Leonardo Hotel Southampton at Charlotte Place does not offer on-site parking; drivers rely on public car parks within a few minutes’ walk. The hotel’s FAQ confirms that no parking is available on the premises and directs guests to nearby council-run car parks at Solent University, Grosvenor Square, and Bedford Place. This article explains the costs, walking distances, and practical trade-offs for cruise passengers and overnight guests.

Last checked: 2026-07-06

Hotel Name: Leonardo Hotel Southampton ·
On-Site Parking (Leonardo Royal): 179 spaces, £14/night, managed by Parking Eye ·
Nearest Public Car Park All-Day Rate: £5 (08:00-18:00) ·
Distance to Cruise Terminal: Within walking distance (under 1 mile)

How we researched this

Last checked: 2026-07-06.

Sources reviewed: official hotel website, FAQ page, parking PDF (October 2023), partner booking site, review platforms (Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trustpilot), travel vlog, package tour operator page.

No on‑site visit, no staff interview, and no independent price verification beyond published sources.

Leonardo Hotel Southampton parking snapshot

1
No on‑site parking
  • The hotel has no parking facilities; guests must use nearby public car parks (Leonardo Hotels FAQ)

2
Three recommended car parks

3
Typical council tariffs

4
All‑day rate at Bedford Place
  • The nearest public car park (Bedford Place) charges £5 for parking between 08:00 and 18:00 (same PDF)

Category Details
Hotel Name Leonardo Hotel Southampton (Charlotte Place)
On‑Site Parking at Sister Property Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour: 179 spaces, £14/night, managed by ParkingEye
Nearest Public Car Park All‑Day Rate Bedford Place: £5 (08:00–18:00)
Distance to Cruise Terminal Within walking distance (under 1 mile)
Recommended Car Parks Solent University, Grosvenor Square, Bedford Place
Typical 24‑Hour Rate at Grosvenor Square Approximately £11 per 24 hours (via partner booking site)
Check‑in / Check‑out Check‑in from 15:00; check‑out until 11:00
Guest Rating (TrustYou) Very Good – approx. 85/100

Where to park for Leonardo Hotel in Southampton?

Leonardo Hotel Southampton at Charlotte Place has no dedicated car park. Guests must use one of three nearby public car parks that the hotel officially recommends: Solent University Car Park, Grosvenor Square, and Bedford Place. All are within a short walk from the hotel entrance on Charlotte Place.

On‑site parking at Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour

The sister property, Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour on West Quay Road, does offer on‑site parking managed by ParkingEye. It has 179 spaces on a first‑come, first‑served basis and costs £2 for 2 hours, £5 for 5 hours, and £14 for over 5 hours up to 24 hours. This is a key difference travellers should note when booking: the Royal property provides on‑site parking, while the Charlotte Place property does not. Source: Leonardo Royal location page.

Nearby public car parks recommended by the hotel

The three recommended car parks are council‑run facilities with standard tariffs. The official Leonardo Hotel Southampton parking PDF (October 2023) lists Bedford Place, Grosvenor Square, and Solent University Car Park. Bedford Place charges about £1 per hour and £5 for an all‑day stay ending at midnight. Grosvenor Square, cited by partner sites such as UK‑Hotel.info and Paultons Breaks, typically costs around £11 per 24 hours. Solent University Car Park follows similar council pricing. A YouTube reviewer who stayed pre‑cruise noted, “There’s no on‑site parking at the hotel but there are three car parks within a few minutes’ walk.”

The bottom line: Guests arriving by car must plan to park off‑site; the three recommended car parks are within a 5‑ to 10‑minute walk and offer affordable daily rates.

How much is parking at Leonardo Hotel Southampton?

Costs vary depending on which car park you choose and how long you stay. Because the hotel itself has no parking, every driver pays a separate parking fee. Below are the most common scenarios.

Parking rates at Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour

If you book the Leonardo Royal instead, on‑site parking costs £2 for 2 hours, £5 for 5 hours, and £14 for up to 24 hours. That is a fixed price per car, per night, with no additional public parking search needed. Source.

