How to get to campus
Wherever in the city you live, it's quick and easy to make your way to our campus or get about the city.
You'll have plenty of options, too – from walking or cycling, to catching the University bus – find out more below.
Looking for our London campus?
Find directions for getting around our Walthamstow home here:
Walking
Portsmouth is fairly flat and the best way to get to know the campus is on foot. If you need a smartphone-friendly walking map and an estimate of how long your journey takes, use the My Journey Portsmouth website. You can also plan your journey using our Campus Map.
Cycling
Cycling around the city is a speedy, low-cost way of getting around campus. It's also great for exercise and reducing your carbon footprint.
There are cycle pathways on the quieter roads around Portsmouth. You can find out where the cycle pathways and quieter roads are from this Portsmouth City Council cycling map.
There are a range of facilities available for staff and students to use across campus, including a number of covered cycle cages with swipe card access, and bike lockers.
Rent a bike
Voi provides rental e-bikes in Portsmouth from as little as 18p a minute, with docking bays located all around Southsea.
Take the University bus
We run two free bus services to campus for our staff and students – the U1 takes a circular route around Portsmouth, while the U2 runs out to our Langstone campus and back.
Take a public bus
If you live in other areas of the city you can also use public bus services to the city centre, which are run by First Bus and Stagecoach. Many of these services operate on weekends, public holidays and outside of term-time but you'll have to buy a ticket.
The 1, 2, 7, 25 (Hayling Ferry link) and 700 buses stop very near the University.
Queen Alexandra Hospital is also easy to get to using services 2, 3, 18 (First Bus) and 20 (Stagecoach). If you want to go further afield, you can catch a direct bus to Southampton or Chichester.
If you regularly use the bus, consider getting a monthly or season ticket to save money compared to buying daily tickets.
E-scooters
E-scooters can't be used:
- on pavements
- on University land such as Ravelin Park and University building courtyards
- in University buildings, including bringing e-scooters inside halls of residence or educational buildings for storage
They're allowed in the same places that bicycles are - on the road, in bike lanes and in some shared spaces. You should be careful and respectful around other road users, especially pedestrians, as they may not be able to see or hear you coming.
If you want to use an e-scooter to get about the city, you must use one from the official rental scheme, as private e-scooters are illegal in public places.
Scooter safety
Anyone can report misuse of publicly-rented e-scooters, including dangerous riding and bad parking, directly to the operator VOI using their reporting form. Staff and students can also report any accidents or incidents on campus to the University's health and safety team. For more information:
University policy on e-scooters Government guidance on e-scooters
Travel Apps
There are a variety of online travel apps that provide live information about travel services across the city, and surrounding areas.
Breeze Travel App
Breeze, from Solent Transport is a free app that enables you to plan, book and pay for journeys in one place and covers the Solent and South Hampshire region, including Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Isle of Wight.
You can use Breeze to:
- plan your journey;
- hire e-scooters;
- hire e-bikes and bikes;
- access Enterprise Car Club;
- check timetables and book tickets for buses, trains, hovercraft, and the Isle of Wight Ferry for foot passengers.
You can purchase all your tickets via the one app.
Cars and Parking
It's not usually worth bringing a car to Portsmouth, as the campus and city centre is compact - and it's easier and cheaper to walk, cycle, scoot, or take a taxi for many journeys. Parking, congestion and air pollution are big issues in the city, and it can also be tricky to park. Not driving is one easy way you can save money and do your bit for the environment.
Parking in the city
If you do have to bring a car with you to university, in many areas of the city you will need a residents' parking permit from the council to park outside your home. There are also limits on the number of vehicles registered per household, and increasing costs for each vehicle - so it's worth thinking carefully about whether you really need a car.
Portsmouth City Council will only issue you with a Residents Parking Permit if your car is registered with the DVLA in your name and at your address in Portsmouth. Find out more at Resident parking permits – Portsmouth City Council.
University car parks
Students are generally not allowed to park in the University's car parks, which are monitored by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
Students can only apply for a university car parking permit if they can demonstrate that:
- they are a registered disabled blue badge holder, or
- they have exceptional circumstances or restricted public transport from their home address, which must be outside the PO1-PO6 areas (a covering letter is required with the application).
Car parking for disabled students
Students who are registered disabled badge ("Blue Badge") holders are entitled to a free permit for University car parks. This allows you to park in University car parks, including the accessible parking bays. You will need to apply for your permit and provide evidence through the University's online parking portal, operated by CPP Parkingeye.
There are limited parking spaces and there is no guarantee that spaces will always be available in the immediate vicinity of a University building.
More information on University parking
For more information on car parking at the university, please email car.parking@port.ac.uk or call +44 (0)23 9284 6677.
