Conwy’s medieval charm comes with a medieval problem. First-time visitors waste 30 minutes circling narrow streets before discovering what locals already know: the town walls that kept enemies out in 1283 now keep your car out too! The castle has no dedicated car park, residents-only streets fill the old town and each of the main car parks suits different purposes with wildly different pricing.
This guide covers all seven official car parks with up-to-date 2026 pricing, explains which one suits your visit and gives you the exact timing strategy that guarantees a space when everyone else is still circling.
Two cottages worth knowing about.
Fig Tree and Laurel sit high above the Conwy Valley with private hot tubs, a shared heated indoor pool and views stretching to Eryri. Dog-friendly and available year-round.
Check availabilityThe 5 Main Car Parks (Pricing Varies Significantly)
First-time visitors expect Conwy’s car parks to charge similar rates. They don’t. Market Place costs up to £9 for 24 hours while Bodlondeb charges £7.50, and pricing varies by season at some locations. Here’s what each car park offers and what it costs.
Market Place Car Park (LL32 8HT)
Best for: Quick castle access, quayside restaurants, Smallest House in Britain
The most central option sits right on Lancaster Square near the quay and railway station, with 45 spaces plus 5 disabled bays. You’re 2-3 minutes walk from exploring Conwy Castle and perfectly positioned for the waterfront.
2026 Pricing:
- Summer (1 March – 31 October):
- £2.50/hour,
- £4.00/2 hours
- £7.50/4 hours
- Winter (1 November – 29 February):
- £2.50/hour
- £4.00/2 hours
- £6.00/4 hours
- £7.50/over 4 hours
- £9.00/24 hours
- Overnight: £5.00 (6pm-8am)
The verdict: Most expensive and fills fastest (usually by 9:30am in summer), but unbeatable for location. Small capacity means it’s a gamble unless you arrive very early or visit midweek off-season.
Mount Pleasant Car Park (LL32 8NY)
Best for: Castle visits, reliable availability when quayside is full
With 72 spaces and positioned outside the busiest zone, Mount Pleasant is the all-rounder most visitors should aim for first. It sits 5-7 minutes walk from the castle with straightforward access.
2026 Pricing:
- £2.00/hour
- £3.00/2 hours
- £5.00/4 hours
- £7.00/over 4 hours
- £8.50/24 hours
- Overnight: £4.00 (6pm-8am)
The verdict: Best balance of convenience and availability. When Market Place is full, this usually has space. Reasonable pricing and direct walk to the castle make it the smart choice for most visitors.
Vicarage Gardens Car Park (LL32 8LD)
Best for: High Street shopping, Plas Mawr, St. Mary’s Church
The prime location inside the walls near St. Mary’s Church offers 98 spaces plus 10 disabled bays, with 2-3 minutes walk to the castle.
2026 Pricing:
- £2.50/hour
- £4.00/2 hours
- £7.50/4 hours
- Overnight: £5.00 (6pm-8am)
The verdict: Most central location but fills extremely quickly. Only worth trying if you arrive very early or midweek outside summer months.
Morfa Bach (Beach) Car Park (LL32 8FZ)
Best for: Beach walks, dog-friendly access, guaranteed backup when town is busy
The largest car park with 217 spaces, 17 disabled bays and 4 caravan/campervan spaces sits 10-12 minutes walk from the castle but gives direct access to Conwy Morfa beach.
2026 Pricing:
- £3.00/2 hours
- £5.00/4 hours
- £7.00/over 4 hours
- £8.50/24 hours
- Overnight: £4.00 (6pm-8am)
The verdict: Rarely full, which makes it your guaranteed backup plan on busy days. The longer walk to the castle is offset by beach access. Perfect if combining castle and coastal walks, or as insurance when everything else is packed.
Bodlondeb Park Car Park (LL32 8DU)
Best for: Families (playground adjacent), backup option
With 124 spaces and 7 disabled bays, Bodlondeb sits 8-10 minutes walk from the castle via a gentle uphill approach.
2026 Pricing:
- £1.50/hour
- £2.50/2 hours
- £4.50/4 hours
- £6.30/over 4 hours
- £7.50/24 hours
- Overnight: £3.00 (6pm-8am)
CRITICAL UPDATE (2026): Bodlondeb changed to private ownership in May 2025 (Quidos Investments Limited on 250-year lease). Previously operated weekends and bank holidays only under council management, it now operates 7 days a week with private management. Pricing shown is current as of January 2026 but may change. Verify current rates at www.conwy.gov.uk before visiting.
The verdict: Was the locals’ secret for free weekday parking, now charges daily. Still less expensive than most others and less crowded than quayside options.
The Two Smaller Options
Beacons Slipway (LL32 8GN)
Seasonal waterfront parking with 50 spaces, operating 1 May – 30 September only. Height restriction of 2.4m (limited over-height spaces). £3.30/24 hours. Very limited capacity.
Mill Hill Gyffin (LL32 8LR)
The only free option with 25 spaces, sponsored by Conwy Town Council. Very limited capacity and slightly out of town, but genuinely free if you’re early enough to snag a spot.
Timing Strategy: When to Arrive
- Summer Weekends & Bank Holidays (June-August): Car parks fill by 10-11am. Market Place and Vicarage Gardens go first by 9:30am, Mount Pleasant fills by 10:30am. Morfa Bach rarely fills completely and serves as your backup. Arrive before 10am to guarantee choice.
