“Welcome to Brycgstow!” is probably how you would have been greeted by a resident of the place by the bridge in the Middle Ages. These days, however, it goes by Bristol, and it’s grown from nothing more than a small settlement to a bustling city that’s rich and vibrant in history and culture. The UK’s 8th most visited city has done well for itself recently and was dubbed the ‘Rising Star Destination’ by National Geographic Traveller in 2018, won the World Food Travel Association’s ‘International Culinary Destination of the Year’ in 2019, and was named ‘The Coolest City in the UK’ by Rough Guides in 2017.
Millions of visitors flock to Brizzle each year for good reason. With so much history –including dabbling in piracy for a few hundred years–, an amazing food scene, and plenty to see and do, Bristol really has something to offer for every visitor.
Some of the more popular attractions include the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a historic piece of architecture spanning the Avon Gorge and totaling more than 200m in length; the SS Great Britain, a museum ship and former passenger that made history as the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic; and the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, home to an incredible array of collections, ranging from natural history to modern art and VR exhibitions. Foodies are also guaranteed to have the time of their lives in Bristol. With dozens and dozens of world-class restaurants and eateries, you could spend weeks in Bristol just trying out new places to grab some of the best meals available in the UK. Definitely try a Colston bun while you’re there. This local delicacy (made with dried fruits, candied peel, and sweet spices) alone will make the trip worthwhile. With more and more people visiting each year, parking in Bristol has in recent years become a bit of a hassle. Finding a hotel with free onsite parking, or at the very least one that offers discounted nearby parking can make all the difference in your overall travel budget, potentially saving you enough for another delicious meal at one of the local restaurants. This guide will help you find those select hotels that offer free, discounted, and convenient guest parking.
Check out our map of Bristol hotels with parking. with parking. You can find other free parking options in Bristol here.
Table of Contents
Bristol Hotels with free or discounted parking
Look, we don’t all travel on Elon Musk’s budget, nor do we all look for the same features and amenities in our accommodation. That being said, everyone appreciates convenient and reasonably priced parking options. The hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses featured in this guide are all well-rated on Booking.com, the world’s largest and most trusted accommodation booking site. This guide only includes serviced accommodation, meaning we’ve purposely excluded any self-serving AirBnB-style apartments or villas from this list. Serviced apartments are included. Although we didn’t list any prices, the options listed here are broken down into budget, mid-range, and higher-end options.
Budget Options
The George & Dragon
Located a mere 5-minute drive from Bristol International Airport, The George and Dragon offers exceptional value for money. It’s one of the most affordable accommodation providers in Bristol, and guests frequently tout it for the friendliness of the staff, the great breakfast included in the price, and the rustic appeal of the 14th-century building it’s housed in. The George and Dragon has plenty of free parking spaces available for its guests. While this hotel isn’t exactly city centre, being give or take 10km from it, it’s a great choice for being near the airport on a budget, or if you don’t mind the commute.
Arnos Manor Hotel
Arnos Manor Hotel is located less than 3km from the city centre. While you could take public transport to town, we’d recommend going on foot along the River Avon. It’s located in a beautiful Georgian Gothic building, surrounded by landscaped gardens. It also boasts award-winning dining options served out of the elegant glass-roofed Cloisters Restaurant, as well as being close to popular Bristol attractions such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Bristol Zoo. It offers free onsite parking for guests.
Mid-range Options
Novotel Bristol Centre
Novotel Hotels are widely known and well-regarded for their good balance of facilities, cleanliness, and value for money. Novotel Bristol Centre is no exception. Located just a 5-minute walk from Temple Meads Railway Station, this is a great option for a base camp if you plan on exploring Bristol by foot. The hotel features all the amenities of an international hotel chain, including conference facilities, good restaurants, 24-hour reception desk, room service, and a fitness centre. It’s also a good option if you’re travelling with children, as they allow up to 2 children under the age of 16 to stay for free when sharing a room with adults, and offer child-entertainment options like video games and a children’s menu. Parking is available onsite at a reasonable rate of £12 per day.
Victoria Square Hotel
Victoria Square Hotel couldn’t be in a better location if you’re planning on visiting the major tourist attractions in Bristol. It’s located right in the middle of Clifton Suspension Bridge, the SS Great Britain, and the Bristol Museum. Many other popular attractions are also less than a 1km walk away. It’s set in a leafy Georgian square in the fashionable Clifton Village, with many rooms looking out over the square. This hotel is particularly well-liked by couples, who rate it at 9.4 on average. It offers onsite parking at a good rate of £9 per day, but parking is free on Sundays and bank holidays.
