Opening times
Gates open at 5.30am everyday (including Christmas day).
From 1 October to 31 March gates are locked at 6.30pm.
From 1 April to 30 September gates are locked at 8.30pm
Toilets are open from 9.30am - 4.30pm each day.
All buildings are closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day but the park is open as usual.
Woodland Café
Our Woodland Café serves a range of fresh, delicious food and hot drinks.
Opening times
The café is open seven days a week, 10am until 4.30pm.
On Saturdays, we open from 9am to accommodate parkrun attendees and other early risers when a choice of sausage and bacon baps are made available.
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome inside.
Directions
Allington Lane,
West End,
Southampton SO30 3HQ
By car
The SatNav postcode SO30 3HQ brings you to our main entrance.
Itchen Valley Country Park is situated just off the A27. Exit the M27 at Junction 5 from the west, or Junction 7 from the east. Follow the brown tourist signs to the country park on the A27 (towards West End) from either direction.
Parking
ANPR is now up and running at Itchen Valley Country Park.
Parking charges
1 hr £2.10
2 hr £3.40
3 hr £4.40
4hr + £5.10
On arrival at the barrier please take a ticket from the machine, park up and enjoy your visit.
When it’s time to go home, visit a pay station by the café or at the top of the drive to pay for your parking. You have 10 minutes to leave the car park after making payment.
Blue Badge Holders
At the present time Blue Badge holders can either visit the café or speak to a member of parking services via the barrier intercom to get their parking validated for free. Blue badge numbers will be required.
Permits
All permits, including annual permits can be bought at the pay stations.
Please note RingGo is no longer available at Itchen Valley Country Park; however, any valid season tickets previously purchased by RingGo have been transferred to the ANPR system, and the entrance & exit barriers will automatically lift for the vehicle previously registered with RingGo until the expiry date. Any problems with previously purchased RingGo season tickets, please email.
BBQ’s are prohibited
Due to the fire risk to people and wildlife at Itchen Valley Country Park, we do not accept the use of any BBQ’s on site under any circumstances.
Dog friendly
We welcome caring dog owners to our country park. If your dog is sensible off the lead, you can let them run on the High Hill Field - the large recreation area at the top of the main driveway.
Please keep your dog on the lead in all other areas of the park, including woodland and nature trails, as well as the visitor centre and café.
Only assistance dogs can access play areas.
Our park is covered by a ‘poop-scoop’ by-law so you must clean up after your dog. You’ll find dog bins behind our visitor centre and around the edge of High Hill Field.
We are aligned with Bird Aware Solent's Canine Code
Self-service dog wash machine
Avoid muddy paws in the car and at home after your walk by using the Polygon Pets dog wash. Located to the side of the Kingfisher Barn, it's just £4 for a wash that includes warm water, shampoos and a blow dry. Payment is by card only.
Other important information
Accessibility
All our paths are wheel friendly, we have a wheelchair accessible toilet and our Visitor Centre and Woodland Café are all on ground floor level.
We have priority parking for Blue Badge holders in our main car park.
Flying drones
Due to the proximity of the country park to the airport, visitors are not permitted to fly drones in the park.