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Parking in central Bristol is easier than you might think, as long as you know where to look.
Bristol city centre packs a lot into a small area: the Harbourside, Cabot Circus and Broadmead, the Old City's markets and bars, and venues like the Bristol Beacon and the Hippodrome. That also makes it one of the busiest places in the city to park, especially on weekends, during big events and in the run-up to Christmas.
This guide covers the best city-centre car parks, what they cost, where the free parking is, and what drivers need to know about Bristol's Clean Air Zone. For an overview of parking across the whole city, see our guide to parking in Bristol. If you're arriving by train, our Temple Meads and Old Market parking guide has you covered.
If you're staying in the centre, our serviced apartments in Bristol include Wapping Wharf on the Harbourside and apartments close to Cabot Circus.
Before you drive into the city centre, check whether your vehicle is affected by Bristol's Clean Air Zone (CAZ). It covers much of central Bristol and operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Most modern cars are not charged. Petrol cars generally need to meet Euro 4 standards and diesel cars Euro 6, and fully electric vehicles are exempt. If your car doesn't comply, you'll pay a £9 daily charge, which must be paid within six days of your journey to avoid a penalty.
Several popular car parks, including Cabot Circus, are inside or accessed from within the zone. Use the vehicle checker on the Bristol City Council website before you set off.
Bristol City Council runs pay-and-display bays across the city centre, split into 1-hour and 4-hour zones:
That overnight window makes on-street bays a good option for evening arrivals, as long as you move your car or pay once charges restart at 8am. You can pay at the machine or with RingGo, which lets you extend your stay from your phone. Maximum stays apply, so always check the signs.
Address: Newfoundland Street / Wade Street, Bristol
Best for: Cabot Circus, Broadmead, Quakers Friars and Old Market
Facilities: 2,500 spaces, EV charging (12 Pod Point chargers on the ground floor), family bays, Blue Badge bays, motorcycle parking, on-site security
Cost: See Cabot Circus for current tariffs
Access: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, with a 2.15m height restriction
Booking: Pre-booking available through JustPark
Note: The biggest car park in the city centre. The Newfoundland Street entrance is inside the Clean Air Zone, so check your vehicle first.
Address: Fairfax Street / Newgate, Broadmead, Bristol
Best for: Broadmead shopping, Castle Park and the Old City
Facilities: Over 1,000 spaces, family bays (Level C), Blue Badge bays (Level D)
Cost: Early bird £8.80 (arrive 6.30–10am, stay until 11pm) or £3.20 when you arrive after 4pm
Access: Monday to Saturday, entry 6.30am–10pm (last exit 11pm). Sunday, entry 8am–5pm (last exit 6pm). 1.9m height restriction.
Booking: No advance booking required
Note: One of the best-value car parks in the Shopping Quarter. It isn't open 24 hours, so you can't drive out outside opening times, and the low height limit rules out larger vans.
Address: Trenchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5AN
Best for: Bristol Beacon, Park Street, Christmas Steps and Colston Street
Facilities: 936 spaces, 8 EV charging bays (Level 1), Blue Badge bays, 24-hour access
Cost: £2.70 for 1 hour, £5.40 for 2 hours, £10.80 for 4 hours, £19.60 for over 4 hours. Evening (6pm–midnight) £4.50; overnight (6pm–9am) £6.
Access: Open 24 hours, with a 2.05m height restriction
Booking: No booking required; pay by cash or card before you leave
Note: A council-run car park with some of the best-value evening and overnight rates in the centre. It gets busy when there's a big show at the Beacon, so allow extra time to get out afterwards.
Address: Canon's Way, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5LL
Best for: Harbourside, We The Curious, Bristol Aquarium, College Green and the Cathedral
Facilities: 550 spaces, underground, 24-hour security and CCTV, 2 EV charging points, Blue Badge bays next to the lifts
Cost: See Millennium Square Car Park for current tariffs
Access: Open 24 hours, with a 2m height restriction
Booking: No advance booking required
Note: The most convenient car park for the Harbourside. Income from the car park helps support the We The Curious science charity.