The Rodney Hotel Clifton Village
The Rodney Hotel offers 3-star accommodation in the fashionable Clifton Village. This makes it very accessible to many of Bristol’s top attractions, putting most of the major ones within a 1km walk. The hotel features a beautifully kept private garden and is home to the AA Rosette winning No.4 Restaurant that serves spectacular meals throughout the day. It offers good all-round value for money, and is definitely one to consider if you plan on exploring Bristol on foot while coming home to a hotel with a great restaurant and bar. Guest parking is available at a reasonable cost of £9 per day on a first come first served basis.
Luxury Accommodation
Number 38 Clifton
With an overall rating of 9.3 on Booking.com, Number 38 Clifton is one of the highest-rated hotels in Bristol. This boutique guest house is set in a traditional Georgian townhouse and offers stylish rooms with views of the Clifton Downs or Bristol city centre. The rooms are well equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay, including luxury bathrobes and complimentary toiletries, and some rooms feature an oversized bathtub. Their full English breakfasts are crafted with fresh, locally sourced produce, and they have wonderful lighter options such as granola, smoked salmon, and fruit available as well. While they don’t have their own parking facilities, you may contact them in advance and request a street parking permit, making the parking free of charge.
Berkeley Suites
The Berkeley Suites offer 5-star accommodation in the heart of Bristol. Equipped with a projector and a fireplace, leaving these stunning suites will be the hardest part of your journey. The suites are located right across the street from Brandon Hill where you can relax and enjoy vistas of downtown Bristol. Another big plus here is The Square Kitchen, a popular and highly-rated restaurant right next door at the Berkely Hotel. Suite guests also have full access to all of the hotel facilities. The suites offer private onsite parking at a cost of £15 per day.
Parking near popular hotels in Bristol
While staying in a privately owned boutique hotel or guest house definitely has its perks, it’s often the case that people travelling for business reasons end up not choosing their own accommodation, instead having booked for them. This is where the big-name hotel chains like the Radisson Blu, Marriot, Hilton, Wyndhams and more come to mind. They usually offer good value for money and are fairly consistent in their offerings. We’ve decided to include a list of free or cheap parking options close to some of these accommodation giants. Please note that the prices stated below are sans-discount. It’s not uncommon for hotels to offer discounted parking rates at nearby parking facilities, especially when they don’t offer onsite parking.
Delta Hotel by Marriott
Delta Hotel Marriott is located right next to Castle Park and Cabot Circus. This international hotel offers rooms at multiple price points and is popular with business travellers in part due to its loyalty program that offers generous discounts. The hotel does not offer onsite parking, however, it’s situated right next to the NCP Bristol Broadmead. Hotel guests may request a pass that brings the total cost of parking down to £17 for 24 hours. In the event that Broadmead is full or not operational, other nearby options include:
● NCP Bristol Broadmead // £17/day // 0.1 miles
● Saint Philips Road // Free Streetside Parking // 0.6 miles
● The Galleries Car Park // £18/day // 0.2 miles
● Cabot Circus Car Park // £18/day // 0.4 miles
Travelodge Bristol Central (Anchor Rd)
Travelodge is known for its no-nonsense, value for money accommodation experience, and it’s the same in Bristol. Located on the river side of Brandon Hill, you’ll be within easy walking distance of many of the top Bristol attractions as well as public transport facilities. Guests can park right next door at a discounted rate of £13 per day. There aren’t many parking spaces available, and they operate on a first come first serve basis. In the event that you don’t find parking, other options include:
● Travelodge Car Park// £13/day // <0.1 miles
● Millennium Square Car Park // £25/day // 0.3 miles
● Mardyke Wharf Car Park // £18/day // 0.4 miles
Hampton by Hilton Bristol City Centre
Hilton Hotels need no introduction, and the Hampton by Hilton in Bristol city centre fits the Hilton mould to a tee. It offers everything you’d expect from an international chain in terms of facilities, including conference rooms, standardised service levels, and an onsite fitness centre. It also features discounted rates for regular guests. The Hampton by Hilton Bristol City Centre doesn’t have its own parking facilities, and guests are encouraged to park at the Bristol St James Barton car park right next door. However, at a rate of £28 per day, there are cheaper options nearby.
● NCP St James Barton // £28/day // <0.1 miles
● Cabot Circus Car Park // £18/day // 0.3 miles
● The Galleries Car Park // £18/day // 0.4 miles
Useful links
Find all of the hotels, guest houses, and B&Bs mentioned in this article, along with a host of other hotels with parking on our free map
For more parking options unrelated to hotels, and many of them absolutely free, check out ParkingScout’s map of Free parking in Bristol
