For a day in Cheltenham, Park & Ride is the cheapest option: Visit Cheltenham states that parking is free for bus users at Arle Court Transport Hub, by M5 junction 11, and at Cheltenham Racecourse. In the centre, the borough council's Regent Arcade multi-storey charges £2.20 for up to an hour and £16.80 for the day, according to Visit Cheltenham, with a £3.20 evening rate after 5.30pm.
Where should I park in Cheltenham?
Free parking for bus users at Arle Court and the Racecourse. You pay the bus fare only.
£1.30 for an hour, £6.50 for over 3 hours, Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm.
£3.20 flat for arrivals after 5.30pm. 523 spaces, 2m height limit, locked at 12.30am.
Key takeaways
- Regent Arcade is the main town centre multi-storey: £2.20 an hour, £16.80 a day, £3.20 after 5.30pm, 2m height limit.
- Commercial Street is the cheapest council car park by day, at £1.30 for an hour.
- Park & Ride parking is free for bus users at Arle Court and the Racecourse.
- Blue Badge holders get 3 hours free in most borough car parks, but not at Regent Arcade.
- On-street bays are run by Gloucestershire County Council: £2.20 an hour on the Promenade, £1.80 on most Montpellier streets and 70p on the Lansdown streets, from 6 April 2026.
Where are the car parks in Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham's council car parks cost?
Cheltenham Borough Council's current charges took effect on 1 April 2025, in its notice of variation 2025, which its parking pages still list as the current notice. Regent Arcade's prices are from Visit Cheltenham, the borough's tourism service.
| Car park | Up to 1 hour | Up to 2 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 4 hours | Up to 6 hours | Longer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regent Arcade | £2.20 | £3.60 | £5.30 | £6.80 | £11.50 | 8 hours £15.80, over 8 hours £16.80. Arrivals after 5.30pm £3.20 |
| Bath Parade | £2.10 | £3.60 | £5.30 | £6.90 | £11.50 | Over 6 hours £13.60 |
| High Street | £3.60 | £4.60 | £6.80 | Over 4 hours £11.50 | ||
| Commercial Street | £1.30 | £1.90 | £2.50 | Over 3 hours £6.50. Charged Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm |
Visit Cheltenham lists Bath Parade's charging hours as Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 10am to 8pm, with the barriers locked at 11.30pm (9pm on Sundays). Regent Arcade's own page lists charges Monday to Saturday 8am to 12.30am, including bank holidays, and Sunday 10am to 12.30am, with contactless payment at the barrier.
How much is on-street parking in Cheltenham?
Gloucestershire County Council, not the borough, runs the pay and display bays in the town centre. Its variation of parking charges notice sets these prices from 6 April 2026, with a £1.10 minimum charge on most streets. Each street has its own maximum stay, shown on the sign.
''' + table(['Streets', '1 hour', '2 hours', '3 hours', '4 hours'], [ ['Promenade (North and South), Inner Promenade, Imperial Square, Grosvenor Street, Rodney Road, College Road, St Lukes Road', '£2.20', '£4.30', '£6.10 where allowed', '£7.20 (Promenade South, College Road). Imperial Square: £7.20 for 3 hours, £18.10 for 4'], ['Bath Road (High Street to Oriel Road), Cambray Place, Oriel Road, Wellington Street, Winchcombe Street (High Street to Fairview Road)', '£2.20', '£4.30', '£6.10', 'Not allowed (3 hours on Sundays only)'], ['Bath Road (Oriel Road to Cedar Court Road), Chapel Walk, Crescent Place, Royal Well Place, St Georges Place, Vittoria Walk, Keynshambury Road, London Road, Oxford Street', '£1.80', '£3.70', 'Not allowed', 'Not allowed'], ['Montpellier Spa Road (outside the gardens), Montpellier Terrace, St James Street, Montpellier Parade, Bath Road (Montpellier Terrace to Montpellier Drive)', '£1.80', '£3.70', '£5.50', '£7.20 on Montpellier Parade only'], ['Ambrose Street, Clarence Street, Evesham Road, Henrietta Street, Montpellier Walk, Pittville Lawn, Queens Circus, St Georges Road, Suffolk Place, Wellington Square', '£1.60', '£3.30', 'Not allowed', 'Not allowed'], ['Bayshill Road, Parabola Road (east of Overton Road)', '£1.60', '£3.30', '£4.90', '£6.10'], ['Jessop Avenue', '£1.80', '£3.70', '£6.10', '£12.10'], ['Douro Road, Lansdown Crescent, Lansdown Parade, Malvern Place, Malvern Road', '70p', '£1.30', '£1.80', '£2.40, then £4.80 for over 4 hours'], ['Overton Road, Parabola Road (south of Overton Road)', '70p', '£1.30', '£2.40', 'Not allowed'], ]) + f'''The same notice lists £18.10 for 4 hours on Imperial Square and on Montpellier Street between St Georges Road and Fauconberg Road, the county\'s way of keeping long stays off those streets.