Public car park tariffs – Bedford Place example

At Bedford Place car park, the council tariff is £1 for up to 1 hour, and a day rate (08:00–18:00) of £5. Evening parking from 5 pm to midnight costs around £2. Overnight stays from late afternoon to next morning would combine the day rate and evening rate, typically totalling £7–£8, though the official parking PDF notes these are general weekday tariffs and may vary. The partner site Paultons Breaks quotes a flat £11 per 24 hours for Grosvenor Square, reflecting the higher overnight convenience. A Trustpilot review of the Leonardo Hotels chain mentioned that using a nearby overnight car park “can cost over £11 for your stay.”

What this means: Parking costs for a one‑night stay range from about £5 (day‑only) to £11–£14 for 24‑hour or overnight parking. That is a separate expense on top of the room rate.

How far is Leonardo Hotel Southampton from the cruise terminal?

The hotel is located on Charlotte Place in the city centre, approximately 0.6 miles from the main Southampton cruise terminal (City Cruise Terminal). This walking distance is one of the hotel’s main selling points for pre‑ and post‑cruise stays. Booking.com reviews consistently mention the convenient proximity to the terminal and train station.

Walking distance estimate

From the hotel’s front entrance, the walk to the cruise terminal takes about 12–15 minutes on foot. Most guests describe it as “an easy walk,” even with luggage. The three recommended car parks are also between 4 and 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel, so you can park, check in, and walk to the terminal without needing a taxi.

Comparison to other cruise parking options

Southampton cruise terminal operates its own long‑stay car parks (e.g., Dock Gate 4, City Cruise Terminal car park), but these are generally priced higher than the hotel’s nearby public car parks. For example, cruise terminal parking can cost £15–£20 per day. By parking at Grosvenor Square for £11 per 24 hours and staying at Leonardo Hotel Southampton, some travellers may save a few pounds. However, the hotel’s off‑site parking adds a short walk each way.

The trade‑off: The hotel’s proximity to the cruise terminal is genuine, but you trade on‑site parking convenience for a short walk to your car. For cruise passengers who plan to leave the car during the voyage, the nearby car parks can be used for the entire trip.

Where is the cheapest place to park in Southampton?

If budget is your primary concern, the council‑run Bedford Place car park offers the lowest all‑day rate: £5 for parking between 08:00 and 18:00. That makes it the cheapest option near Leonardo Hotel Southampton for daytime visitors. For overnight stays, Grosvenor Square at about £11 per 24 hours is the most commonly recommended choice by the hotel and partner sites. Paultons Breaks explicitly recommends Grosvenor Square for overnight parking. For those seeking accommodation, you can find Готелі в Саутгемптоні to suit your needs.

Public car park rates near the hotel

All three recommended car parks are within a 5‑ to 10‑minute walk. Solent University Car Park and Bedford Place follow council weekday tariffs: approximately £1 per hour, £5 for a full day ending at midnight, and £2 for the evening period (5 pm–midnight). Grosvenor Square, a private car park, charges around £11 per 24 hours. The hotel itself provides a detailed PDF with directions and tariff tables.

Cruise terminal parking costs

Southampton’s official cruise terminal car parks charge higher daily rates. For example, the City Cruise Terminal car park is about £15–£20 per day. Many cruise passengers choose to leave their car at the hotel’s nearby car parks (e.g., Grosvenor Square) for the duration of a cruise, which can be more cost‑effective than terminal parking, though the walk to the terminal is slightly longer.

The pattern: For budget‑conscious travellers, Bedford Place (£5 all day) is the cheapest daytime option; Grosvenor Square (£11 per 24 hours) is the best value for overnight and multi‑night stays near the cruise terminal.

Leonardo Hotel Southampton – Parking specs

Attribute Detail
On‑site parking None
Nearest car park Bedford Place (2‑minute walk)
Recommended car parks Solent University, Grosvenor Square, Bedford Place
Typical 24‑hour rate (Grosvenor Sq) £11
Day rate (Bedford Place) £5 (08:00–18:00)
Overnight parking feasibility Yes – use Grosvenor Square or pay extended council tariffs
Distance to cruise terminal ~0.6 miles (12–15‑minute walk)
Loading/unloading area Short‑stay drop‑off directly in front of hotel

On‑site vs off‑site parking: the trade‑offs

Advantages of using nearby car parks

  • Lower daily rates (£5–£11 vs £14 at the sister property)
  • Flexibility: no need to book a space in advance
  • Can be used for the duration of a cruise at a lower total cost than terminal parking

Disadvantages vs on‑site parking

  • No dedicated hotel parking means a short walk to the car in all weather
  • Council car parks have time‑limited day rates; overnight stays require paying evening tariffs
  • Spaces are first‑come, first‑served; may be full during events

Parking cost bands near the hotel

  • Budget (£5 or less): Daytime only (08:00–18:00) at Bedford Place or Solent University Car Park. Best for short visits or day meetings.
  • Mid‑range (£5–£11): Overnight stays using council evening tariffs (pay day rate + £2 evening) or the all‑day rate at Grosvenor Square (around £11).
  • Premium (£14+): On‑site parking at the sister property Leonardo Royal Grand Harbour, or the convenience of cruise terminal parking.

