Exploring Bath is fun, but finding parking here is usually a less thrilling prospect. While the city is small enough to be very walkable wherever you park, with a little bit of forward planning you can find the best car park for your Bath-based adventures.
Most cars won’t need to pay the congestion charge but beware if you’re bringing a truck or camper van using diesel, as you might need to pay up!
You might also need a (big) handful of coins for some pay and display machines, but most are contactless or use an app called MiPermit, so it’s worth downloading that before you arrive. Check out the BANES website for more parking options.
Ready to roll? Here are 13 of the most convenient car parks for a four-wheeled visit to Bath, from those who have lived in the city for many years.
1. Broad Street Car Park
Ideal for visiting Bath’s main drag along Milsom Street, George Street, or the Bartlett Quarter, Broad Street Car Park (BA1 5LW) is a smaller 24-hour car park (48 spaces, four disabled) that is a convenient short-stay option, especially if you’re in a taller vehicle as there is no height restriction.
You can stay up to four hours from £1.70 and charges apply Monday to Sunday 8am until 8pm including Bank Holidays.
Sign up to the MiPermit app system via Apple or the Play Store to pay here as there are no cash options available.
2. Cattle Market Car Park
Antique lovers and vintage vultures can park here to explore the quirky finds on Walcot Street. Cattle Market Car Park (BA1 5BD) is a typical Bath short stay car park, so stays are up to four hours and cost from £1.70 during the charging times of Monday to Sunday 8am-8pm including Bank Holidays.
There are 40 spaces so it fills up fast, but the nearby Podium is a good second option.
It’s a 24-hour open air car park with no height restriction and only MiPermit and exact cash payment options are available (no debit/credit cards).
3. Avon Street Car Park
Spend as long as you want exploring Bath with short and long stay options at Avon Street Car Park (BA1 1UF) for up to seven days of parking.
Here you’ll find 140 spaces (11 disabled) that are open, and charged for, 24 hours a day, seven days a week from £3.40 for two hours with reduced overnight tariffs.
Close to Thermae Bath Spa, the bus/train station, and Southgate shopping centre, Avon Street is one of Bath’s biggest car parks and with motorcycle spaces and a height restriction of 5”11 it’s suitable for most vehicles.
Exact change and MiPermit app payments are the only options accepted here.
As of November 2022 this car park is going through constructional changes, there are a wide number of spaces still available but expect noise and possibly a little bit of traffic around this location.
4. Charlotte Street Car Park
Charlotte Street Car Park, Bath’s biggest car park, is the perfect location for exploring tourist sights like Victoria Park, the Royal Crescent, the Circus and with 24 hour parking Monday to Sunday, it’s also ideal for nightlife spots along Milsom Street.
Short and long stay options are available here, with no height restrictions and costs ranging from £6.80 in the day (up to four hours) to a £1.50 charge for anyone arriving between 6pm and 8pm (and an overnight tariff of £1.50 from 8pm ).
With 1,056 spaces (24 disabled) and options to pay with cash or MiPermit app, as well as toilets (20p or cashless payment), Charlotte Street Car Park (BA1 2NE) is a popular place to leave your car in Bath.
5. Bath Sports & Leisure Centre Car Park
Ready to cheer on Bath Rugby? If you’re attending a rugby or cricket game, or planning a trip to the pool, then the Bath Sports & Leisure Centre Car Park has 128 spaces (six disabled) and is your best bet to be as close as possible to the action.
It’s short stay only (maximum four hours) and charges from £1.70 for stays between 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday (including Bank Hols) with an overnight tariff of £1.50 .
Use cash, contactless payments, or the MiPermit app (or text). Stick BA2 4ET or the Bath Sports & Leisure Centre into your sat nav to find it.
Some spaces are outside but indoor ones have a height restriction of 6”6.
6. Manvers Street Car Park
Parking by the police station always seems like a safe bet and Manvers Street Car Park (BA1 1JZ) is located opposite one, and is also close to Southgate, the Roman Baths, the Abbey, Parade Gardens, and the train/bus stations.
Short or long stay parking costs from £3.40 (up to two hours) with no maximum stay in the 159 spaces (five disabled), and a maximum height restriction of 6”6.
Pay using the MiPermit app or exact cash only (no debit or credit cards).
7. Southgate Shopping Centre Car Park
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Southgate Shopping Centre Car Park (BA1 1TP) is home to 876 spaces (38 disabled spaces) that cost from £4 (up to two hours) for long and short stays with an overnight tariff of £2.50 after 6pm.
Situated underneath the Southgate complex, here is the best place to park for a day out shopping or an evening at the cinema or restaurants.
8. Kingsmead Square Car Park
Ideal for the Theatre Royal, Odeon, or Komedia, Kingsmead Square Car Park (BA1 2AA) has 91 spaces (four disabled) and is open 24 hours from Monday to Sunday.
Charges start from £1.70 and you can stay up to four hours with an evening tariff of £1.50 from 8pm-8am.
Electric vehicle charging stations are also available.
9. Green Park Road Car Park
Perfect for trips to Thermae Bath Spa, Green Park Road Car Park (BA1 1UT) has 104 spaces (five disabled) and motorcycle parking.
There’s no height restriction and parking is from £3.40 for up to two hours, 8am-8pm, with an overnight tariff of £1.50 after 8pm.
Maximum stay is four hours and cashless payments or MiPermit app options are available.
10. Laura Place
This is a location our founder, Brandon uses frequently, but it’s only for a maximum stay of two hours.
He uses this to go shopping, take the dog for a walk, or meet friends for lunch, the two hour limit makes it perfect to drop into town and do small tasks, but it is frequently visited by ticket marshals so we only recommend this location if you know you’re going to be in an out!
It’s jus off Pulteney Bridge making it a great location to grab lunch, do some shopping at Waitrose or take the dog for a walk at Henrietta Park just down the road.
This location uses MiPermit, and for two hours you can expect to pay approximately £5.90, there’s not lots of spaces but theres enough for a good 50 vehicles, but its a perfect car park for those exiting on London Road.
Remember, you must park at Laura Place (around the fountain) and not down the adjacent roads, that’s for residents.
Park & Ride Options
Don’t fancy driving into Bath? We don’t blame you! Try one of the Park & Ride options on the edges of the city to park your car in peace and get a bus into the city.
Ride into town from Lansdown (BA1 9BJ) in the North, Odd Down (BA2 8PA )in the South, or Newbridge to the West (BA1 3NB). It’s a great deal from £3.60 for an adult return, Monday to Friday, and you can pay using the First Bus app or with contactless payment onboard.
Looking for fun things to do in Bath now you’ve paid up for parking? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Bath under £50 or try these romantic date ideas.
Amy is an award-winning travel writer born and bred in Bath. She has written for national newspapers and magazines from the Guardian and Mail on Sunday to Conde Nast Traveller and Good Housekeeping. Now she’s helping travellers explore Bath, one story at a time.
