Visitor Travel
Please Note: Visitors travelling to the University of South Wales should note that car parking is very limited at all campuses, particularly at the start of the autumn term.
The University strongly recommends that you consider alternative travel arrangements to driving wherever possible. All campuses are serviced by regular public transport links and are easily accessible by road.
Do I need a parking permit?
You do not need a parking permit to park in the public car park at the bottom of the Treforest Campus and on the Glyntaff Campus. Daily users of the student and visitor car parks pay £1 for up to 5 hours’ parking and £2 for any period over 5 hours. For more information on driving to our campuses, please visit the University’s Location page.
Occasional visitors to University Departments may be issued with a Day Parking Permit which will permit parking within staff car parks. Please contact the department you are visiting to confirm if you will be issued with this permit.
Please note: If you are visiting the university to attend a conference, seminar or other special event, there may be special parking arrangements in place - please check with the organiser.
The first few weeks of the academic year are especially busy, with a massive demand for the 2000 available car parking spaces for students and visitors. During term, all parking spaces can be taken by 8.45am, so students who drive often have to arrive on campus before 9am, even if their lectures don’t start until 10am or later. The increased traffic also puts pressure on the local road network, often causing long delays in excess of 30 minutes to get to the student car park. If you do need to drive there are alternative car parks in Pontypridd Town Centre.
Further parking can be found around Treforest. Websites such as Parkopedia and apps such as the ‘smart parking’ app are great ways of finding the locations and costs local car parks.
How much does visitor parking on campus cost?
Daily users of the student and visitor car parks pay £1 for up to 5 hours’ parking and £2 for any period over 5 hours.
An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Car Parking System is in operation in the Llantwit Road car park and both Glyntaff Upper and Lower car parks. Further information on how this works can be found on our ANPR parking page.
Where can I park?
Visitors can park at the bottom of the Treforest Campus and on the Glyntaff Campus. There is limited parking in our Newport Campus and there are no visitor parking spaces in our Cardiff Campus.
Newport:
Parking is available throughout Newport City centre, although prices vary and can be quite expensive. The nearest car parks to our Newport campus are the Newport County Council Car Park, and the Kingsway Carpark. Prices, facilities and opening times can be found on Parkopedia and apps such as the ‘smart parking’ app are great ways of finding the locations and costs local car parks.
The university has negotiated 20% discount for students at the Kingsway Centre. To qualify for this discount, please scan your ticket at the campus reception desk on the ground floor.
Cardiff:
Atrium Campus Staff, Student and Visitor Car Parking Discount at Cardiff Pellet Street NCP
USW has negotiated the following deal with NCP for the Pellet Street Car Park, Knox Road Car Park & Dumfries Place Car Park
Further information can be found on the NCP ParkPass webpage.
Travelling by Bus
Bus Travel
At the Treforest Campus, bus stops are located outside the main campus on Llantwit Road and Brook Street.
Near the Glyntaff Campus, bus stops are located on Pentrebach Road and Cardiff Road.
Bus Routes and Timetables
Further details of bus routes and timetables can be obtained from Traveline Cymru
Travelling by Train
Treforest station is just five minutes walk from the Treforest and Glyntaff campuses.
A list of up-to-date times be found on the Transport for Wales website.
Intercampus Travel
The University has arranged a shuttle bus service between the sites of our Pontypridd Campus, click here for the Timetable.
Cycling or Walking
Cycling to the University is easy thanks to a comprehensive network of cycle and bridlepaths connecting with Cardiff from all directions. For full details on the National Cycle Network routes visit Sustrans
The cycle shelters outside K & J Block are secured with a lockable gate. To obtain access for the gate, first complete a Bicycle Registration Scheme Form. Access will be added to your card soon after completing the form.
If you have any problems contact Estates Security.
Showers and lockers:
Lockers are available in the cycle shelter and free showers are available in B Block, Sport Centre and Tramshed.
