This page aims to give general information about transport and parking for those new to, or visiting, Bitterne Park. Click here to go to our 'About the area' section.

Note: Information correct at the time of publishing but always check before travelling.

It's a short journey from Bitterne Park into either central Southampton, or, in the other direction, to Eastleigh. From Southampton Central or Parkway rail stations it can take just a few minutes to Winchester, and just over an hour into London Waterloo. The M27’s junction 5 is (sometimes) only a five-minute drive away, offering easy access to Bournemouth, Poole and the south west, to Portsmouth and West Sussex, and the M3 to London.

Bitterne Park is also well connected for buses, while by bike the city centre is easily accessibly - although safer, cleaner cycling routes are high on many people's agenda.

From Bitterne Park it is, in theory, also a short hop into town by train, from either Bitterne or St Denys stations, which are both around a ten-minute walk from the Triangle — although sadly connections with intercity routes rarely seem joined up. A cycle and pedestrian route links Horse Shoe Bridge in St Denys with Northam and on into the city - get to it by crossing over Cobden Bridge from the Bitterne Park side, and turning left along Priory Road. At the Junction pub turn left and the start is your left just before the Bridge crosses the railway. This forms part of cycle route 23 which continues through Riverside Park (download a cycle route map from the council's site - pdf). 

Or to get to the top end of town mainly using road via Horse Shoe Bridge, Empress Road, Kingsbury Road, Bevois Valley, up Rockstone Lane next to the Bevois Castle pub, to arrive on the Avenue just across from London Road. From here on a bike you are just a few minutes from the city centre. For more information about cycling in the City, see the Southampton Cycling Campaign website and the council's cycling pages.

On foot, Portswood is a 15-20 minute walk away — unfortunately mainly along the noisy St Denys Road - with Highfield and parts of the University of Southampton a few minutes further. Bitterne Park, though, isn't a major favourite for students.  And the city centre is a fair old hike from the area - so you may prefer alternative means of transport.

By bus, Bluestar's services 20 and 16 are the main routes serving the ward. The 20 advertises a fairly frequent (often every 15 minutues) service from Townhill Park and Bitterne Park into town via Portswood, Bevois Valley and the Royal South Hants Hospital.

The 16 service was changed to run into town from Townhill Park via Bitterne and over Northam Bridge (route map here). The U9 Service offers a very limited service presumably aimed at hospital staff between Townhill Park and the Triangle to Portswood, Taunton's College and the General Hospital.

If you’re visiting be warned that on-street parking is very limited at the Triangle; a 60-minute restriction applies — and is often enforced. Far better to train, bus, cycle, walk - or perhaps even boat! There is limited street parking on nearby residential roads; alternatively head along Manor Farm Road and use the free car park by Riverside Park (sharp turn by the Social Club): from here, it’s a brief, and lovely walk back to the Triangle along the river.

Click here to go to our 'About the area' section.