Journey advice for getting to ground (first game for 5 year old)

[Ekimr]

Hi

I attend a few games a season but normally just park up by avenue / cowherds and do the 30 / 40 odd minute walk

For the legends game i will have a couple of 5 year old in tow and looking to somehow get much closer to the ground via public transport or preferably car parks.

I dont think west quay is much better for an answer ..i am not seeing any obvious public car parks much closer

It looks like buses from town centre might be the solution but happy to hear if any car parking solutions nearer to the ground (we normally approach down the avenue but would consider alternative if helped)  

Thanks

[Football Special]

35 minutes ago, Ekimr said:

Hi

I attend a few games a season but normally just park up by avenue / cowherds and do the 30 / 40 odd minute walk

For the legends game i will have a couple of 5 year old in tow and looking to somehow get much closer to the ground via public transport or preferably car parks.

I dont think west quay is much better for an answer ..i am not seeing any obvious public car parks much closer

It looks like buses from town centre might be the solution but happy to hear if any car parking solutions nearer to the ground (we normally approach down the avenue but would consider alternative if helped)  

Thanks

Sometimes use multi story car park at ocean village,  there's a shuttle bus that runs from there up to the ground, worth asking club to confirm that will be running on Saturday 

[ant]

On-road parking on Horseshoe Bridge is a potential. Not many spaces, but doable if you arrive at a reasonable time.

It's about 20 mins walk to the ground down the Itchen Riverside Boardwalk.

Walking back to your car will be faster than any other mode of transport - and then you've got direct access to Thomas Lewis Way.

[Patrick Bateman]

2 hours ago, Ekimr said:

Hi

I attend a few games a season but normally just park up by avenue / cowherds and do the 30 / 40 odd minute walk

For the legends game i will have a couple of 5 year old in tow and looking to somehow get much closer to the ground via public transport or preferably car parks.

I dont think west quay is much better for an answer ..i am not seeing any obvious public car parks much closer

It looks like buses from town centre might be the solution but happy to hear if any car parking solutions nearer to the ground (we normally approach down the avenue but would consider alternative if helped)  

Thanks

Train is good - there is a St Mary's bus right outside the station (Toys r Us side) on a match day, it's only a couple of quid return

[ecuk268]

There's the new park and ride at Adanac Park, just off of the M271.

The operate on matchdays but you'd need to check with them to see if the Legends game qualifies.

https://www.bluestarbus.co.uk/southampton-weekend-park-ride

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

If a 20 minute or so walk is OK for the young 'uns then the Marlands is a good place to park. Can always get a space and you just pay when you get back so no racing to get there.

Alternatively, I think it's £4.50 for all day parking in the Toys-R-Us car park next door.

[Barton Saint]

Best if you try and get into St Mary’s street and the small car park behind the shops and then it’s only a 10 minute walk to the stadium 

[John Boy Saint]

On 23/03/2026 at 11:59, Ekimr said:

Hi

I attend a few games a season but normally just park up by avenue / cowherds and do the 30 / 40 odd minute walk

For the legends game i will have a couple of 5 year old in tow and looking to somehow get much closer to the ground via public transport or preferably car parks.

I dont think west quay is much better for an answer ..i am not seeing any obvious public car parks much closer

It looks like buses from town centre might be the solution but happy to hear if any car parking solutions nearer to the ground (we normally approach down the avenue but would consider alternative if helped)  

Thanks

You could try the Car Park in 6 Dials just before the Criss-cross bridge heading away from the city on the Northam Road, just a short walk over the stadium access footbridge. Gosh the City Council have provided a What3words = ///canny.cloud.slime

The place we use to park on matchdays when our Girls were under 10 was Crosshouse Quay car park, almost right under the Itchen bridge, its right on the water too so that added to the diversionary amusement seeing boats and stuff whilst eating their picnic lunch, less than a 10-12 minute walk to the ground without tiddlers messing about. Bit of a chore on a full fat matchday to get away from but Saturday should be easy.  what3words ///minute.museum.wisdom

Not quite as interesting and a similar walk is Bond Street over the road from the Northam Estate, marginally easier to get away after the game, if you are there in good time you could park on one of the Industrial Estate Roads for free, it is a popular spot. But an easy walk for sprouts. Bond Street is ///spring.burns.ahead

If you don't use these you know they are there for "when can we go to football again".

[Ekimr]

Thank you to all those who have helped with information ...I have passed the information on to our son whom i am then meeting up with said 5 year olds ..much appreciated everybodys time.

[SandyInOz]

Went to the Cov game in December (first game in 13yrs so I was completely clueless as to where to park).  Parked at Shamrock Quay.  Can't remember the cost (wasn't expensive) but was a 10min - 15min walk (about 1/2 mile).  Pain in the arse to get out of the area though after the game.  Traffic backed up for quite a while.

[trousers]

4 hours ago, SandyInOz said:

Went to the Cov game in December (first game in 13yrs so I was completely clueless as to where to park).  Parked at Shamrock Quay.  Can't remember the cost (wasn't expensive) but was a 10min - 15min walk (about 1/2 mile).  Pain in the arse to get out of the area though after the game.  Traffic backed up for quite a while.

@SandyInOz - Do they allow van / minibus parking at Shamrock Quays? Looking at Google maps (satellite view) the car park looks fairly open plan, especially at the far end, so might be suitable? It's my son's stag do the day of the home game Vs Derby on 11th April and there's 14 of us going to the match in a hired minibus that we need to park somewhere within walking distance of the ground and city centre. (Have had a couple of other location suggestions on another thread). Cheers. 

P.s. sorry to hijack your thread @Ekimr!

Edited 8 hours ago by trousers

[Saint86]

On 23/03/2026 at 11:59, Ekimr said:

Hi

I attend a few games a season but normally just park up by avenue / cowherds and do the 30 / 40 odd minute walk

For the legends game i will have a couple of 5 year old in tow and looking to somehow get much closer to the ground via public transport or preferably car parks.

I dont think west quay is much better for an answer ..i am not seeing any obvious public car parks much closer

It looks like buses from town centre might be the solution but happy to hear if any car parking solutions nearer to the ground (we normally approach down the avenue but would consider alternative if helped)  

Thanks

 When my boy was around that age i used to park around Grosvenor square / Bedford place area. Price isn't bad and its a good distance for walking to and then getting out easily via the station / hill lane / shirley etc.