Parking Near Coventry Building Society Arena: Matchday Parking Guide
Find the best parking options near Coventry Building Society Arena for a Coventry City football match, including official parking, Arena Shopping Park and post-match traffic tips.
On this page
Complete your driving matchday plan
Read the complete Coventry City football matchday guide, compare every way to reach the CBS Arena, and find food and drink near the stadium. The guide to Coventry City’s Premier League return explains why major home fixtures will require more advance planning.Driving to a Coventry City football match? Parking near the Coventry Building Society Arena is straightforward if you book before travelling, but the closest space is not always the best space.
The CBS Arena has official on-site parking, Arena Shopping Park sits directly beside the stadium, and there are other options within walking distance.
The important part is not only where you park.
You also need to think about how easily you will be able to leave after full-time.
Quick answer: The Coventry Building Society Arena has four official on-site car parks with around 2,200 spaces in total. For football matches, parking should normally be booked in advance. Arena Shopping Park can also be used for authorised matchday parking when booked through the CBS Arena parking system, but ordinary shopping-centre parking has different matchday restrictions. If you are driving to a Coventry City match, choose your parking based on both walking distance and your route home.
Where can you park for a Coventry City match?
The main parking options around the Coventry Building Society Arena are:
- official CBS Arena car parks;
- authorised Arena Shopping Park matchday parking;
- private pre-booked parking;
- park-and-walk options where available;
- parking farther from the stadium followed by a short walk.
Parking optionBest forMain considerationOfficial CBS Arena parkingConvenience and short walkPost-match release can take timeArena Shopping Park booked for matchdayVery close to stadiumMust follow matchday booking/rulesPrivate pre-booked parkingFlexible prices and locationsQuality and walking route varyParking farther awayPotentially faster exitLonger walkAccessible parkingBlue Badge holdersLimited spaces, book early
The right choice depends on where you are driving from and how quickly you want to leave Coventry after the football.
Official Coventry Building Society Arena parking
The CBS Arena has four on-site car parks with approximately 2,200 parking spaces.
All official car parks are within walking distance of the arena entrances.
Parking procedures and prices can vary by event, so do not assume that arrangements will be identical for every Coventry City football match.
For most supporters, advance booking is the safest option.
Why official parking is useful
Official parking is a good choice when:
- you want to park as close to the stadium as possible;
- you are travelling with children;
- someone in your group has limited mobility;
- you do not know the area;
- convenience is more important than leaving immediately after full-time.
The main trade-off is the post-match exit.
The post-match car park lockdown
The arena can operate a car park lockdown for up to one hour after an event for pedestrian safety.
This means a parking space beside the stadium can be extremely convenient before kick-off but less convenient when you want to leave.
Closest does not always mean quickest
If getting home quickly matters more than walking distance, compare parking slightly farther from the CBS Arena. A 10–15 minute walk may save time if traffic immediately around the stadium is heavily controlled after full-time.
When do the official car parks open?
Kick-offTypical car park openingTypical closing2:00pm11:00am7:00pm3:00pm12:00pm8:00pm7:45pm5:00pm11:00pm
These are general matchday times and can vary for individual fixtures.
Which official car park is best?
There is no single “best” car park. The ideal car park depends on:
- your entrance or stand;
- whether you are a home or away supporter;
- availability for the fixture;
- your route into Coventry;
- the direction you want to travel after the match.
For away supporters, proximity to the South Stand may be useful.
For drivers prioritising a quick exit, road direction and post-match controls may matter more than walking distance.
A future version of this guide can compare individual car parks in more detail once Matchday Coventry has tested the routes directly.
Can you park at Arena Shopping Park for a Coventry City match?
Yes, but this needs to be understood properly.
Arena Shopping Park is directly beside the Coventry Building Society Arena and has around 1,600 customer parking spaces.
On ordinary days, the shopping park offers up to five hours of free parking. Football matchdays have different conditions.
On matchdays, ordinary parking is limited to two hours, unless the driver qualifies under the shopping park's purchase conditions or has booked authorised event parking.
The shopping park states that visitors staying longer can be required to show proof of at least £50 of purchases from Arena Shopping Park retailers.
The other option is to purchase authorised matchday parking for Arena Shopping Park in advance through the CBS Arena parking system.
What this means for football supporters
A normal football visit will usually last longer than two hours once you include:
- arriving before kick-off;
- entering the stadium;
- the match itself;
- stoppage time;
- leaving the stand;
- walking back to the car.