Is there a Park & Ride in Cheltenham?
Yes, two sites. Visit Cheltenham lists Arle Court Transport Hub (GL51 6SY, near M5 junction 11) and Cheltenham Racecourse (GL50 4SH, north of the town off the A435), with parking free for customers who use the Park & Ride buses, which it says run every few minutes. The county council's April 2026 notice confirms that bus-user permit holders are exempt from the parking charge at Arle Court, and sets the charge for drivers who park there without using the bus at £7 for the day or £3.50 for arrivals after 1pm.
Which car parks fit a tall vehicle, and what are the hours?
| Car park | Postcode | Spaces | Max height | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regent Arcade | GL50 1JZ | 523, including 28 disabled and 14 parent and child | 2m | Locked at 12.30am | 2 EV points on level 2. Secured Park Award |
| Bath Parade | GL53 7HL | 75 | Surface car park | Barriers locked 11.30pm, 9pm Sundays | Pay and display |
| Commercial Street | GL50 2AB | Not listed | Not listed | Charged Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm |
Do Blue Badge holders park free in Cheltenham?
For the first 3 hours in most borough council car parks, under the council's Off Street Parking Places Order 2020, which lists Regent Arcade as the exception. Visit Cheltenham confirms that normal charges apply to disabled users at Regent Arcade, which has 28 marked bays.
Own a home in Cheltenham? 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 Cheltenham.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to park in Cheltenham?
Park & Ride. Visit Cheltenham states that parking is free for bus users at Arle Court Transport Hub and Cheltenham Racecourse, so you pay the bus fare only.
How much is Regent Arcade car park?
Visit Cheltenham lists £2.20 for up to an hour, £6.80 for up to 4 hours and a £16.80 daily charge, with a £3.20 evening rate for arrivals after 5.30pm.
Which Cheltenham car park is cheapest in the day?
Commercial Street, which the borough council priced at £1.30 for up to an hour and £6.50 for over 3 hours from April 2025, charged Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm.
Do Blue Badge holders park free in Cheltenham?
In most borough council car parks, for the first 3 hours, under the council's 2020 parking order. The order excludes Regent Arcade, where Visit Cheltenham states normal charges apply.
Is there a height limit at Regent Arcade?
Yes, 2 metres, according to the car park's own page, and the council locks it at 12.30am each day.
Where do I park for the Cheltenham Festival?
Visit Cheltenham lists the Racecourse Park & Ride and pre-bookable car parks near the course, and states that many streets near the racecourse are closed to public parking during Festival week.
Related guides
Sources
- Cheltenham Borough Council: Notice of variation of off-street car parking charges 2025
- Cheltenham Borough Council: Parking
- Cheltenham Borough Council: Parking orders (Off Street Parking Places Order 2020)
- Visit Cheltenham: Regent Arcade car park
- Regent Arcade: Parking
- Visit Cheltenham: Bath Parade car park
- Visit Cheltenham: Park and ride in Cheltenham
- Gloucestershire County Council: Revision of on-street and off-street parking charges, June 2025, via Public Notice Portal
Prices are taken from Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Visit Cheltenham on the date shown above, and can change. Check the machine or sign before you pay.