Advice on parking for Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

piddleypops

Okay, it's not really a day (!) out but my husband has an appointment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Friday. This will be the first time we will have visited it.

We don't know the city at all as we're travelling from North Kent. Looking on the Internet, it seems parking is quite limited and very expensive.

Can anyone give us some advice please on the best options available. Our appointment isn't until late afternoon.

Many thanks.

kingfisherblue

I don't know the area at all - I'm from the North West. I do know, however, that hospital parking can be very limited and I find the best time to get a space is during the lunch hour or very early in the morning. That sounds dreadful in a way, because it means I block a space too early, but at Alder Hey in Liverpool, you can drive around the car park for an hour or more before gettting a space - and that's with the option to use a Blue Badge as well! I've sometimes taken my son for an afternoon appointment, and arrived at around 12.15-12.30. We've then had lunch in the hospital canteen, had a walk round looking at the wall art (lots of pictures appealing to kids, altohugh some looks rather tired now), then had a coffee (juice for my son) and gone into our appointment.

I know that might not help, especially if parking is expensive, but not knowing the area it's the only option I can think of at the moment. Obviously if your appointment is late afternoon, it is possible that other clinics finish earlier and there may be parking spaces available, but only the hospital, or regular users of the hospital, would know that.

If you are on means tested benefits, you might be able to claim back some travel expenses - take your latest award notice if you are on JSA or IS. If you have a low income but are not on either of these benefits, you can fill in a form from the doctors or chemist. I think it is called HC1. You might be able to get some travel costs paid at a later date if you have a claim in before your appointment, but I'm not sure.

The only other thing I can think of is to ring the hospital and ask if there is a Park and Ride scheme in the area.

Hope all goes well x

brightonman123

aim for the Queens Park or Bristol Estate area, either side of the hospital- side streeets of these may have space..

avoid anything below Eastern Road (towards the sea), nearly all permit parking.

I think the multi storey at the marina is still free, with some buses from inside Marina, going back along seafront. A short walk up, if able!