Do not simply park in an ordinary customer space and assume that being at the football makes the normal restrictions disappear.
If you want to leave your car at Arena Shopping Park for the match, use an authorised parking option or make sure you clearly satisfy the current parking conditions.
Do not assume Arena Shopping Park is free football parking
Arena Shopping Park has specific matchday restrictions. A standard shopping visit and a full football match are not the same thing. Check the parking conditions before leaving your vehicle.
Can you park at Tesco for the match?
Tesco Extra is part of Arena Shopping Park. That does not create a separate unrestricted football parking option.
Do not assume that shopping at Tesco allows you to leave a vehicle there throughout the match without checking the current conditions.
Keep any receipts if your parking depends on a shopping-spend condition.
For a first-time visitor, pre-booking a recognised football parking space is much simpler than trying to interpret the rules after arriving.
What about drop-off and collection?
Arena Shopping Park allows brief football/event drop-offs and collections at designated points.
The vehicle must not remain for more than around five minutes when using the designated drop-off or pickup area.
This can be useful for families, elderly supporters, visitors with mobility needs, or someone being dropped off before the driver parks elsewhere.
However, collection immediately after full-time can be difficult because thousands of supporters leave at the same time. If someone is collecting you, agree the meeting point before entering the stadium.
Can you park on streets near the CBS Arena?
Do not assume the residential streets around the stadium provide easy free parking.
Some surrounding areas may be residents-only, restricted, privately managed or subject to event-day enforcement.
Parking illegally or ignoring local restrictions can turn a cheap away day into an expensive one.
For a visitor unfamiliar with Coventry, a pre-booked space is usually the safer choice.
Private parking near the CBS Arena
Private parking platforms and individual spaces can provide alternatives to the official stadium car parks. These might include private driveways, business car parks, managed parking areas and spaces 10–30 minutes on foot from the stadium.
Private parking can work particularly well if you want to avoid the busiest traffic immediately beside the CBS Arena.
What to compare before booking
- walking distance;
- user reviews where available;
- opening and closing times;
- whether the space is guaranteed;
- cancellation rules;
- the walking route after dark;
- post-match road access;
- whether the location makes sense for your journey home.
Do not choose purely on price. A cheap space in the wrong direction can add considerable time to your return journey.
Is it better to park farther from the stadium?
Sometimes, yes.
A parking space five minutes from the stadium can leave you sitting in traffic after full-time. A space 15 or 20 minutes away on foot may put you outside the most heavily controlled area.
Whether that is better depends on your mobility, the weather, whether you have children, how far you are driving home and which motorway or road you need after the match.
Think about the route home before choosing a space
If you need the M6 after the match, check whether your parking location will naturally send you towards it. The closest car park may not be the quickest if post-match traffic is being directed in another direction.
Post-match traffic around the CBS Arena
Traffic management is an important part of parking at Coventry City.
After home football matches, the A444 Jimmy Hill Way can be temporarily closed to protect pedestrians leaving the stadium.
This affects how vehicles leave different parts of the arena area.
Cars leaving Arena Shopping Park and some nearby parking areas may initially be directed south towards Coventry city centre rather than immediately towards the M6.
For drivers heading north, this can mean following a diversion before rejoining the preferred route.
Why this matters when choosing parking
Imagine two spaces:
Space A: Five minutes from the stadium, but traffic leaves in the opposite direction from your route home.
Space B: Fifteen minutes on foot, but once you reach the car you can leave the area more directly.
Space B may produce the shorter overall journey.
That is why Matchday Coventry recommends comparing the total journey, not just the walk to the stadium.
Parking for away supporters
Away fans are normally located in the South Stand.
If you are visiting Coventry City, consider how close your parking is to the away entrance, whether visiting supporters are directed along a different pedestrian route after full-time, and whether the car park exit works for your journey home.
Do not assume the same route you walked before kick-off will necessarily be the route used after the match. Crowd management can temporarily change pedestrian access.
Coventry City Football Matchday Guide for First-Time Visitors and Away Fans
For more information about the away section and planning the complete day, the full Matchday Coventry matchday guide covers stadium entry, transport, food, bags and leaving after the football.
Accessible parking
A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available at the Coventry Building Society Arena on an event-by-event basis.
These spaces should be booked as early as possible. The Blue Badge holder must travel in the vehicle.
Because availability is limited, accessible parking is one part of the matchday that should not be left until the last minute.
How early should you arrive if driving?
For a first visit, aim to reach the stadium area well before kick-off.
