Practical · Bath

Parking in Bath

Use the Park & Ride. It's from £3 return per car (all passengers), the bus runs every 10–15 minutes, and it drops you in the city centre. Central Bath parking is expensive (£4–6/hour) and the streets are not designed for cars.

5

P&R sites

£3

P&R return (whole car)

£4–6

Centre car parks /hr

Bath Park & Ride — all three sites

Bath has three Park & Ride sites, one on each main approach. All are open 24 hours and signposted from the road. Parking is free if you take the bus and collect your car the same day — you only pay the bus fare. Leave the car without using the bus, or overnight, and it is £2 up to three hours or £3 up to 24 hours. Buses run every 15 minutes Monday to Friday until 20:30, then every 30 minutes until 23:30. First bus 06:15 Monday to Saturday, 09:30 on Sunday; the last bus back from the centre is 23:30 Monday to Saturday and 18:00 on Sunday. No pre-booking.

Site Bus Return fare
Lansdown P&R Service 31878 spaces £4.00 adult return
Newbridge P&R Service 21698 spaces £4.00 adult return
Odd Down P&R Services 41 & 41,230 spaces £4.00 adult return

Sites, service numbers, space counts and fares verified on travelwest.info, checked 8 August 2026. Note there is no child fare on the Park & Ride services — under-16s travelling alone need an adult return. Always check before travelling.

City centre car parks

If Park & Ride doesn't work for your visit (mobility requirements, dropping luggage to a hotel, very early or late hours), these are the main central options. Budget £25–40 for an all-day stay.

Southgate (SouthGate Shopping Centre)

BA1 1AQ

Most central — 5 min walk to Roman Baths and Abbey. Most expensive.

Avon Street multi-storey

BA1 1UA

Near the bus station and train station. Good for arriving by car then exploring on foot.

Charlotte Street

BA1 2NE

5 min walk to Royal Crescent. Good for Assembly Rooms and upper town.

Manvers Street

BA1 1JW

Near the station. Fills quickly on busy days.

Podium

BA1 5AJ

Walcot Street end of town. Less central but can be quieter mid-week.

Stay central — no parking problem

The cleanest solution to Bath parking is staying in a central hotel — walk everywhere from your room. Most central Bath hotels are within 10 minutes' walk of the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent, and the main restaurants.

Central Bath hotels →

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Parking in Bath — frequently asked

Where can I park in Bath city centre?
Parking in Bath city centre: the main car parks are Southgate (SouthGate Shopping Centre, BA1 1AQ — most central, 5 min walk to the Roman Baths), Avon Street (near the bus station), Charlotte Street (near the Royal Crescent), and Podium. All charge £4–6 per hour and fill up on busy weekends. For most visitors, the Park & Ride is a much better option — five sites on the approach roads, from £3 return per car for all passengers.
Is Park and Ride worth it in Bath?
Yes. Bath's Park & Ride is significantly cheaper than city centre parking (£3 return per car vs £25–40 for a day in a central car park), avoids the stress of navigating Bath's narrow Georgian streets, and the bus drops you within a few minutes' walk of the main attractions. Five Park & Ride sites cover all the main approach roads. Unless you specifically need to park central (for mobility reasons), use Park & Ride — it makes the day easier in every way.
How much does parking cost in Bath?
Central Bath car parks charge approximately £4–6 per hour. Half-day (up to 4 hours) costs around £12–18; all-day rates typically £25–40. Southgate and Avon Street are the most central and usually the most expensive. Park & Ride is from £3 return per car (car and all passengers) — for a family of four, the cost difference is significant.
Which Park & Ride should I use for Bath?
Bath has three Park & Ride sites, and which you want depends on your approach. Coming from the west or Bristol, use Newbridge on the A4 (service 21). From the north and M4 Junction 18, use Lansdown on the A46 (service 31). From the south, use Odd Down on the A367 (services 41 and 4). There is no Park & Ride on the eastern approach, so if you are arriving from London the simplest option is usually to carry on to Lansdown or Odd Down, or to take the train instead. All three sites are open 24/7, and parking is free provided you take the bus and collect the car the same day. Current fares and timetables are on travelwest.info.
Is Bath worth visiting by car?
Bath is easily accessible by car from London (1h 45min–2h 30min via M4), Bristol (20–30min), and the South West. The approach is straightforward — Bath is well signposted from all major roads. The challenge is the city itself: Bath's Georgian centre has narrow streets and limited parking. The solution is Park & Ride — drive into the city outskirts and take the bus from there. You get the convenience of driving plus the ease of not navigating the centre.
Can I stay in a central Bath hotel and avoid parking problems?
Yes — staying in a central Bath hotel removes the parking problem entirely. Most central Bath hotels can arrange parking at nearby city car parks, and Bath Spa station is in the city centre if you arrive by train. For those driving and staying centrally, Charlotte Street car park is the most useful for hotels on the upper town (near the Royal Crescent and Assembly Rooms); Southgate for hotels near the Roman Baths and Abbey area.

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