Student car parking

The University has car parks at both Avenue Campus and Park Campus, with separate areas for staff and students. However, current County Council strategic planning guidelines only allow the University to have a maximum of one parking space for every ten students, so spaces are therefore in short supply, with the situation being particularly acute during term time.

You are therefore encouraged to consider using an alternative form of travel such as car sharing, taking the bus, cycling or walking. The University provides free inter-campus bus travel for all students and staff, all day Monday to Friday, with discounted bus travel available from other key locations in Northampton.

Student car parking 

As a result of the limited number of spaces, on-campus parking restrictions apply to all students, whether living in Halls of Residence or living off-campus.

• Information for students living on campus in Halls of Residence (residential students)
• Information for students living off-campus (non-residential students)

Campus car parks

All campus car parks are barrier-controlled, so eligible students who want to park on campus must apply for a barrier access card (see links above). Students are not guaranteed a parking space on campus.  

Park Campus

Car Park 3 is the main student car park for use by students who live off-campus and have a barrier access card. Only students with a valid barrier card will be eligible to use the car park. Students should enter the site via the roundabout on Boughton Green Road near Sunley Conference Centre (the entrance closest to Kingsthorpe and Kingsthorpe College) in order to enter Car Park 3 via the access barriers at the car park entrance. The only exit from Car Park 3 is on the opposite (Moulton Park) side of the car park.

Avenue Campus

Car Parks 1 and 2 are the main student car parks for use by students who live off-campus and have a barrier access card. Only students with a valid barrier card will be eligible to use the car park. Students should enter the site via the main driveway from St George's Avenue (to the left of Maidwell building when looking from the front) in order to enter Car Park 1 or 2 via the access barriers at the car park entrance.

The speed limit at both Park and Avenue campus is ten miles per hour (10mph). Please stick to it. Speed monitoring equipment is in use on site.

On-campus parking enforcement

Car parking and access roads on campus are monitored by University security; parking enforcement is in operation. Parking enforcement tickets (£60 charge, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) will be issued to any vehicle parked irresponsibly, causing an obstruction, parked where not designated to do so, or not displaying a valid parking ticket or residential parking permit between 3-6am (Monday to Friday). Health and safety can be severely compromised when access routes and footpaths are blocked by cars, both for pedestrians and when the emergency services need to attend the site. Please park considerately on campus - do not park on footpaths, pavements or verges. According to The Highway Code, double yellow lines indicate no waiting at any time and apply equally to the carriageway, pavement and verge when laid on the road.

The University accepts no responsibility for any loss from, or damage to, vehicles parked in the car parks.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Roads around the University

Please think carefully about possible travel alternatives before bringing your car to the University. Roads around both campuses are heavily congested at commuting times and when local schools start/finish.

If you are eligible to bring your car to the University please use the car parking provided on the University campuses. Do not park on local roads unless absolutely necessary. Please note that cars should not be parked on the Kingsthorpe College or Malcolm Arnold Academy (formerly Unity College) sites, or at the Sunnyside public house or Freemasons Hall.

Historically students and staff have parked in the roads surrounding the University and this can cause severe disruption to our local residents. There is considerable cause for concern when access routes and driveways are blocked, particularly if there is ever a need for the emergency services to attend a property. Many of the local roads also require access for buses and refuse vehicles. If these vehicles are unable to manoeuvre then the residents can endure an unacceptable standard of living.

Please be considerate to our local residents when using roads around the University, and be aware that a number of roads have daytime parking restrictions in operation.

County Council parking attendants will issue penalty charge notices to motorists who ignore parking restrictions and park inappropriately and the police can issue Fixed Penalty Notices to vehicles found to be causing an obstruction on local roads for other users and pedestrians, such as being parked on pavements and verges, or blocking the road and driveways and may tow vehicles away if necessary. You have been warned!

Further information on parking restrictions around Park Campus.