£3 Park & Ride: Just the Ticket for the Christmas Market

Southampton City Council, in partnership with Bluestar, is offering the Southampton Weekend Park & Ride for just £3 per trip, providing a sustainable and affordable way for families or groups of up to five people to visit the city centre this festive season.

The reduced fare will run from Saturday 15 November until Sunday 4 January, allowing visitors to travel conveniently to the Christmas Market, Westquay, the high street, Saints football matches (including New Year’s Day), and a wide range of other winter attractions. Full details of seasonal events are available on the Visit Southampton website.

The Southampton Weekend Park & Ride, which launched in September, currently operates two services:
• PR1 service: From Adanac Park (SO16 0AZ), just off the M271 Junction 1, to the city centre. Buses run every 20 minutes, Saturdays from 7am to 8.20pm and Sundays from 9am to 6.10pm.
• PR2 service: Dedicated matchday service for Saints supporters, running every 20 minutes from three hours before kick-off to two hours after the match, stopping near St Mary’s Stadium.

Tickets can be purchased directly on the bus or via the Bluestar app.

Chris Thompson from S&D Leisure said:

“Christmas is a time to relax and enjoy, not to worry about parking. Southampton’s new Weekend Park & Ride offers an easy, cheerful way to reach Southampton and enjoy its Christmas Market and festivities.”

Councillor Christie Lambert, Cabinet Member for Transport, added:

“Christmas is a magical time of year and sees a big rise in visitors to Southampton. I am delighted that we can help people to travel more affordably and more sustainably to take in all of the fun and excitement of Christmas in Southampton.”

The council hopes that the reduced fare will encourage more visitors to leave their cars at home and take advantage of this convenient, eco-friendly option for exploring the city this winter.