There are four dedicated park and rides in Chester. These park and rides are designed to ease congestion in Chester during peak times for visitors to Chester, from weekends, the races, and shopping trips, to family weekends.
With park and ride, you leave your vehicle in a secure car park on the outskirts of Chester and travel on dedicated buses with your one-time ticket being valid for the whole day.
Chester Park & Ride Locations
We have created a downloadable park-and-ride map at the bottom of the page for your convenience.
1. Boughton Heath Park and Ride
Boughton Heath park and ride facility is just off the A41 Whitchurch Road. It is open every day from 07:00 to 19:00 except on Saturdays, where the services start at 08:00 and ends at 19:00. On Sundays, the facility opens at 09:30 until 18:00.
Boughton Heath park and ride is easy to access in Chester. The nearest National Rail Station is in the city itself. There is also a bus stop that you can find about 150 metres from the venue.
Parking in this area is free for everyone, specifically for car park users. However, those who operate park and ride buses will have to pay a fee. Up to two children can use the service for free, but an adult should accompany them. Tickets for those who return from their trip cost £2.00 for an adult.
The car park facility is in an open-air area. Blue Badge holders will be allowed to park on the site without needing to book in advance. However, there are only 11 Blue Badge parking bays at Boughton Heath. Each parking bay is approximately 300 cm x 500 cm. The nearest bay is just two metres from the bus stop and the pay station. Meanwhile, the farthest is about 37 metres from these two mentioned areas.
Some car park and ride facilities have a height restriction. Boughton Heath is one of them, where the maximum height of the vehicles allowed is only 210 cm. The route when you exit the site is wheelchair accessible.
Using the park-and-ride scheme here, you can get a ticket from any machine near the bus stop. These stops are located at every car park. You must enter your registration number and scan the ticket when you board the bus.
2. Sealand Road Park & Ride
Sealand Road park and ride facilities are easy to spot. You can find them on the A548 just across from the car dealerships. There is a bus stop about 150 metres from the venue. The car park is open from Mondays through Fridays from 07:00 to 19:00. On Saturdays, they open from 08:00 to 19:00 and Sundays, they open at 09:30 and close at 18:00.
The venue has a car park, which is accessible to all users. Only park and ride buses will be charged. Blue Badge holders do not need to book in advance, and there are at least ten parking bays in the car park.
The car park allows most vehicle types as it does not have a height restYou can find the nearest Blue Badge bay about five metres from the entrance. From the entrance, you can find the nearest Blue Badge bay in about five metres. The farthest is 35 metres from the entrance.
Sealand Road does not have a drop-off point. To use the park-and-ride service, just take a ticket from one of the available machines near the bus stop. Before boarding the bus, you will have to scan your ticket first.
3. Upton Park & Ride
The car park is located before Chester Zoo, just to the left of the entrance road. It is two miles from the city centre, off the A41 main road or Moston Road. Getting to the car park and ride is easy because you can access it from the end of the M53 Motorway. You can see signs that lead you to it, starting from the Hoole Roundabout and the A41. The nearest postcode is CH2 4BB.
Upton has a total of 460 parking spots that are accessible all day from Mondays through Sundays. Parking for six hours costs £3.00. The maximum charge is £5.00. The car park, however, is locked overnight.
Through the English National Scheme, the car park is charged before 9:30. Access and services are free for bus pass holders. On Saturdays and Sundays, all parking services are accessible all day. The same applies to public holidays. Meanwhile, those bus pass holders from the Wales and Scotland schemes will have to pay the full fare regardless of the day of the week and time.
Upton park and ride facilities have other features that make it more convenient for users, such as CCTVs and disabled spots. There is a height restriction for vehicles. For those with motorhomes, overnight stays are only allowed at Little Roodee Car Park, which is nearby.
4. Wrexham Road Park & Ride
Wrexham park and ride is off the A483, across from Chester Business Park. The nearest postcode for the facilities is CH4 9QD. This car park is the largest in the city, with 760 spots. It is open from Monday to Sunday, all day. Six-Hour parking will cost £3.00 while the maximum stay is £5.00.
There are wheelchair-accessible spots in the area. CCTVs are installed all over the site. No vehicle that is more than 2.10 metres can park. Security is a priority, which is why safety regulations are imposed.
