Croeso I Caerdydd! That was ‘Welcome to Cardiff’ for all you non-Welsh speaking readers. Cardiff is the capital of Wales and has over 6000 years of history and over 21 million visitors each year. So you are very wise to be googling for free parking in Cardiff, as like finding free parking in any capital, it is a daunting task to the uninitiated.
Guide Contents
- Free Parking in Cardiff, UK
- What to Know about Free Parking in Cardiff
- Where to Park Free in Cardiff City Centre
- Free Parking in Cathays, Cardiff
- Free Parking in Cardiff Bay
- Free Parking near Cardiff University
- Park for Free near the AirportCardiff Airport
- Free Parking Near the Cardiff Train Stations
- Best Free Overnight Parking in Cardiff
- Free Disabled Parking in Cardiff
- Free Motorcycle Parking in Cardiff
- Cheapest Car Parks in Cardiff
- Best Park and Ride in Cardiff
Free Parking in Cardiff, UK – 2023
Is there FREE parking in Cardiff? The following streets in Cardiff are free to park on for an unlimited time.
- Letton Road
- Redlaver Street
- Loudoun Square
- Llanmaes Street
- Queen’s Road
- Uppercliff Close
- Sudcroft Street
- Leckwith Place
- Broadhaven
For the above & more Free Parking options in Cardiff with easy navigation.
Don’t worry! As we have your back! We have blanketed Cardiff searching for public roads without parking restrictions nearest to all of Cardiff’s main amenities. We have even created a map with over 100 of the best free parking spots all over the city, so you can be navigated straight to your chosen location. So, let’s get started.
Really, that is a very broad question, as Cardiff pans across just over 55 square miles. So, we have both created a map to download, uncovering over 100 FREE Parking Spots all over Cardiff. Also, in this article, we have broken it down and answered where the best free parking in Cardiff is in or nearest to:
- The city centre
- Cathays
- Cardiff Bay
- Cardiff University
- Cardiff Airport
- Cardiff Central Railway Station
- Cardiff Queen Street Railway Station
- Cathays Railway Station
- Cardiff Bay Railway Station
- Grangetown Railway Station
- Ninian Park Railway Station
- Free Disabled Parking in Cardiff City Centre
- Free Motorcycle Parking in Cardiff
- Cheapest Car Parks
- Available Park and Rides
This way, you can choose a free parking spot nearest to your final destination. But the absolute easiest way would be to Download our Map of the Best Free Parking Spots in Cardiff City and be navigated directly to your chosen free parking location. We do charge for this map, and the proceeds help towards us do what we do.
What you Need to Know about Free Parking in Cardiff
The main thing to keep in mind when using the free parking spots we have found for you is that the majority of the streets may be residential roads, and in these cases, there are certain things to keep in mind.
- Do not park in front of anyone’s driveway.
- Be polite and respectful to the locals, you are, after all, leaving your vehicle with them.
- Do not block any entrances or doorways
- Check the signage before leaving your vehicle
If you want a Map of the Best Free Parking in Cardiff, Click Here
Free Parking in Cardiff City Centre, Wales
When is there FREE parking in Cardiff city centre? There is no free parking within the half-mile square city centre of Cardiff. The nearest opportunities to park for free in Cardiff city centre are after 10 pm on the following streets:
- Augusta Street
- Beauchamp Street
- Clare Street
- Gloucester Street
- Despenser Gardens
- Despenser Street
- Dinas Street
- Clare Gardens
- Clare Place
For the above & Over 100 more Free roads in Cardiff & Easy Navigation, Download our map
| Free Parking Opportunities in Cardiff City Centre | Free |
| Augusta Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Beauchamp Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Clare Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Gloucester Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Despenser Gardens | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Despenser Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Dinas Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Clare Gardens | From 10 pm to 8 am Free the opposite side |
| Clare Place | FREE – Check Signage |
Free Parking in Cathays, Cardiff, Wales
Is there FREE parking in Cathays in Cardiff? The following public streets in Cathays are free to park on for an unlimited time:
- Harriet Street
- Richards Street
- Flora Street
- Treorky Street
- Minny Street
- Treherbert Street
- Hirwain Street
- Dalton Street
- Fanny Street
- Lucas Street
If you want a Map of the Best Free Parking in Cardiff, Click Here
Free Parking in Cardiff Bay, Wales
Is there FREE parking at Cardiff Bay? The following public roads near Cardiff Bay have parts that are free to park on for an unlimited time. Check the signs before leaving your vehicle. These roads are:
- West Close
- Hannah Street
- Loudoun Square
- Letton Road
- Barquentine Place
- Halliard Court
For the above & 100 more Free roads in Cardiff & Easy Navigation, Download our map
Free Parking near Cardiff University
Cardiff University is located just south of Cathays and Cathays railway station. There are many public residential roads here that have both restricted parking bays and unrestricted parking spots. Make sure you are in an unrestricted part of the street and not in a restricted parking bay.