Address: Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4NT
Best for: Queen Square, King Street, the Old Vic and Welsh Back
Facilities: 159 spaces, surface car park
Cost: £3.50 for 1 hour, £7 for 2 hours. Evening (6pm–midnight) £4.50; overnight (6pm–9am) £6.
Access: Maximum stay of 2 hours between 8am and 6pm
Booking: Pay and display with cash or RingGo
Note: Best for short daytime visits, or for evening and overnight parking once the daytime limit ends.
Address: Behind CARGO, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW
Best for: Wapping Wharf, M Shed, Spike Island and SS Great Britain
Facilities: Around 150 spaces, accessible parking available
Cost: £1.50 for 1 hour, £2.50 for 2 hours, £5.50 for 4 hours, £10 for 12 hours, £12.50 for 24 hours
Access: Open 7 days a week
Booking: Pay on arrival
Note: One of the cheapest options in the centre for longer stays. The council also runs a small 39-space short-stay car park nearby on Wapping Road, with a maximum stay of 5 hours between 9am and 7pm.
Free on-street parking overnight: City-centre pay-and-display bays are free from 10pm to 8am.
Park & Ride: If you don't need your car in the centre, Bristol's Park & Ride sites at Portway, Brislington and Long Ashton offer free parking; you just pay the bus fare. Service 9 links Portway and Brislington with the city centre and runs up to every 10 minutes, with an adult return costing £3.50. Park & Ride also means you won't need to think about the Clean Air Zone.
Evening and overnight rates: Council car parks such as Trenchard Street and Queen Square offer flat evening and overnight rates, which are much cheaper than paying by the hour.
All of the main car parks offer accessible parking, although facilities vary:
Blue Badge holders can also park on single and double yellow lines for up to 3 hours in some circumstances, but only where there's no loading restriction. Always check the signs.
Pay less than Airbnb & Booking.com, every time. Find a better rate? We'll match it.
Check the Clean Air Zone: Use the council's online vehicle checker before you travel. It takes a minute and could save you a £9 charge, or a penalty if you forget to pay.
Check height restrictions: City-centre car parks vary a lot. The Galleries allows only 1.9m, while Cabot Circus allows 2.15m, so check before you set off if you're driving a van, a campervan or a car with a roof box.
Plan around events: The Harbour Festival, Christmas shopping weekends, and big shows at the Beacon and the Hippodrome fill car parks quickly. Pre-booking through JustPark or YourParkingSpace, or using Park & Ride, can save a lot of hassle.
Check the closing times: Not every car park is open 24 hours. The Galleries closes overnight, so you won't be able to get your car out until it reopens.
Staying a few nights? Some of our apartments come with parking. Ask us when you book and we'll point you to the best option for your stay.
Give one of our team a call on +44 (0)117 3018 444 or email reservations@yourapartment.com.
City-centre pay-and-display bays are free from 10pm to 8am. During the day, the cheapest way to avoid parking charges is Park & Ride, where parking is free and you only pay the bus fare.
For longer stays, Wapping Wharf (£12.50 for 24 hours) and The Galleries (£8.80 early bird, or £3.20 after 4pm) are among the best value. For evenings, the council car parks' flat evening rates are hard to beat.
Yes. Trenchard Street and Queen Square offer overnight rates from 6pm to 9am, and Cabot Circus, Millennium Square and Trenchard Street are all open 24 hours.
Only if your vehicle doesn't meet the emissions standards. Most petrol cars from around 2006 onwards and most diesel cars from around 2015 onwards are compliant, but check your registration on the council's website to be sure.
By planning ahead and choosing the right car park, you can spend less time circling for a space and more time enjoying everything Bristol city centre has to offer.
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