Location and getting there

Leonardo Hotel Southampton sits on Charlotte Place, opposite East Park, in the city centre. The main entrance has a loading/unloading area where you can briefly stop to drop luggage before moving the car to one of the nearby car parks. The hotel’s location page notes the short‑stay drop‑off zone. From the M27 motorway, take junction 7 and follow signs for the city centre; the hotel is about 15 minutes’ drive from the motorway.

For cruise passengers, the walk to City Cruise Terminal takes approximately 12 minutes via West Quay Road. The train station (Southampton Central) is a 10‑minute walk in the opposite direction.

Nearby car parks: quick reference

  • Bedford Place Car Park – 2‑minute walk; £5/day (08:00–18:00); evening rate £2.
  • Grosvenor Square Car Park (SO15 2GR) – 5‑minute walk; approx. £11 per 24 hours; commonly used by hotel guests.
  • Solent University Car Park – 8‑minute walk; council tariff similar to Bedford Place.
  • West Quay Shopping Centre Car Park – slightly farther (10‑minute walk), but offers evening and weekend rates.

Our pick: best parking for different travellers

  • For cruise passengers staying overnight: Grosvenor Square (£11 per 24 hours) – you can leave the car for the duration of your cruise and walk to the terminal.
  • For budget‑conscious day visitors: Bedford Place (£5 all day) – the cheapest option if you arrive in the morning and leave before midnight.
  • For those who prefer on‑site convenience: Consider booking the Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour instead, which offers on‑site parking at £14 per night.


“Firstly, there are no parking facilities at all, which is a big negative. You have to use an overnight car park nearby which can cost over £11 for your stay — not ideal.”

Unnamed Trustpilot reviewer, Leonardo Hotels customer

“Please note that the hotel does not have parking facilities. Private parking is available at Grosvenor Square Car Park, a 5-minute walk from the property. It costs GBP 11 per 24 hours.”

– Leonardo Hotel Southampton listing, Booking/affiliate site description

Additional sources

tripadvisor.com, leonardo-hotels.com, youtube.com, leonardo-hotels.com, leonardo-hotels.com, hotelspedia.org, tripadvisor.com, uk.hotels.com, tripadvisor.com

Frequently asked questions

Does Leonardo Hotel Southampton have its own car park?

No. The hotel has no on‑site parking. The FAQ page directs guests to nearby public car parks. Source.

How much does it cost to park at Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour?

On‑site parking at the Grand Harbour costs £2 for 2 hours, £5 for 5 hours, and £14 for over 5 hours up to 24 hours. Source.

What are the rates at the nearest public car park (Bedford Place)?

Bedford Place charges approximately £1 for 1 hour, £5 for an all‑day stay (08:00–18:00), and £2 for the evening period (5 pm–midnight). Parking PDF.

Is parking free at Leonardo Hotel Southampton?

No. All parking in the surrounding car parks is paid. There is no complimentary parking offered by the hotel.

How far is the hotel from the cruise terminal?

It is approximately 0.6 miles – about a 12‑ to 15‑minute walk. Location page.

Can I park at the hotel for the duration of a cruise?

Not on‑site. But you can leave your car at Grosvenor Square car park (about £11 per 24 hours) for the entire cruise and walk to the terminal.

Are there any cheaper parking alternatives near the hotel?

Bedford Place offers the lowest day rate (£5), but it has time restrictions. For overnight parking, Grosvenor Square at £11 per 24 hours is the most cost‑effective option recommended by the hotel and partners.

The bottom line: Bedford Place offers the lowest day rate (£5), but it has time restrictions. For overnight parking, Grosvenor Square at £11 per 24 hours is the most cost‑effective option recommended by the hotel and partners.