- Weekday Off-Season (November-March): Generally relaxed until lunchtime, though Market Place still fills first due to its central location. Arrive before 11am for best selection.
- Special Events: Christmas markets (November-December), school holidays and summer bank holidays all follow summer weekend rules. Have a backup plan or arrive early.
The 20-minute drive from our holiday cottages in the Conwy Valleymeans leaving by 9am on summer Saturdays guarantees parking and lets you beat castle queues.
Payment Methods: Set Up Before You Arrive
All council car parks accept PayByPhone app, contactless card at machines and coins.
Here’s the thing about PayByPhone: download the app and add your payment card BEFORE leaving home. Mobile signal inside Conwy’s thick stone streets is patchy. Wrestling with app downloads whilst standing in a car park wastes time and tests patience. Location codes appear on signage when you arrive.
Where NOT to Park
- Inside the Medieval Town Walls: Very limited residents-only parking, narrow one-way streets and traffic wardens who patrol regularly. You’ll waste 15+ minutes navigating before giving up.
- Roadside Near Castle: No legal parking immediately around the castle. “No Waiting” signs are enforced.
- Hotel/Business Car Parks: For customers only. Check before assuming you can park. Enforcement is active.
EV Charging in Conwy (2026)
In Conwy Town: Conwy Marina (LL32 8GU) has two 7kW chargers with £5 flat fee (Boatfolk Marinas Ltd, Ellis Way). Various hotels and businesses offer charging; check Zapmap for current availability.
Nearby Options (Llandudno Junction – 2 miles):
- Tesco Superstore (6 G Road, LL31 9XY): Four 7kW chargers, 28-50p/kWh via Pod Point network. 3-hour parking limit.
- Lidl (Vale Road, LL31 9SJ): One 22kW charger, 40p/kWh with the Lidl Plus app, plus two 50kW rapid chargers, 62p/kWh with the Lidl Plus app
Download Zapmap, Pod Point and relevant network apps before travel. Mobile signal can be patchy, so don’t wait until you’re plugged in to discover you need an account.
From Our Cottages: We have a shared 7kW EV charger, so you start each day fully charged. Conwy is a 20-minute drive with plenty of range for the round trip without needing to charge in town unless you’re doing a full North Wales tour.
Free Parking Alternatives (If You’re Desperate)
Mill Hill Gyffin (LL32 8LR) is the only official free option with 25 spaces. Some free street parking exists near Ysgol Aberconwy school on Morfa Drive (15-minute walk to quay via scenic foreshore path) and in Deganwy across the estuary (15-20 minute walk across bridge to Conwy).
Neither guarantees availability and locals use these spots regularly.
Reality check: With council car park pricing at £5-£8.50 for full day, trying to find free parking usually wastes more in time and stress than it saves. Mount Pleasant at £8.50/24 hours is reasonable and convenient.
Plan Your Conwy Valley Stay
Conwy rewards early arrivals and local knowledge. Now you have both. The car parks fill predictably, pricing varies significantly by location, and having a backup plan (Morfa Bach) means you’re never circling desperately whilst everyone else enjoys the castle.
From our holiday cottages, Fig Tree and Laurel, Conwy is a 20-minute drive. Leave by 9am on busy days, park at Mount Pleasant or Morfa Bach and you’re walking the medieval walls whilst others are still searching for spaces.
Explore our ultimate guide to the Conwy Valley to discover what else lies within easy reach of your base.
FAQs
Where is the best place to park in Conwy?
Mount Pleasant car park offers the best balance of availability and convenience for most visitors. It sits outside the busiest zone (so usually has space), is 5-7 minutes walk to the castle and costs £8.50 for 24 hours. Market Place is more central but fills by 9:30am in summer.
How much does parking cost in Conwy?
Conwy car park prices vary by location. The cheapest is Bodlondeb at £7.50/24 hours, while Market Place costs up to £9/24 hours (winter pricing). Most car parks charge £7-£8.50 for all-day parking. One-hour parking ranges from £1.50-£2.50 depending on location. Mill Hill Gyffin is free but has only 25 spaces.
Is there free parking in Conwy?
Mill Hill Gyffin car park offers 25 free spaces (sponsored by Conwy Town Council), but capacity is very limited. Some free street parking exists in residential areas like Morfa Drive, but it’s unreliable and requires a 15-minute walk. For £7-£8.50 all-day parking at Mount Pleasant or Morfa Bach, the paid options are worth it for convenience.
Does Conwy Castle have its own car park?
No, Conwy Castle does not have a dedicated car park. Use nearby council car parks: Mount Pleasant (5-7 minutes walk), Market Place (2-3 minutes) or Vicarage Gardens (2-3 minutes). All charge £7-£9 for full-day parking depending on season and location.
What time should I arrive to get parking in Conwy?
In summer (June-August) and on bank holidays, arrive before 10am to guarantee a space. Market Place fills first by 9:30am, then Vicarage Gardens and Mount Pleasant by 10:30am. Morfa Bach (largest car park) rarely fills completely. Weekdays in winter are more relaxed; arriving before 11am gives you good choice.
Where can I charge my electric car in Conwy?
Conwy Marina has two 7kW chargers (£5 flat fee). For faster charging, drive 2 miles to Llandudno Junction where Lidl has 50kW rapid chargers and Tesco has 7kW chargers for customers. Download charging apps before travel as mobile signal can be patchy.
Some images: © Crown Copyright
