For a day in Bournemouth, the cheapest council car park is Central, which BCP Council lists at £6.40 for up to 24 hours all year round. The big town centre multi-storeys, Avenue Road and Richmond Gardens, are £12.90 for 24 hours, while the seafront car parks by the pier cost £28 for a day in summer and £20.90 in winter. Bournemouth has no Park & Ride.
Where should I park in Bournemouth?
£2.10 for an hour, £6.40 for 24 hours, all year. 315 spaces, 2.1m height limit.
900 and 859 spaces. £3.30 for 2 hours, £12.90 for 24 hours, all year.
By the pier. £3.80 for an hour in summer, £2.40 in winter. 4 EV points.
Key takeaways
- Central car park is £6.40 for 24 hours all year, the cheapest council option in the centre.
- Avenue Road, Richmond Gardens and Richmond Hill share one all-year tariff: £3.30 for 2 hours, £12.90 for 24 hours.
- Seafront car parks (Bath Road North and South, Beacon Road) switch between a summer tariff from 15 March and a winter tariff from 1 November.
- Richmond Gardens has a 1.91m height limit and its lifts close in the evening. Bath Road has a 2m limit.
- There is no Park & Ride in Bournemouth, and the council's car parks don't take cash.
Where are the car parks in Bournemouth?
Tap a pin for prices, the address and directions. Teal pins are BCP Council car parks and the amber pin is private.
Pin positions are approximate. Use the address or the directions link to find the entrance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How much do Bournemouth's town centre car parks cost?
These are BCP Council's charges, which apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year:
| Car park | Up to 1 hour | Up to 2 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 4 hours | Up to 6 hours | Up to 24 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | £2.10 | £3.30 | £5.80 | £6.40 | ||
| Avenue Road | £3.30 | £4.50 | £5.80 | £10.30 | £12.90 | |
| Richmond Gardens | £3.30 | £4.50 | £5.80 | £10.30 | £12.90 | |
| Richmond Hill surface | £3.30 | £4.50 | £5.80 | £10.30 | £12.90 |
How much is seafront parking in Bournemouth?
The council's car parks by the pier and the BIC run two tariffs. These apply at Bath Road South, Bath Road North and Beacon Road:
| Season | Up to 1 hour | Up to 2 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 4 hours | Up to 6 hours | Up to 24 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 March to 31 October | £3.80 | £7.70 | £11.40 | £15.40 | £22.90 | £28 |
| 1 November to 14 March | £2.40 | £4.70 | £6.50 | £8.20 | £13 | £20.90 |
How much is on-street parking in Bournemouth?
BCP Council runs pay and display bays around the town centre, but doesn't publish a single price list for them in the way it does for its car parks, so this guide doesn't repeat street prices. The sign at the bay shows the hours and the price.
Which car parks fit a tall vehicle, and where can I charge?
| Car park | Postcode | Spaces | Max height | EV points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avenue Road | BH2 5SL | 900, plus 14 disabled | Not listed by the council | Not listed | No cash payments |
| Richmond Gardens | BH1 1JD | 859, plus 12 disabled | 1.91m | 4 | Card only. Lifts closed 5pm to 8am (4pm Sundays) |
| Central | BH1 2HH | 315, plus 3 disabled | 2.1m | Not listed | 8 motorcycle spaces |
| Richmond Hill surface | BH2 6EP | 112 | Surface car park | 2 | |
| Bath Road South | BH1 2EW | 163, plus 11 disabled | 2m | 4 | By the pier |
| Bath Road North | BH1 2EW | 116, plus 2 disabled | 2m | Not listed | Next to the Pavilion |
| Beacon Road | BH2 5ER | 44 | 2.1m | 2 | By the BIC |
What about private car parks?
RCP Parking runs The Square car park at 22 Richmond Hill (BH2 6EJ): up to 2 hours £6.50, up to 4 hours £10, up to 24 hours £15, and an early bird all-day rate of £7.50 for entry between 6am and 9am. RCP lists a 1.98m height limit, card-only payment and no access between midnight and 6am.
Own a home in Bournemouth? The guest locked out at 10pm, the boiler that dies on a Saturday with a family inside: a local manager from the Houst network takes those calls for you, and Guestwise manages short lets from 12% + VAT. See Airbnb management in Bournemouth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest car park in Bournemouth town centre?
Central car park. BCP Council lists it at £2.10 for up to an hour and £6.40 for up to 24 hours, all year round.
How much is seafront parking in Bournemouth?
At Bath Road North, Bath Road South and Beacon Road, BCP Council charges £3.80 for up to an hour and £28 for 24 hours from 15 March to 31 October, dropping to £2.40 and £20.90 from 1 November to 14 March.
Is there a Park & Ride in Bournemouth?
No. BCP Council's car park finder doesn't list one for Bournemouth, so the town centre multi-storeys are the long-stay option.
Which Bournemouth car park has the most spaces?
Avenue Road, with 900 spaces, according to BCP Council, followed by Richmond Gardens with 859.
Which car parks have EV charging?
BCP Council lists charging points at Richmond Gardens (4), Bath Road South (4), Richmond Hill surface (2) and Beacon Road (2).
When does the summer tariff start?
15 March, running to 31 October, according to BCP Council's car park pages. The winter tariff runs from 1 November to 14 March.
Related guides
Sources
- BCP Council: Central car park
- BCP Council: Avenue Road car park
- BCP Council: Richmond Gardens multi-storey car park
- BCP Council: Richmond Hill surface car park
- BCP Council: Bath Road South car park
- BCP Council: Bath Road North car park
- BCP Council: Beacon Road car park
- RCP Parking: The Square, Bournemouth
Prices are taken from BCP Council's car park pages and RCP Parking on the date shown above, and can change. Check the machine or sign before you pay.