The Hard Interchange Bus & Coach Station

How to get to campus

However you prefer to travel, getting to and about uni is simple

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 free University bus – find out more below.

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 which are highlighted on our active travel facilities map

Rent a bike

Beryl Bikes now has a local hire scheme with 35 docking bays in Southsea, from which bikes and e-bikes can be used from as little as 5p a minute.

Lockers, showers and more on campus

If you're cycling, running or using other active travel to get into campus, we've got a range of facilities for when you get here.

Check out our Active Travel Facilities Map to find your nearest cycle rack, lockers or showering facilities.

A screenshot of the active travel facilities map (University of Portsmouth)

 


 

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

 

VOI scooter bay within Palmerston Road Southsea

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, and the hovercraft (other ferries coming soon)

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 a permit if your car is registered with the DVLA at a Portsmouth address, which also means reissuing your driver's license and updating your insurance policy.

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.

University buses

Travelling to and around campus is easy with our free University buses.
University of Portsmouth U1 student bus service
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Cycling

A cheap, easy and quick way to get around our flat city.
Bicycle at the Dockyard
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Getting to Portsmouth

Whether by train, coach, or more, there are plenty of options to get to the city.
Press & Media; Portsmouth locations; 15th July 2019
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London campus

Our location provides direct access to underground, overground trains and bus networks.
Walthamstow photoshoot - March 2022 Walthamstow train station
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