Green Campus

With benefits for both your physical and mental well-being, walking, running or cycling to the University are great ways to build some activity in to your day. Whether used for your full journey or combined with another form of transport for a multi-mode commute, we have facilities to help you travel actively.

Walking & running

For those living within walking or running distance, the King Alfred Quarter is located on Sparkford Road whilst our West Downs Quarter is on Romsey Road. If you’re travelling from further afield, the University is located close to key public transport links. See the Public Transport section below for details.

Cycling

We have extensive cycle facilities on campus - including cycle hoops, covered shelters, cycle lockers, and repair/maintenance stands - the locations of which are shown on our sustainability map. In addition, we have a fleet of loan bikes and e-bikes available for students and staff who might want to try riding before they commit to buying their own bike.

Showers and Changing Facilities

Showers and changing facilities are available across our campus.

Winchester is well-served by regular bus and rail services making public transport a good choice for travelling to the University. Most modern buses and trains have free Wi-Fi and charging points, meaning you can use your commute time to work or study, listen to podcasts or even watch your favourite show.

Train

Winchester rail station is approximately 0.7 miles (15-minute walk / 10-minute cycle) from the King Alfred Quarter and 1 mile (20-minute walk / 15-minute cycle) from the West Downs Quarter. Visit the National Rail website to check the frequency of trains from your local station.

Bus

Bluestar and Stagecoach both run bus services with stops close to the University. If you’re travelling from Southampton or Chandler’s Ford, Bluestar Route 1 stops on Southgate Street. Stagecoach also run numerous services into the city. Details of their routes are shown on this map, the timetables for which can be found here.

Park and Ride

If you are looking to drive to Winchester it is recommended that you use the Park & Ride (P&R) service.
There are four P&R car parks located on the outskirts of the city:

• South Winchester, located just off J11 of the M3;
• Pitt, on Romsey Road; and
• St Catherine’s and Barfield, which are both located to the east off J9 or J10 of the M3.

The Park and Ride website has more details, including the current bus timetable. The University is well-served by the service and the nearest Park and Ride bus stop is outside the Royal Hampshire County Hospital on Romsey Road, less than a five-minute walk from both King Alfred and West Downs Quarters. Up to 6 passengers can travel on one P&R ticket making it even better value if you for car share.

It is also possible to build some activity into your day by cycling to the University from South Winchester P&R or walking from Pitt P&R. More details about cycle season tickets can be found here.

On-Campus Parking

The University of Winchester is configured in a way that maximises space for teaching, support services and halls of residence which means parking is very limited. We also have a commitment to reduce single-occupancy car use and encourage sustainable travel where possible. To help minimise the need to drive to the University and make alternative modes more attractive we offer a range of discounts on other travel options, so it is still easy to reach campus while contributing to a greener world. Click these links for details of current offers and incentives for students and staff.

Students - There is no general parking for students however we have a small number of spaces available for those requiring them for accessibility reasons. Students eligible for permits include those with a disability or medical need requiring a vehicle on site and those who use a car to get to placements. Please contact Student Support and Success in the first instance to discuss any needs for campus parking.

Staff – Parking for staff is by permit only. Full details regarding parking and permits can be found on the parking intranet page.

Bike Doctor

We host a regular Bike Doctor outside the King Alfred Centre where students can bring their bikes for free safety checks and minor repairs carried out by qualified mechanics. Dates for the 2022/23 Academic year can be found on the intranet.

Bike Shop Discounts

Students can save 10% on cycles and accessories at both Hargroves Cycles and Halfords in Winchester.

Loan Bikes

Got a placement that is further afield and need help travelling there? We have a fleet of 10 recently refurbished bikes available to help students with their placement travel.

E-bikes

Can't face climbing the hill up to West Downs? Don't want to walk to Bar End? Try out an electric hybrid bike! There are two at St Swithun's Lodge for use in and around campus.

For further details on all things bike related, including how to access discounts please visit the cycling intranet page.

Season Tickets

If you are coming to campus several days per week, a season ticket may be the most cost-effective way to travel. The University sells rail season tickets each semester, which could help you save up to 34% on regular train travel to Winchester. The ticket can be used for unlimited journeys between the starting station and Winchester, both peak and off-peak including evenings and weekends. You can also break or start your journey at any station on the line between the starting station and Winchester.

Railcards

A Railcard could help you save on train travel and may be more cost effective if you are only on campus a couple of days each week (T&Cs and minimum fares may apply).

Over 31? If you’re a full-time student you can still apply for a 16-25 railcard; you’ll just need to complete the mature student form and ask registry to provide a stamp to confirm that your course meets the requirements.

For full details on rail travel, including how to access discounts, please visit the train intranet page.

Bluestar

Students are eligible for a 20% discount on Bluestar bus 30-day and 90-day network tickets, covering all Bluestar services across Hampshire and Dorset. This includes the Bluestar 1 to Winchester and the Unilink bus service in Southampton.

Stagecoach

Studentrider tickets allow you to travel on any Stagecoach bus within the applicable zone all day, 7-days a week. The zones and the areas they cover are Winchester, for services in the city centre and surrounding residential areas (including Kings Worthy), and South Gold, covering further afield locations such as Alresford, Andover, Romsey, Petersfield and more.

For full details on bus travel, including how to access discounts, please visit the bus intranet page.

For 2021/22, students had the option to use the Park and Ride service for traveling to the University during term time for £50 per year. Prices for 2022/23 are under review and will be confirmed prior to the start of term.
For full details on the park and ride, including how to access discounts, please visit the Park & Ride intranet page.

The University has both rapid and all-day charging points for electric vehicles installed at the West Downs Quarter.

• The two fast charging points are for University staff and students with electric vehicles and can be used for charging and for those vehicles to park.
• The rapid charge point is for both public and University users for 30-minute charging or as a drop off bay (maximum waiting time 20 minutes).

The University hosts one of the city’s Enterprise Car Club self-service vehicles on campus. The vehicle, a Renault Clio, is parked in a dedicated bay at Medecroft Quarter and is available to students, staff and members of the public. It can be hired by the hour or day, either reserved in advance or at a moment’s notice.

Students can sign up to the Car Club at a discounted rate and receive £10 free driving credit. For further details please visit the Enterprise Car Club intranet page.