Parking in Guildford: Car Parks, Charges & Park and Ride
Guildford Borough Council runs the town centre car parks, and Surrey County Council looks after on-street parking. Here are the main car parks, what they cost and how park and ride works.
Quick answer
Guildford's public car parks are run by Guildford Borough Council. As listed on 9 October 2026, the shopper car parks (Bedford Road, Castle, G Live, Millbrook, Tunsgate) cost £4.30 for up to 3 hours, and Farnham Road and York Road cost £1.20 an hour up to £10 a day. Park and ride from Artington or Merrow has free parking, and a DayRider bus ticket is £4.
Who runs parking in Guildford
Guildford Borough Council runs the public car parks. Surrey County Council is responsible for on-street parking, including enforcement and resident permits. So a fine from a car park goes to the borough, and a question about a street bay or a permit zone goes to the county.
All charges below are as listed on the borough council's website on 9 October 2026. The council's notice says the current tariffs came in on 1 April 2026. Prices change, so check the car parks page or the signs on the day.
When charges apply
Most town centre car parks are open 24 hours. In most of them charges apply from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 10pm on Sunday. Parking after 10pm is free in the car parks that follow this pattern.
Shopper car parks
These are closest to the shops: Bedford Road multi-storey (GU1 4SJ), Castle multi-storey (Sydenham Road, GU1 3RW), G Live (Dene Road, GU1 4DD), Millbrook (GU1 3XJ) and Tunsgate (Castle Street, GU1 3UW).
Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm:
- Up to 3 hours: £4.30
- Up to 6 hours: £8.60
- Over 6 hours: £17.20
From 6pm to 10pm it is £2.10 per visit. On Sunday the daytime tariff runs from 11am to 5pm, then £2.10 per visit until 10pm.
Short stay car parks
Leapale Road multi-storey (GU1 4JX), Bedford Road surface, Mary Road and Upper High Street are priced by the hour. At Leapale Road it is £2.10 for up to one hour, £4.20 for up to two and £6.30 for up to three, rising after that. Evenings are £2.10 per visit.
North Street car park (GU1 4AF) is for very quick stops: £1 per 30 minutes with a 30-minute maximum stay Monday to Thursday. Its own page says it is closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
Long stay car parks
- Farnham Road multi-storey (Guildford Park Road, GU2 7NP): £1.20 per hour, up to a £10 daily maximum, Monday to Saturday. On Sunday the maximum is £8.
- York Road multi-storey (Denmark Road, GU1 4DS): £1.20 per hour, up to a £10 daily maximum, Monday to Saturday.
- Walnut Tree Close (Woodbridge Meadows, GU1 4UX): £3.20 per visit, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Free after 6pm and at weekends.
- Shalford Park (Shalford Road, GU4 8AA): £3.20 per visit. Open Monday to Friday and closed at weekends.
The council's page for Guildford Park car park (GU2 7NF) says it was due to close permanently on 1 June 2026 for new homes, and points drivers to Farnham Road instead. Do not rely on it being open.
Weekend-only car parks
Lawn Road, Millmead House, Robin Hood, St Joseph's and Portsmouth Road are permit-only Monday to Friday. They are open to the public at weekends and on public holidays. Bright Hill is also permit-only on weekdays.
How to pay
It depends on the car park:
- Pay on foot (number plate cameras, no ticket): Castle, Tunsgate, Farnham Road and York Road. You pay at a machine before you leave, by cash, card or contactless. Regular users can register for Autopay, which the council says gives 10% off a parking session.
- Pay on arrival or pay and display: Bedford Road, Leapale Road, G Live and North Street, among others. Pay at the machine or with RingGo by app, phone (0203 046 0010) or text. RingGo adds a small fee on top of the parking charge.
Blue Badge holders
Blue Badge holders can park free, with no time limit, in any space in the council's pay and display car parks. Normal charges apply in the pay on exit car parks. The council's Blue Badge page lists where the wider bays are. On-street Blue Badge parking is a county council matter.
Fines and the grace period
There is a 10-minute grace period after your paid time ends before a ticket can be issued. If you get a fine in a council car park, it is halved if you pay within 14 days of the issue date. If you plan to challenge it, do not pay first. Challenges must be made in writing.
Electric vehicle charging
The council lists charge points at Bedford Road, Castle, Farnham Road, G Live, Leapale Road, Millbrook and York Road car parks, and at the Artington and Merrow park and ride sites. You still have to pay for parking while you charge.
