Park at Drake Circus Without Guessing the Final Cost
Drake Circus has a large multi-storey car park beside the shopping centre. However, the price changes with the length of your stay.
Therefore, it helps to know the tariff before you enter. In addition, evening visitors can use a lower overnight rate when they meet the time conditions.
This guide compares prices, free Park & Ride options, Blue Badge parking, vehicle height, payment methods, EV charging and a useful map.
2 HOURS
Quick Answer: How Much Is Drake Circus Plymouth Parking?
Drake Circus currently charges £4 for up to two hours. Next, the price rises to £5 for two to three hours.
Three to four hours costs £6. Meanwhile, four to six hours costs £7.
For a longer stay, the 6–24 hour tariff is £18. However, evening and overnight visitors may qualify for a £7 overnight rate.
Specifically, the overnight deal applies when you arrive after 5pm and leave before 10am the following morning. Therefore, it can be useful for an evening meal, cinema trip or overnight stay.
Drake Circus Plymouth Parking Prices in 2026
Drake Circus uses a simple stepped tariff. Therefore, the final cost depends mainly on how long your car remains inside.
Importantly, the charging period starts when the ANPR cameras record your entry. As a result, your parking time starts before you reach the shops.
| Parking Option | Current Price | Useful For | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £4 | Quick shopping trip | Lowest normal car tariff |
| 2–3 hours | £5 | Shopping and lunch | One extra pound over 2 hours |
| 3–4 hours | £6 | Longer shopping visit | Useful mid-length option |
| 4–6 hours | £7 | Shopping plus food or leisure | Six-hour threshold matters |
| 6–24 hours | £18 | Long city-centre stay | Large jump after six hours |
| Motorbike | £4 all day | Motorcycle users | Flat daily rate |
| Overnight | £7 | Evening / overnight visits | Arrive after 5pm and leave before 10am |
Watch the Six-Hour Price Jump
The biggest pricing difference appears after six hours. Up to six hours currently costs £7.
However, the 6–24 hour tariff is £18. Therefore, staying slightly longer than six hours can make a significant difference.
For example, a long shopping day may move into the higher tariff. Consequently, check your expected departure time before leaving the car.
Drake Circus £7 Overnight Parking
Drake Circus currently offers a £7 overnight parking rate. However, you must meet both timing conditions.
First, enter the car park after 5pm. Then, leave before 10am the following morning.
Therefore, the offer can suit an evening visit followed by an early departure. In addition, it may cost less than paying the normal long-stay tariff.
Nevertheless, confirm the tariff shown when you visit. Parking offers can change after publication.
Drake Circus Car Park Opening Times
The main Drake Circus car park currently opens from 7am to 11pm Monday to Saturday. On Sunday, it opens from 8am to 11pm.
Therefore, early-morning visitors should check the day before driving in. Likewise, late visitors should return before the car park closes.
After the mall closes, a walkway between Old Town Street and Cornwall Street provides access towards the car park lifts and stairwell. However, the car park itself closes at 11pm.
7am–11pm
Therefore, most normal shopping and evening visits fit within these hours.
8am–11pm
Sunday starts one hour later. Therefore, very early arrivals need another plan.
Do Not Miss Closing
In particular, check your finish time if you are dining or attending an evening event.
Free Parking Options for a Drake Circus Visit
Drake Circus itself does not currently offer standard free customer parking. However, Plymouth has Park & Ride sites where no parking payment is currently required.
Therefore, Park & Ride can reduce the parking cost. You still need to pay the applicable bus fare into the city centre.
Coypool Park & Ride
Coypool currently requires no payment for parking. In addition, service 200 runs towards Plymouth city centre.
The journey takes around 20 minutes under the published timetable. However, the site locks overnight from 10pm until 6am.
Therefore, Coypool works better for a daytime visit than a late-night return. A 2.1m height restriction also applies.
Milehouse Park & Ride
Milehouse currently states that no parking payment is required. Moreover, the car park is open 24 hours a day.
Service 61 provides a connection towards the city centre. Therefore, this site can be useful when you want to avoid driving directly to Drake Circus.
George Park & Ride
George currently states that no payment is required for parking. In addition, the site is open 24 hours.
However, Plymouth City Council has approved future weekday long-stay charges. Those charges are planned after improvement work rather than immediately.
Therefore, check the live Council page if you read this guide later. The current free arrangement should not be assumed to continue forever.
Drake Circus vs Free Park & Ride
The main Drake Circus car park puts you directly beside the shopping centre. Therefore, it offers the easiest walking route.
Park & Ride works differently. Although the parking can be free, you add a bus journey and fare.
As a result, the best choice depends on your priorities. Compare convenience, total travel time and final cost before deciding.
The Barcode Car Park: A Useful Alternative
The Barcode is another Drake Circus parking option in central Plymouth. It has more than 400 spaces.
