The Anvil is one of those rare bits of Basingstoke that locals can recommend without immediately adding a qualification.
Opened in the 1990s, it is the town’s main concert hall and hosts everything from orchestras and touring bands to comedy and stage shows. The smaller Forge performance space also sits inside the building.
The railway station is almost directly opposite, the bus station is nearby and there are several town-centre car parks within walking distance.
Parking for The Anvil
The Anvil has no car park of its own. The venue points drivers to two main options, and charges apply at both in the evening. The figures below were taken from the council and Festival Place websites on 8 October 2026. Tariffs change, so check before you travel.
The Malls (Alencon Link)
This is the nearest main car park and the one The Anvil recommends first.
- Evening (6pm to 8am): £2.50 per visit, according to the council. Evening users can pay the flat fee and validate their ticket on or after arrival.
- Daytime (8am to 6pm): from £1.90 for up to an hour, £3.10 for up to two hours, £3.60 for up to three and £4.50 for up to four. It is the same tariff Monday to Sunday.
- How it works: it is pay on foot. Take a ticket on entry, pay at the machines in The Malls, then use the validated ticket at the exit barrier. Take the stairs or lift to The Malls and follow the signs to The Anvil.
- Resurfacing: the council says the car park is being resurfaced in two phases from 20 July to the end of October 2026. It stays open, but capacity drops by about half in each phase. Arrive early for busy shows until the work finishes.
Festival Place
The Anvil suggests the Purple Zone as the closest part of the Festival Place car park.
- Evening (5pm to 2am): a flat £2.00 if you leave before 2am. Stay beyond that and the standard hourly charges apply.
- Daytime (2am to 5pm): from £2.20 for up to an hour, £3.70 for up to two hours and £4.20 for up to three.
- Opening: the car park is open 24 hours.
- Paying: use the kiosks, pay online after parking, or register for Autopay, which carries a 10p fee per visit.
Blue Badge, EV charging, coaches and bikes
- Blue Badge: The Anvil’s access information mentions Blue Badge spaces on the upper level near the lifts, plus four spaces at the front of the building. Blue Badge holders can also apply to the council in advance for free entry and exit at The Malls (Alencon Link).
- EV charging: The Anvil points to the Churchill Way car park or the railway station. Festival Place has six EV sockets on Level 5, with standard parking charges also applying.
- Coaches: drop-off is on Churchill Way.
- Cycling: cycle parking is at the front of The Anvil, under the car park ramp to the right of the main doors.
By train or bus
The railway station and bus station are both a short walk away. The Anvil says trains take about 45 to 60 minutes to London Waterloo and 30 to 35 minutes to Southampton Central. If you are relying on the train after a show, check the last service home before you book.
Eating before a show
El Bigote in Festival Square is the independent option in the centre. It closes at 8pm from Monday to Thursday and 9pm on Friday and Saturday, so it suits an early meal. Our before a show guide has more on where to eat and drink, and the food and drink guide covers the rest of town.
Why it’s worth knowing
Basingstoke is very good at roundabouts, business parks and providing somewhere to buy trousers.
A concert hall with a genuinely varied programme is therefore something we should probably acknowledge when we have one.
Check what’s on rather than treating it as a sightseeing attraction. The architecture can only entertain you for so long.
Location