Around 60 to 90 minutes before the match gives you time to deal with traffic, find your allocated car park, walk to the stadium, find the correct entrance and handle any parking problem without missing kick-off.
For major Premier League fixtures, arriving even earlier may make the experience easier.
Driving from the M6
The CBS Arena is close to Junction 3 of the M6.
This makes motorway access one of the biggest advantages of driving to Coventry City.
- follow temporary signs;
- follow your booked parking instructions;
- listen to stewards;
- do not insist on following the sat-nav if traffic management sends you another way.
The postcode for the arena is: CV6 6AQ
But your individual parking booking may provide a more appropriate arrival point.
Driving from London or the South
Supporters travelling from London and southern England may approach Coventry via the motorway network including the M40 and connecting roads.
When comparing driving with the train, consider the number of people travelling, fuel, parking cost, expected traffic, late return trains and whether the match has an evening kick-off.
For a group, driving can sometimes make more sense financially. For a single supporter travelling from central London, rail may be simpler.
How to Get to Coventry Building Society Arena: Train, Bus, Taxi & Car
Should you drive or take the train?
Drive if...Take the train if...You are travelling as a groupYou are travelling aloneRail connections from home are poorYou have a good direct connectionYou need flexibility after the matchYou want to drink before the footballYou have children or extra luggageYou want to spend time in the city centreYou can pre-book suitable parkingYou do not want to deal with post-match traffic
There is no universal answer.
How to choose the right parking option
Before booking, ask these five questions:
- How far is the walk to the stadium?
- What happens after full-time?
- Which direction do I need to travel home?
- Is the space definitely authorised for football parking?
- Is the saving worth the extra walking or uncertainty?
The best matchday parking option is the one that works for your whole journey, not simply the one closest to the turnstile.
Complete your Coventry City matchday plan
How to Get to Coventry Building Society Arena: Train, Bus, Taxi & Car
For stadium entry, away-supporter information, food, bags, accessibility and planning the complete football day, read:
Coventry City Football Matchday Guide for First-Time Visitors and Away Fans
Coventry City's return to Premier League football will also mean more visiting supporters and greater demand around major home fixtures.
Coventry City Are Back in the Premier League: What It Means for Matchday Visitors
Coventry City parking: quick answers
Is there official parking at the CBS Arena?
Yes. The Coventry Building Society Arena has four on-site car parks with around 2,200 spaces.
Should I book Coventry City parking in advance?
Yes. For a busy football fixture, booking in advance is strongly recommended.
Can I park at Arena Shopping Park for a Coventry City match?
Authorised matchday parking can be available at Arena Shopping Park. Ordinary customer parking has specific football matchday restrictions, so do not assume you can leave your car there for the entire match without checking the conditions.
How long can you normally park at Arena Shopping Park on matchdays?
The published matchday customer limit is two hours unless the relevant purchase conditions are met or authorised event parking has been booked.
Is Arena Shopping Park next to the CBS Arena?
Yes. Arena Shopping Park is directly beside the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Can I park on nearby residential streets?
Do not assume so. Some roads may have restrictions, residents' parking or enforcement.
Is the closest parking always the best?
No. A slightly longer walk can sometimes allow you to leave the stadium area more quickly after full-time.
Is there accessible parking?
Yes, but spaces are limited and should be booked early.
What postcode should I use for the CBS Arena?
Use CV6 6AQ, then follow the instructions for your specific parking booking.
The best parking strategy for a first visit
For your first Coventry City football match, keep it simple.
Book an authorised parking space before travelling.
Check where it is in relation to your stadium entrance.
Look at the route you need after full-time.
Allow enough time to arrive without rushing.
And remember:
The best parking space is not necessarily the closest one — it is the one that makes the entire matchday easier.
Matchday Coventry will continue to develop this guide as we test more parking routes and matchday exit options around the CBS Arena.
Related guides
Coventry City Football Matchday Guide
A practical guide to a Coventry City Football home game at the CBS Arena stadium for first-time visitors and away fans: getting there, parking, food and drink, and matchday tips.
How to Get to Coventry Football Club Stadium: Train, Bus, Taxi & Car
Travelling to the CBS Arena for a Coventry City football match? Compare trains, buses, taxis and driving, including Coventry Station vs Coventry Arena.
Coventry City Are Back in the Premier League: What It Means for Matchday Visitors
Coventry City are back in the Premier League for 2026/27. Here is what the club's return means for away fans and first-time visitors planning a football matchday in Coventry.