Is there FREE parking by Cardiff University? There are public residential roads nearby Cardiff University that have part-restricted parking bays and are part unrestricted and free to park on. We do not want you to get a ticket, so Make sure to park carefully on the following roads:
- Spencer Street
- Clodien Avenue
- Fairoak Road
- Lisvane Street
- Dalton Street
- Harriet Street
- Pen-Y-Bryn Road
- Llanishen Street
- Tewkesbury Street
Free Parking near Cardiff Airport
The entrance to the arrivals at Cardiff International Airport, to the north side of the airport. The only nearby public free parking roads we could find are on the Southside, on average a 45-minute walk to the arrivals, and we can’t be having that. There is a solution.
All our suggestions are within a 10-minute walk from Rhoose Cardiff International Airport Railway Station. From here, you can take the train a 7-minute train ride straight into Arrivals of Cardiff airport. Or also from this train station, you can get either the 905 bus or 304 bus and be at arrivals in under 12 minutes. Click here to see your options
Is there free parking by Cardiff Airport? The nearest public roads with free and unrestricted parking are within a 12-minute 905 or 304 bus or train ride to arrivals from the Rhoose Cardiff International Airport Railway Station. You can park on the following roads:
- Havant Close
- South View
- Torbay Terrace
- Castle Road
- Church Road
- Romilly Road
- Kemeys Road
- Mayflower Way
- Ceri Road
- Ceri Avenue
Free Parking Near the Cardiff Train Stations
There are 20 train stations in Cardiff, all owned by network rail, but we have taken the most famous six stations and researched where the nearest free-to-park public roads are. Download the map Job Done!
Free Parking near Cardiff Central Station
- Dinas Street
- Hafod Street
- Taffs Mead Embankment
- Mardy Street
- Beauchamp Street
- Despenser Street
- Despenser Gardens
- Gloucester Street
| This is when it is Free to Park on Roads near Cardiff Central Station | Free to Park on From: |
| Dinas Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Hafod Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Taffs Mead Embankment | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Mardy Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Beauchamp Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Despenser Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Despenser Gardens | From 10 pm to 8 am |
| Gloucester Street | From 10 pm to 8 am |
Free Parking near Cardiff Queen Street Railway Station
Cardiff Queen train station is just on the Eastside of Cardiff city centre and Ideal if you have a day of shopping on your mind as its just next door to Capitol Shopping Centre. It is also near to the Museum of Cardiff, Cardiff Central Library, and the University of South Wales, Cardiff Campus by Bute East Dock.
Is there free parking near Cardiff Queen Street train Station? The following streets are near Cardiff Queen Street railway station and have partial unrestricted spots where you can park for free:
- Sapphire Street
- Emerald Street
- Silver Street
- Ruby Street
- Clifton Street
- Lead Street
- Sun Street
- Iron Street
- Zinc Street
Free Parking near Cathays Railway Station, Cardiff
Cathays train station is located just north of Cardiff city centre and just a 10-minute walk through Cardiff Uni campus to Alexandra Gardens and Bute Park, and just 13 minutes from Cardiff Castle. Saying that the public residential roads with free parking that we have found are on the north side of the station, so please add 3 to 5 minutes to the above time estimations.
Is there free parking by Cathays Station? The following streets near Cathays railway station have partial unrestricted spots where you can park for free. Make sure you are on a free spot when parking on the following roads:
- Dalton Street
- Harriet Street
- Clodien Avenue
- Fairoak Road
- Lisvane Street
- Pen-Y-Bryn Road
- Llanishen Street
- Tewkesbury Street
- Spencer Street
If you want a Map of the Best Free Parking in Cardiff, Click Here
Free Parking near Cardiff Bay Railway Station, Cardiff
Where is there Free Parking near Cardiff Bay Railway Station? The following roads are located by Cardiff Bay Railway Station and are all free to park on:
- Barquentine Place
- Letton Road
- West Close
- Hannah Street
- Loudoun Square
- Halliard Court
For the above & 100 more Free roads in Cardiff & Easy Navigation, Download our map
Free Parking near Grangetown Railway Station, Cardiff
Is there Free parking near Grangetown train Station? Grangetown Railway Station in Cardiff does have nearby free parking on the following public streets:
- Stockland Street
- Penhevad Street
- Pentrebane Street
- Llanmaes Street
- Penhevad Street
- Pentrebane Street
- Grange Place
- Cosslett Place
- Moordale Road
For the above & 100 more Free roads in Cardiff & Easy Navigation, Download our map
Free Parking near Ninian Park Railway Station, Cardiff
Is there free parking near Ninian Park train Station? The following streets are near Ninian Park railway station and have partial unrestricted spots where you can park for free:
- Ninian Park Road
- Broadhaven
- Broadstairs Road
- Sudcroft Street
- Leckwith Close
- Leckwith Place
- Leckwith Avenue
- Albert Street
- Lyndhurst Street
- Chancery Lane
Make sure not to park in a restricted parking bay
For the above & 100 more Free roads in Cardiff & Easy Navigation, Download our map
Best Free Overnight Parking in Cardiff
Overnight parking in Cardiff can be answered in two ways, free overnight parking in Cardiff city centre. But could also mean free long-stay parking in Cardiff, so I will answer both.