Car parking starts from 07:00 to 19:00 from Mondays through Fridays. On Saturdays, Wrexham Road park and the ride are open from 08:00 to 19:00. On Sundays; the facilities are only accessible from 09:30 to 18:00.
The park is open-air, with parking spaces for Blue Badge holders. Park users do not have to pay a fee but are charged if they ride the buses. The same rules apply to the other car park and ride locations above. Each bay measures 300 cm x 400 cm. The closes bay is 15 metres from the station where you pay for your tickets. The farthest is about 37 metres away.
All tickets are valid all day, whether you use Wrexham Road, Upton, Sealand Road, or Boughton Heath. You can use the bus as many times as you like, whether you hop on or off. This way, you can spend as much time in the city as you want.
Chester Park & Ride Buses
The buses operate at the following times:
- Every 12 minutes starting from 07:00 from Monday to Friday.
- Every 12 minutes from 08:00 until closing on Saturdays
- During bank holidays and Sundays, the buses arrive every 15 minutes beginning from 09:30
The timetable above also applies to other car parks. Passengers should be aware that there are no services during Christmas and New Year’s or Boxing Day.
All the park and ride buses operating for the city offer amenities, including free WiFi and USB charging. The seats are of premium quality, so even working for busy professionals can be comfortable and hassle-free.
All the car parks provide wheelchair-accessible areas right from the entrance. Wheelchair users are welcome to use the services. Those with questions regarding mobility scooter access must contact Stagecoach, the bus provider for the park-and-ride facilities. You should also contact Stagecoach if you lose something on the bus.
Pet owners are welcome as well. However, there are many restrictions. One, it is required that the dog is trained or well-behaved. The same goes for cats and other small animals. Bringing your pet with you means that you understand the rules and are responsible throughout the whole time. The dog or cat should not be a danger to the other passengers and bus staff. Most of the time, the driver will assess the situation and make the final decision.
Finally, all passengers should know that the bus stop located on Pepper Street has been closed since the 11th of March. It will be available in November. Those who use the park and ride services from Wrexham Road must go to Grosvenor Street, the stop while Pepper Street is closed. Those taking Buses 13 and 61 should know they will stop at Lower Bridge Street. Outbound services remain unchanged.
FAQs:
Q: What is Chester Park and Ride?
Chester Park and Ride is a service that allows commuters and visitors to park their cars at designated car parks located outside the city centre and use a bus to travel into the city. This service aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the city.
Q: Where are the Chester Park and Ride car parks located?
A: There are three Chester Park and Ride sites: one at Boughton Heath, located just off the A41 Whitchurch Road, and the other at Wrexham Road, just off the A483 Wrexham Road, lastly, at Upton (Zoo). All sites have frequent bus services to the city centre.
Q: What are the operating hours of Chester Park and Ride?
The Chester Park and Ride service operates from Monday to Saturday. The first bus leaves the car park at 7:00 am, and the last departs from the city centre at 7:00 pm.
Q: How often do the buses run?
The buses run every 12 minutes from both car parks, with the journey to the city centre taking approximately 12-15 minutes.
Q: How much does using Chester Park and Ride cost?
The cost of using Chester Park and Ride depends on the type of ticket purchased. Adult day return tickets cost £2.50, and child day return tickets cost £1.50. Family tickets are also available for £6, which includes two adults and up to three children.
Q: Can I buy tickets in advance?
Tickets can be purchased in advance online or on the Stagecoach app. Tickets can also be purchased on the bus using contactless payment methods.
Q: Is parking available for disabled drivers at Chester Park and Ride?
Seated parking bays are available for disabled drivers at both Chester Park and Ride sites. The buses are also wheelchair accessible.
Q: Is there any CCTV in the car parks?
There is CCTV in operation in the car parks for security purposes.
Q: Is there any bicycle provision at Chester Park and Ride?
Bicycle racks are available at both Chester Park and Ride sites, allowing cyclists to park their bikes securely before using the bus service.
Getting Around Chester
With buses running every 12 minutes and your ticket valid for the entire day, getting around Chester is relatively easy. However, if you need to get back to your car or another part of the city that is not serviced by the park & ride bus, then another other options are taxis in Chester which can be called direct on: 01244 421 024 or find one at several taxi ranks in Chester City Centre.
If you do insist on driving into Chester itself, we have also provided a handy guide to finding parking in Chester.
We are confident you will enjoy your visit to Chester, whichever method you choose.
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