Park and ride
Parking is free at the two park and ride sites. You pay for the bus.
- Artington (Old Portsmouth Road, GU3 1LP): services 70, 71 and 72 run Monday to Sunday, about every 20 minutes. The journey takes about 8 minutes.
- Merrow (Epsom Road, GU4 7AA): service 300 runs Monday to Saturday, from 7.30am to 7.45pm, about every 30 minutes. The journey takes about 12 minutes.
The county council's page says the Onslow and Spectrum sites are currently suspended.
Fares shown on Surrey County Council's page on 9 October 2026: a DayRider is £4, and a group DayRider for up to four people is £8. An adult single is £2.20 from Artington and £2.60 from Merrow. Up to two children under 16 travel free with each adult. Pay the driver by cash or contactless.
One thing to know: Guildford Friary bus station is being refurbished from 1 September 2026, and town centre stops have moved while the work is done. Check the county council's park and ride page for where your bus now stops.
Parking at Stoke Park
Nightingale Road and Lido Road car parks at Stoke Park give four hours free between 6am and 6pm, but you still need to display a ticket. Longer stays are charged.
| Car park | Address | Type | Monday to Saturday daytime charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Road multi-storey | Bedford Road, GU1 4SJ | Shopper, pay and display | £4.30 up to 3 hours; £8.60 up to 6 hours; £17.20 over 6 hours |
| Castle multi-storey | Sydenham Road, GU1 3RW | Shopper, pay on foot | £4.30 up to 3 hours; £8.60 up to 6 hours; £17.20 over 6 hours |
| G Live | Dene Road, GU1 4DD | Shopper, pay on arrival | £4.30 up to 3 hours; £8.60 up to 6 hours; £17.20 over 6 hours |
| Tunsgate | Castle Street, GU1 3UW | Shopper, pay on foot | £4.30 up to 3 hours; £8.60 up to 6 hours; £17.20 over 6 hours |
| Leapale Road multi-storey | Leapale Road, GU1 4JX | Short stay, pay on arrival | £2.10 up to 1 hour; £4.20 up to 2 hours; £6.30 up to 3 hours |
| North Street | North Street, GU1 4AF | Short stay, pay on arrival | £1 per 30 minutes; 30-minute maximum Monday to Thursday; closed Friday and Saturday |
| Farnham Road multi-storey | Guildford Park Road, GU2 7NP | Long stay, pay on foot | £1.20 per hour; £10 daily maximum |
| York Road multi-storey | Denmark Road, GU1 4DS | Long stay, pay on foot | £1.20 per hour; £10 daily maximum |
| Walnut Tree Close | Woodbridge Meadows, GU1 4UX | Long stay | £3.20 per visit Monday to Friday; free at weekends |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to park in Guildford town centre?
As listed on 9 October 2026, the shopper car parks cost £4.30 for up to 3 hours, £8.60 for up to 6 hours and £17.20 for longer, Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm. Evening parking from 6pm to 10pm is £2.10 per visit. Check the council's car parks page for current prices.
Where is the cheapest all-day parking in Guildford?
On the council's listed charges, Farnham Road and York Road multi-storeys are £1.20 an hour with a £10 daily maximum, and Walnut Tree Close is £3.20 per visit on weekdays. Park and ride is another option: parking is free and a DayRider bus ticket is £4.
Is parking free in Guildford on Sundays?
Not in most town centre car parks. Charges usually apply from 11am to 10pm on Sundays. Walnut Tree Close is listed as free at weekends.
Is parking free in Guildford in the evening?
Most town centre car parks charge £2.10 per visit between 6pm and 10pm, and are free after 10pm. Walnut Tree Close is listed as free after 6pm.
How do I pay for parking in Guildford?
Castle, Tunsgate, Farnham Road and York Road are pay on foot, where you pay at a machine before leaving. Other car parks are pay on arrival or pay and display, where you can use the machine or RingGo by app, phone or text.
Can Blue Badge holders park free in Guildford car parks?
Yes, in the council's pay and display car parks, in any space and with no time limit. Normal charges apply in the pay on exit car parks.
Where is the Guildford park and ride?
There are two working sites: Artington on Old Portsmouth Road (GU3 1LP) and Merrow on Epsom Road (GU4 7AA). Surrey County Council's page says the Onslow and Spectrum sites are currently suspended.
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