Walking
One of the most important changes everyone can make to the parking issues at the University is to walk between campuses instead of driving. The most direct route from Treforest campus to Glyntaff is:-
- Leave Treforest campus via the Brook Street entrance, and turn right down Brook Street.
- Cross over the road and at the end turn left so that you are walking towards the station.
- Go into the station and cross over the railway using the pedestrian bridge.
- Once out of the station, cross over the road and walk down Castle Street (side street with Pink Shop on the corner).
- At the end of the road, cross over (Caution: Local residents have indicated this crossing point as one where extra care should be taken) the street and use the pedestrian crossing over the River Taff.
- Once over the river, turn left following the footpath alongside the river.
- Cross over the road at the end, and bear right so that you cross the closed slip roads.
- Follow the path up through the grass verge, and at the top of this small hill, cross over the road, and take the hard right turn into Cemetery Road.
- The Glyntaff campus is on the right-hand side.
Travel Apps:
Whether you want to try out new routes, strive to be faster, want to face a challenge, have better endurance or improve fitness, walkers, runners and cyclists can use a number of applications, including the following:
Mapmywalk
Runkeeper
Cyclingbuddy
Travelling by Bus
Bus Travel:
Newport Bus is the main provider of public transport in Newport. Catching the bus to get about the city and to Cardiff, Chepstow and Cwmbran not only saves you money, but is good for the environment too as it helps to cut down on the number of cars on the road and lower pollution levels. For more information visit the Newport Bus Website or contact 01633 670563.
Bus Routes and Timetables:
Further details of bus routes and timetables can be obtained from Traveline Cymru
Travelling by Train
The Newport train station is a 20 minute walk from Newport City Campus.
A list of up-to-date times be found on the Transport for Wales website.
Cycling or Walking
Cycling or Walking
Cycling to the City Campus is easy thanks to a comprehensive network of Sustrans cycle routes. Sustrans Route 4 and 8 connects Newport City Centre to Cardiff and Route 88 connects Newport City Centre to Caerleon. For full details on the National Cycle Network routes visit Sustrans
Bicycle shelters and stands
There are external secure bike locking facilities located next to the main entrance.
Free showers and coin operated lockers are available near to the main reception.
Walking:
Newport Train Station is approximately 20 minutes walk from the Campus. Newport Bus Station is approximately 15 minutes walk from the Campus.
Travel Apps:
Whether you want to try out new routes, strive to be faster, want to face a challenge, have better endurance or improve fitness, walkers, runners and cyclists can use a number of applications, including the following:
Mapmywalk
Runkeeper
Cyclingbuddy
Travelling by Bus
Bus Travel:
At the Atrium Campus there is a bus stop directly opposite the Atrium Building.
Bus Routes and Timetables:
Further details of bus routes and timetables can be obtained from Traveline Cymru
Travelling by Train
Cardiff Queen’s Street Station is just five minutes walk from the Atrium Campus.
A list of up-to-date times be found on the Transport for Wales website.
Cycling or Walking
Cycling or Walking:
Cycling to the University is easy thanks to a comprehensive network of cycle and bridlepaths connecting with Cardiff from all directions. For full details on the National Cycle Network routes visit Sustrans
Bicycle shelters and stands:
The main cycle shelter is secured with a lockable gate. To obtain access for the gate, first complete a Bicycle Registration Scheme Form. Access will be added to your card soon after completing the form.
If you have any problems contact the Atrium Reception Desk on 01443 668543.
Showers and lockers:
Lockers are available in the cycle shelter and free showers are available on the second floor of the Atrium building for cyclists.
Walking:
Walking to the University is easy thanks to a comprehensive network of cycle and bridle paths connecting with Cardiff from all directions. For full details on the National Cycle Network routes visit Sustrans
Travel Apps:
Whether you want to try out new routes, strive to be faster, want to face a challenge, have better endurance or improve fitness, walkers, runners and cyclists can use a number of applications, including the following:
Mapmywalk
Runkeeper
Cyclingbuddy