For a day in Bristol, Park & Ride is the cheapest option: parking at Brislington, Long Ashton and Portway is free and you only pay the bus fare. In the centre, most Bristol City Council car parks charge £2.70 for an hour and £10.80 for 4 hours. Older, higher-emission cars also pay £9 a day to drive in the central Clean Air Zone.
Where should I park in Bristol?
Brislington, Long Ashton or Portway. Parking is free, you only pay the bus fare.
£2.70 for an hour and £10.80 for 4 hours at most council car parks. College Street is the biggest listed here, with 248 spaces.
Older, higher-emission cars pay £9 a day to drive in the central zone.
Key takeaways
- Most council car parks charge £2.70 an hour from 8am to 6pm, every day including bank holidays.
- Long stay council car parks charge £19.60 for over 4 hours.
- Evening parking is £4.50 at most council car parks.
- On-street parking is free outside the central Controlled Parking Zone and Residents Parking Schemes, according to the council.
- The Clean Air Zone charges £9 a day for cars that don't meet its emission standards. Petrol cars from around 2006 and diesel cars from around late 2015 are usually exempt.
Where are the car parks in Bristol?
Tap a pin for prices, the address and directions. Teal pins are council car parks and purple pins are Park & Ride sites.
Pin positions are approximate. Use the address or the directions link to find the entrance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How much do Bristol's council car parks cost?
These are the prices listed on the council's pages for its city centre car parks, every day from 8am to 6pm:
| Length of stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £2.70 |
| Up to 2 hours | £5.40 |
| Up to 3 hours | £8.10 |
| Up to 4 hours | £10.80 |
| Over 4 hours (long stay car parks) | £19.60 |
| Evening, 6pm to midnight | £4.50 |
Wapping Wharf charges from 9am to 7pm and allows up to 5 hours (£13.50). Mardyke Wharf offers overnight parking from 6pm to 9am for £6. Bristol First Hotel car park has no evening or overnight parking for the public. You pay with cash at the machine or through the RingGo app.
Is there a Park & Ride in Bristol?
Yes, three sites run by Bristol City Council Parking Services. Travelwest states parking is free and you only pay the bus fare:
- Brislington, on the A4 (BS4 5LR), served by bus service 9. First bus 06:02 Monday to Friday.
- Long Ashton, off the A370 (BS3 2HB), with buses to the city centre and to Southmead Hospital via Clifton.
- Portway, with 792 spaces, served by bus service 9 and a railway station beside the site, according to Travelwest.
Bus tickets can be bought from the driver with cash or contactless, and group tickets cover up to five people.
How much is on-street parking in Bristol?
The council says on-street parking is free in areas outside its Residents Parking Schemes and the Controlled Parking Zone in the city centre, though local signs may set time limits. Inside the zone, on-street bays allow 1, 2 or 4 hours. In 1-hour zones the council lists £4.50 for up to an hour, 8am to 6pm and 6pm to midnight, every day including bank holidays. Prices in 2-hour and 4-hour zones vary by street, so the machine or sign shows the price where you park.
Will I pay the Clean Air Zone charge?
Only if your vehicle doesn't meet the zone's emission standards. According to Bristol City Council's Clean Air Zone guide:
- Non-compliant private cars, taxis and vans pay £9 a day. Motorcycles don't pay.
- Euro 4, 5 and 6 petrol vehicles (roughly 2006 onwards) and Euro 6 diesel vehicles (roughly the end of 2015 onwards) are not charged.
- The charge applies 24 hours a day, every day, and once per day however many times you enter.
- You can pay from 6 days before to 6 days after your journey. Missing it can lead to a £120 penalty, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The zone covers a small central area of the city and the Portway. You can check your vehicle and pay on GOV.UK.
Where is each car park, and which have EV charging?
| Car park | Address | Spaces | Maximum stay | EV charging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Street | St George's Road, BS1 5UU | 248 | 4 hours | 4 bays, covered section |
| Frog Lane | Frog Lane, BS1 5UY | 11 | 4 hours (8am to 6pm) | Not listed |
| Wapping Wharf | Wapping Road, BS1 6JL | 39 | 5 hours (9am to 7pm) | Not listed |
| Mardyke Wharf | Hotwell Road, BS8 4UR | 28 | No limit | Not listed |
| Lower Guinea Street | Lower Guinea Street, BS1 6SY | 17 (2 disabled bays) | Long stay | Not listed |
| Bristol First Hotel | Church Street, Temple, BS1 6BQ | 33 | 4 hours | Not listed |
The council also runs Brunswick Square, The Grove, Maritime Heritage Centre, Portwall Lane, Queen Square, Redcliffe Parade, Temple Gate, Trenchard Street and West End car parks. Their prices are on the council's car parking page.
Own a home in Bristol? Guestwise manages short lets in Bristol from 12% + VAT. See Airbnb management in Bristol.
Visiting for an event? See Bristol's events calendar
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to park in Bristol?
Park & Ride. Parking at Brislington, Long Ashton and Portway is free, and you only pay the bus fare, according to Travelwest.
How much does it cost to park in Bristol city centre?
Most Bristol City Council car parks charge £2.70 for up to an hour and £10.80 for up to 4 hours, from 8am to 6pm. Long stay car parks charge £19.60 for over 4 hours.
Do I have to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone charge?
Only if your vehicle doesn't meet the zone's emission standards. Non-compliant cars pay £9 a day. Euro 4, 5 and 6 petrol cars and Euro 6 diesel cars are not charged.
Is on-street parking free in Bristol?
The council says it is free outside the Residents Parking Schemes and the central Controlled Parking Zone, though signs may set time limits.
Which Bristol council car park has EV charging?
College Street lists 4 EV charging bays in its covered section.
Related guides
Sources
- Bristol City Council: Car parking and Park and Ride
- Bristol City Council: College Street short stay car park
- Bristol City Council: Frog Lane short stay car park
- Bristol City Council: Wapping Wharf short stay car park
- Bristol City Council: Mardyke Wharf long stay car park
- Bristol City Council: Lower Guinea Street long stay car park
- Bristol City Council: Bristol First Hotel short stay car park
- Travelwest: Park & Ride fares and times
- Travelwest: Portway Park & Ride
- Clean Air for Bristol (Bristol City Council): Clean Air Zone guide
- GOV.UK: Drive in a clean air zone
Prices are taken from Bristol City Council, Travelwest and the Clean Air Zone guide on the date shown above, and can change. Check the signs in the car park or on the street before you pay.