Importantly, its standard daytime tariffs currently match Drake Circus. Therefore, you still pay £4 up to two hours and £18 for six to 24 hours.
However, its evening offer is different. The Barcode currently charges £4 when you arrive after 5pm and leave before closing.
In addition, The Barcode stays open later on several evenings. Therefore, it can be particularly useful for cinema, restaurant and leisure visits.
Drake Circus Parking Height Restriction
The main Drake Circus car park has a 2m height restriction. Therefore, drivers of taller vehicles should check their full height before entering.
In particular, include roof boxes and other equipment. Otherwise, the vehicle may exceed the limit even if its standard body height fits.
Drake Circus says it cannot accommodate large vehicles, vans, motorhomes or coaches. Therefore, those vehicles need another suitable parking location.
Accessible Vehicles Over 2m
Drake Circus identifies St Andrew Street/Whimple Street, Guildhall and North Hill as nearby alternatives for accessible vehicles over 2m. However, always check the current conditions at the alternative car park before driving there.
Blue Badge and Accessible Parking at Drake Circus
Drake Circus currently has 52 designated disabled bays. Specifically, 20 are on Level 1, 19 are on Level 2 and 13 are on Level 3.
However, Blue Badge parking is not free. The standard parking tariff still applies.
Therefore, display a valid Blue Badge and allow for the normal parking cost. In addition, use the designated bays only when you meet the relevant conditions.
Parent-and-Child Parking
Drake Circus provides parent-and-child bays within the car park. In addition, these spaces are available across the lower parking levels.
Wider spaces can make loading young children and pushchairs easier. However, demand can increase during busy shopping periods.
Therefore, arrive with some flexibility on weekends and school holidays. If the closest family bays are occupied, follow the current car park signs.
EV Charging at Drake Circus
EV charging is not currently available in the main Drake Circus car park. Specifically, the centre says charging is unavailable while refurbishment work continues.
However, EV charging remains available at The Barcode. Therefore, EV drivers who need to charge should compare that car park instead.
The Barcode currently has six charging points on its Upper Yellow Level. In addition, the published charging rate is 49p per kWh.
Charging prices and availability can change. Therefore, check the provider information before relying on a charger.
How to Pay for Drake Circus Parking
Drake Circus uses ANPR to record vehicles entering and leaving. Therefore, you do not receive a traditional paper entry ticket.
Pay machines are located near the lifts on each floor. In addition, current information lists card, mobile payment and the Trust app.
Cash is no longer accepted at the Drake Circus machines. Therefore, take a payment card or prepare a supported mobile method before your visit.
Check Your Registration Before Paying
ANPR-based systems depend on the vehicle registration. Consequently, enter the number carefully when the payment system asks for it.
Finally, review the amount before confirming payment. That way, you can catch an obvious registration or tariff mistake before leaving.
Motorbike Parking at Drake Circus
Motorcycle parking is currently charged at a flat £4 daily rate. Therefore, riders do not use the normal stepped car tariff.
The designated motorcycle area is on the left before the entry barrier. As a result, look for the motorcycle parking before continuing into the main car park.
Choose Parking by the Type of Visit
The cheapest option is not always the most convenient. Therefore, start with the type of trip you are making.
Nearby Parking Alternatives
Drake Circus is convenient, but it is not always the cheapest choice for a long stay. Therefore, compare nearby Plymouth city-centre car parks when price matters more than doorstep access.
For example, Western Approach can offer a much lower all-day Council tariff. Meanwhile, Regent Street and Mayflower Street may suit different parts of the centre.
However, walking distance, opening hours and height restrictions vary. Therefore, compare the whole trip rather than selecting an alternative from price alone.
Parking at Drake Circus on Busy Days
Weekend and holiday traffic can make central parking slower. Therefore, allow extra time before an important booking.
First, decide whether Drake Circus is still your preferred option. Next, save a nearby backup car park.
In addition, remember the level where you parked. Finally, take a quick photo of a nearby bay marker or lift entrance.
Know Your First Choice
Therefore, you can follow the correct route instead of deciding in traffic.
Save Another Car Park
In addition, a backup helps if queues or access conditions change.
Remember Your Car
Finally, photograph your level and nearby marker before entering the centre.
Drake Circus Parking Checklist
Before You Drive
After You Park
Drake Circus Plymouth Parking Map
Drake Circus is at 1 Charles Street, Plymouth, PL1 1EA. Importantly, the main car park entrance is off Charles Street.
Therefore, use the map below for the overall location. However, follow current road signs for the final approach to the car park.
1 Charles Street, Plymouth, PL1 1EA Open Google Maps
Official Parking Information to Check Before Travel
This guide makes the main options easier to compare. However, parking prices, opening times and facilities can change.
Therefore, use Drake Circus’s official parking page for a final tariff check. In addition, use Plymouth City Council for current Park & Ride conditions.