Free Overnight Parking in Cardiff City Centre
Is there Free overnight parking in Cardiff city centre? The following roads in central Cardiff city allow Free parking from 10 pm to 8 am seven days a week.
- Augusta Street
- Despenser Gardens
- Despenser Street
- Clare Street
- Dinas Street
- Clare Gardens
- Clare Place
- Beauchamp Street
- Gloucester Street
Penalties will apply outside this time slot without a valid parking ticket
Free Long Stay Overnight Parking in Cardiff, Wales
Is there Free long stay overnight parking in Cardiff? The following public roads in Cardiff have no restrictions on them. This means you can park for free during the day and overnight for an unlimited time:
- Loudoun Square
- Letton Road
- Sudcroft Street
- Leckwith Close
- Barquentine Place
- Tewkesbury Street
- Spencer Street
Check the signage and make sure to lock your vehicle before leaving it.
Free Disabled Parking in Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff council is very generous when it comes to disabling parking in Cardiff city, as not only does it allow 3-hour parking on single and double yellow lines. They also allow Free parking in pay and display bays for an unlimited time. That’s very generous indeed, do make sure to have your blue badge clearly clocked and displayed on your dashboard, or I’m sure it will be a completely different story.
Where is there disabled parking in Cardiff city centre? The Cardiff council allow blue badge holders who clearly and correctly display their blue badge free parking in the following central locations:
- Any On-street pay & display
- 17 Churchill Way – 10 disabled bays
- Greyfriars Place – 8 disabled bays
- 2 Guildhall Place – 4 disabled bays
- Tredegar Street – 5 disabled bays
- 51 Charles Street – 4 disabled bays
- Church Place – 6 disabled bays
- Double yellow lines for a maximum of 3 hours
- Single yellow lines for a maximum of 3 hours
For more information on disabled parking in Cardiff, see the cardiff.gov website
Free Motorcycle Parking in Cardiff, Wales
Where is the free motorcycle parking in Cardiff city? According to cardiff.gov.uk, Dedicated motorcycle parking bays are located around the city centre at the following locations:
- 2 Guildhall Place
- 70 Churchill Way
- Millicent St – to the left of St David’s Dewi Sant Car Park entrance
- Churchill Way
- Charles Street
- Windsor Place
- Mary Ann Street
- Guildhall Place
If you want a Map of the Best Free Parking in Cardiff, Click Here
Cheapest Car Parks in Cardiff, UK
Just finding the best free parking options in Cardiff isn’t enough for us, and we want to also give you in order the cheapest car parks as well. The below 3 charts show our results for the best 4, 8 and 24 hours car park stays.
Where are the Cheapest Car Parks in Cardiff to Park for 4 Hours?
| Cheapest 4 hour Car Parks in Cardiff | Price | Walking Distance from centre |
| St David’s Dewi Sant | £5.00 | 14 mins |
| John Lewis | £5.00 | 14 mins |
| Capitol Shopping | £5.00 | 13 mins |
| Castle Mews | £5.10 | 12 mins |
| Dumfries Place | £7.80 | 16 mins |
| Cardiff Central Station Railway Station | £12.50 | 17 mins |
Where are the Cheapest Car Parks in Cardiff to Park for 8 Hours?
| Cheapest 8-hour Car Parks in Cardiff | Price | Walking Distance from centre |
| 1 Knox Road | £5.00 | 16 mins |
| Pellett Street | £8.00 | 20 mins |
| Sophia Gardens | £9.20 | 19 mins |
| St David’s Dewi Sant | £10.00 | 13 mins |
| Capital Shopping | £10.00 | 14 mins |
Where are the Cheapest Car Parks in Cardiff to Park for 24 Hours?
| Cheapest 24-hour Car Parks in Cardiff | Price | Walking Distance from centre |
| Carphilly Station Park and Ride Aber Station Park and Ride | Free | |
| Wellington Street | £3.00 | 30 mins |
| 8 Seven Road | £3.00 | 36 mins |
| Cardiff Central Station Railway Station | £12.50 | 17 mins |
| Marriott | £18.00 | 14 mins |
Best Park and Rides in Cardiff
| Cardiff Park & Rides | Distance To City Centre |
| Llandaff Park & Ride – Northside Unnamed Road, Cardiff CF14 2EZ | 21 mins train ride more details |
| Cardiff East Park & Ride – Eastside Llanrumney, Cardiff CF23 8HH www.cardiffbus.com +44 29 2066 6444 | 46 mins C1 bus ride more details |
| Llandough Park & Ride – Southside Cardiff & Vale N H S Trust, Penlan Rd, Llandough, Penarth CF64 2XX | 30 mins train ride more details |
| Tremorfa Industrial Estate Park & Ride – Southside Venture Workshops, Martin Rd, Tremorfa, Tremorfa Industrial Estate, Cardiff CF24 5SD | 10 min walk more details |
| Cardiff Docks Park & Ride – Southside Cardiff Docks, Cardiff CF10 4LX | 48 min walk more details |
I hope this article has set you well on your way to parking up in Cardiff for free. That just leaves us to wish you a very enjoyable visit and a very safe ride. Keep safe
