Car Parking in Bognor Regis
Town centre, seafront and free parking options
Parking in Bognor Regis is more straightforward than in many south coast towns, with a reasonable supply of spaces in the town centre and along the seafront, and charges that are lower than in Chichester or the more fashionable coastal destinations. That said, the busiest summer weekends can strain capacity, and knowing where to park and what the charges are will save time and frustration.
The main town centre car parks are managed by Arun District Council and are pay-and-display or pay-by-phone. The Regis Centre car park, close to the seafront and the theatre, is one of the most centrally located and is convenient for both the beach and the High Street. Other car parks in the town centre area provide additional capacity, and signage directs drivers to available spaces.
Seafront parking is available along the Esplanade, where on-street spaces are charged during the day. These spaces are popular in summer and fill early on warm weekends and bank holidays. The views from the seafront parking spaces are pleasant, and the proximity to the beach makes them the first choice for families spending a day on the sand. Arriving early is the best strategy during peak periods.
Parking charges in Bognor are structured by zone and duration, with the town centre and seafront typically more expensive than the outlying car parks. The charges have increased over the years, as they have everywhere, but remain competitive by south coast standards. Evening and Sunday parking is free in some locations, and it is worth checking the current tariffs on the machines or the council website before paying.
Residential parking in the streets around the town centre and seafront is controlled by permit zones in some areas, restricting non-resident parking during the day. These zones were introduced to prevent commuters and visitors from filling residential streets and leaving residents unable to park near their homes. Visitors should check the signage carefully before parking in residential streets, as penalty charge notices are issued for contraventions.
Aldwick and Felpham have less formal parking arrangements. The residential streets are generally unrestricted, and parking is not usually a problem for residents. Visitors to Aldwick beach should note that parking close to the shore is limited, with some small car parks and on-street spaces available but filling quickly on busy days. Felpham has some parking near the beach and along Felpham Road, but capacity is limited.
The supermarket car parks at Tesco and Sainsbury's provide free parking for customers, with time limits enforced by automatic number plate recognition cameras. These are useful for shopping trips but cannot reasonably be used as free all-day parking for the town centre or beach.
For those willing to walk a short distance, the car parks slightly further from the seafront and town centre tend to be less busy and cheaper. The flat terrain of Bognor means that a ten-minute walk from a quieter car park is neither strenuous nor unpleasant, and it may save both money and the frustration of circling for a space closer in.