Bude Parking: Everything You Need to Know

Bude has managed to retain its small-town charm despite hosting many visitors. If you want to experience Bude’s magical countryside and beautiful beaches for yourself, then you’ll need some information about Bude parking.

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Parking in Bude

Parking in Bude is a must because you can only reach this spot on the North Cornwall Coast via car or bus. There used to be rail links to the seaside town, but the station was closed in 1966 due to the Beeching Cuts. Nowadays, visitors who wish to use public transport must take a bus from Exeter St Davids train station.

Thankfully, Bude has an abundance of car parks and parking spaces for visitors, some of which are free. Here’s some helpful Bude information about parking.

Bude Cornwall Postcode

Here’s how you can find Bude with your Sat Nav:

• Postcode: EX23
• Grid Reference: SS 20849 06596 or SS208065

Car Parks in Bude

Before you pack your bags and rush to one of the beaches in Bude, take a minute to read about these Bude car parks first.

Reminder: Cornwall Council-registered blue badge holders get free parking at any council-owned Bude car park.

Crescent, EX23 8NF

With its proximity to the town centre and beach, Crescent is an excellent car park with 185 spaces. There are no height and weight restrictions, and there’s even a soft overflow area. Remember that no motorhomes or caravans are allowed in the car park from 11 pm to 8 am.

Here are the rates for this car park:

• 1 April to 31 October
  • 9 am to 6 pm
    • Cars and motorcycles: 90p per hour or £7.20 for the day
    • Coaches: £1.60 per hour or £10.40 for the day
• 4 pm to 9 am (next day): free for all vehicles
• 1 November to 31 March
  • 9 am to 6 pm
    • Cars and motorcycles: £1.20 up to two hours or £5.50 for the day
    • Coaches: 9 am to 4 pm: £1.60 per hour or £10.40 for the day
  • 6 pm to 9 am (next day): free

Summerleaze, EX23 8HJ

Summerleaze Beach car park is another Bude parking near the beach. This car park has 450 spaces to offer up the road from Crescent. No height and weight restrictions are in place, but caravans and motorhomes are also not allowed here from 11 pm to 8 am.

Parking rates here are the same as in Crescent; the only difference is the rate for cars and motorcycles from 1 November to 31 March: £1.70 regardless of the length of stay.

Widemouth Bay, EX23 0AW

Widemouth Bay car park has 560 spaces located south of the town centre. The same rules as Summerleaze and Crescent apply here regarding motorhomes and caravans. 

Here are the rates for this car park:

• 1 April to 31 October
  • 9 am to 5 pm
    • Cars and motorcycles: £1.20 per hour or £8.70 for the day
    • Coaches: £1.60 per hour or £10.40 for the day
• 5 pm to 9 am (next day): free for all vehicles
• 1 November to 31 March
  • 9 am to 5 pm
    • Cars and motorcycles: 70p for 24 hours
    • Coaches: £1.60 per hour or £10.40 for the day
  • 5 pm to 9 am (next day): free

Wharf, EX23 8LG

Though smaller than the others with only 64 spaces, Bude parking at the Wharf car park is more straightforward. If you can park your car here, it only costs 70p for up to an hour or £5.50 for the entire day; coaches pay £1.60 per hour or £10.40 for the day. Still, no motorhomes and campers are allowed from 11 pm to 8 am, however.

Free Parking in Bude

Believe it or not, there’s quite a bit of free parking in Bude. Here’s where they are and the number of spaces they have available:

• Viewing Point North, EX23 0AW – 50 spaces
• Viewing Point South, EX23 0AW – 12 spaces
• Howells Bridge, EX23 9BY – 40 spaces
• Penhalt Cliff, EX23 0DF – 20 spaces

Holiday Cottages with Parking in Bude

Are you travelling with quite a few people? Bude is home to a few holiday parks, cottages, and privately-owned holiday homes, so why not book one of them for your stay? For example, the Atlantic Farm Holiday Complex offers off-road parking to its visitors. Otterburn House, which sleeps up to 8 people, also has private parking for its guests.

If interested, browse all the Bude listings at Sykes Holiday Cottages or Holidaycottages.co.uk.

Using JustPark in Bude

Want to take the guesswork out of Bude parking? JustPark has the solution for you. Some private driveways are reservable in advance, while others allow you to book and pay for the space as soon as you get there. And because everything is done through the app, you don’t have to scramble around looking for a change. Pay through the app, and you’re good to go. You can even use this on Cornwall Council-own car parks. Reserve your parking space in Bude today >>>

Is there a Bude Parking App?

While there is no dedicated parking app, JustPark is pretty much the app for Bude parking. With a selection of private and council-owned parking spaces, you’re guaranteed to find a spot.

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