times.

The main public car parks in the town centre are around the High Street and bus station area. There are pay and display car parks on Mumby Road and close to the ferry terminal, which serve shoppers, ferry commuters, and visitors to the Discovery Centre. Charges are modest compared to Portsmouth, and payment is typically by coin or card. Short-stay spaces with one or two-hour limits are available for quick visits.

For ferry commuters who need all-day parking, the car parks near the terminal offer long-stay rates. These fill up during the morning rush, so arriving early is advisable for a guaranteed space. Some commuters park on residential streets near the town centre to avoid charges, which can cause frustration for residents.

Stokes Bay has extensive parking along Bay Road and the seafront approaches. In summer, particularly on warm weekends and during school holidays, the bay car parks fill up by mid-morning. Charges apply during the season. The grass verges along the approach roads are used for overflow parking, and attendants sometimes manage the flow on the busiest days. Outside the summer season, parking at the bay is rarely a problem.

Residential parking across the borough is generally adequate, as most streets have on-street capacity. The Victorian terraced streets of the town centre, Forton, and the Anglesey area can be tighter, with narrow roads and limited off-street parking. There are no residents' parking zones in Gosport at present, though this has been discussed.

The Submarine Museum and Explosion Museum both have their own visitor car parks. Haslar Marina has parking for berth holders and visitors.

For those arriving from outside the borough, the A32 provides the sole road access. There is no park and ride facility, though the Eclipse busway from Fareham provides an alternative for those who can park at the Fareham end.

Disabled parking bays are provided in the town centre car parks and at the main visitor attractions.