Parking

Where to park in Littlehampton

Parking is a practical consideration for anyone visiting Littlehampton by car, and the town provides a reasonable amount of parking through a combination of council-operated car parks, on-street bays and private car parks. Finding a space is generally straightforward outside the peak summer weekends, but on hot days in July and August the car parks nearest the beach fill quickly, and arriving early is the best strategy for securing a convenient spot.

The main car parks serving the seafront and harbour area are operated by Arun District Council. The East Beach car park, located at the eastern end of the seafront near Sea Road, is the closest to the main bathing beach and fills first on busy days. The harbour car parks, located near the river and the amusement park, serve visitors to the harbour area and provide an alternative when the beach car parks are full. Charges apply during the day, typically from early morning until early evening, with free parking during the evening hours.

The town centre has several car parks within walking distance of the high street, the shops and the library. These car parks tend to be less expensive than the seafront options and are the best choice for visitors whose primary purpose is shopping or accessing town centre services. The town centre car parks also provide a viable option for beach visitors willing to walk ten minutes to the seafront, avoiding the premium charges and congestion of the beachside car parks.

On-street parking is available in many of the residential streets near the town centre and the seafront, but restrictions apply in most areas. Yellow lines, residents' parking zones and time-limited bays regulate the use of street space, and parking enforcement officers patrol regularly. Reading the signs carefully before parking is essential, as penalty charge notices are issued for contraventions and the appeals process is time-consuming.

For regular visitors and commuters, season tickets for the council car parks offer a cost saving over daily charges. The season tickets are available for monthly and annual periods and are useful for anyone who parks regularly in the town for work, shopping or leisure. The council's parking pages on the Arun District Council website provide details of charges, locations and ticket options.

During major events, such as the bonfire night celebrations, the carnival and summer bank holiday weekends, temporary parking arrangements may be introduced. These can include the use of overflow fields, temporary signage and park-and-ride services from sites outside the town centre. Information about event parking is usually published in advance on the council and event websites.

The long-term trend in parking policy is towards managing demand rather than simply providing more spaces. Encouraging visitors and residents to use public transport, cycling and walking reduces the pressure on parking and contributes to the environmental and quality-of-life objectives that the council has set. The investment in the promenade cycle path, the bus services and the railway all support this shift, though for many visitors and residents the car remains the default choice for reaching Littlehampton.