Choose Your Car Park Before You Reach the River Windrush
For most first-time visitors, Rissington Road Car Park, GL54 2BN is the easiest all-round choice. It is council-run, has 192 standard bays, 9 disabled bays, 8 EV bays, motorcycle parking, cycle racks and public toilets nearby.
Station Road Car Park, GL54 2EN is the other major visitor option and can suit a village-centre-focused trip. The important part is choosing before arrival rather than driving into Bourton-on-the-Water and looking for a space beside the River Windrush.
Where Is the Best Place to Park in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Use Rissington Road, GL54 2BN, as the default if you want the most clearly documented visitor option. Cotswold District Council currently lists 192 standard spaces, 9 disabled bays, 8 EV bays, motorcycle parking and cycle racks.
Choose Station Road, GL54 2EN, when its approach better suits your village-centre plans or when travelling in a motorhome or bus with 19 seats or fewer under the current visitor guidance.
Rissington Road vs Station Road
Rissington Road Car Park
GL54 2BNThis is the main council-run car park with the clearest official information for prices, payment, disabled spaces and EV charging.
Best for: first visits, families, EV drivers, Blue Badge planning and visitors who want a council-documented parking option.
Station Road Car Park
GL54 2ENStation Road is one of the village’s two large all-year visitor car parks. It is useful for a direct village-centre visit and is also the current local option for qualifying smaller buses and motorhomes.
Best for: central wandering, High Street visits, River Windrush walks and eligible larger vehicles.
Rissington Road Parking Prices in 2026
Cotswold District Council currently publishes four visitor tariffs at Rissington Road. Charges apply between 10am and 8pm Monday to Sunday.
Check the current Cotswold District Council Rissington Road tariff
How to Pay at Rissington Road
Cotswold District Council currently allows payment through PayByPhone, its website, a credit or debit card at the machine, or by calling the payment number shown for the service.
PayByPhone
804760Check the location number displayed at the car park before confirming your payment.
Card Machine
Credit and debit card payment is available at the council machine.
Before Walking Away
Check your registration, location and paid duration before leaving the vehicle.
Rissington Road Charging Hours Changed in 2026
Cotswold District Council approved a change to the Rissington Road charging period in March 2026. The current council parking page now states that charges apply from 10am until 8pm every day, Monday to Sunday.
This is worth checking because older parking pages and historic documents can still show earlier charging periods. For your visit, the current council page and the signs displayed in the car park should take priority.
Current Published Period
10am–8pmMonday through Sunday under the current council listing.
Open Overnight
The council lists the car park as open seven days a week, including overnight. Opening does not mean every hour is free from restrictions, so read the onsite signs.
Blue Badge Parking in Bourton-on-the-Water
Rissington Road currently has 9 designated disabled bays. Cotswold District Council states that Blue Badge holders may park there free for up to 10 hours.
Rissington Road
9 baysA strong option when you want a clearly documented council parking concession and dedicated bays.
Check the Sign
A Blue Badge does not automatically make every parking place free. The council advises drivers to read the restrictions applying at the specific location.
EV Charging at Rissington Road
The council currently lists 8 electric vehicle bays at Rissington Road, including one for disabled badge holders. The listed chargers are 7kW units operated by Connected Kerb.
8 EV Bays
The council’s current parking information identifies eight electric bays.
7kW Charging
Connected Kerb is the charging provider currently named by the council.
Parking Still Applies
The council states that normal parking charges apply in EV bays.
Motorcycle Parking at Rissington Road
Cotswold District Council lists motorcycle bays at Rissington Road and states that motorcycles can park free of charge in its car parks.
Where a designated motorcycle bay exists, the council asks riders to use it. Where there is no designated bay, motorcycles may use another normal bay but not a bay reserved for Blue Badge holders.
Parking, Toilets and Children
Rissington Road is particularly useful for families because public toilets are located nearby. This can make it easier to deal with the practical jobs before walking towards the river, attractions and cafés.
Park First
Unload what you need and avoid returning to the vehicle repeatedly.
Use Toilets Early
Sort toilet and baby-changing needs before the central village becomes the focus of the visit.
Then Walk
The village centre is compact enough that moving the car between central attractions usually adds more hassle than benefit.
Where Can Motorhomes Park in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Current Bourton visitor information says motorhomes and buses with 19 seats or fewer can use Station Road Car Park. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be booked in advance.
Motorhome
Use the current Station Road arrangement and check the onsite signs before parking.
Bus With 19 Seats or Fewer
Current visitor information also directs these vehicles to Station Road.
Check current Bourton visitor parking and larger-vehicle guidance
Full-Size Coaches Follow Different Rules
Full-size coaches should not follow normal car-parking instructions. Gloucestershire County Council currently operates a dedicated coach drop-off and pick-up arrangement on Meadow Way.
The experimental restriction allows up to two coaches to use the bay at once for passenger boarding and alighting, for a maximum of five minutes. Coaches then relocate to off-highway parking at Pulham’s Coach Depot at Bourton Industrial Park.
Drop-Off
Use the designated Meadow Way arrangement rather than the High Street.
Maximum Stop
5 minThe current experimental bay has a five-minute maximum and no return within 30 minutes.
Longer Parking
County guidance directs coaches to Pulham’s Coach Depot, where capacity is managed through advance booking.
Check Gloucestershire County Council’s current coach arrangement
Why Arrival Timing Matters More Than Finding a Secret Car Park
Bourton-on-the-Water has a genuine parking-pressure problem. Gloucestershire County Council launched a parking and transport review in 2026 covering parking, pedestrian movement, buses and coaches.
The county says the village can attract around 10,000 visitors a day at peak times. That helps explain why a parking strategy that works on a quiet weekday can feel completely different on a sunny weekend or bank holiday.
Choose before travelling
Save Rissington Road GL54 2BN or Station Road GL54 2EN in navigation.
Avoid vague centre navigation
Do not use the River Windrush or High Street as your parking destination unless you have a specific reason to go there by vehicle.
Have one backup
If your preferred car park is full, switch to your planned alternative instead of repeatedly circling the same central roads.
Park once
Once parked, explore the compact centre on foot rather than trying to reposition the car for every attraction.
A Simple Bourton-on-the-Water Walking Plan After Parking
Bourton is best treated as a walking village after you have parked. A simple route prevents the day becoming a sequence of short drives, queues and repeated parking searches.
Park
Use your chosen main car park and pay for enough time to avoid rushing.
River
Walk towards the River Windrush and use the bridges as your central orientation point.
Choose
Add one or two attractions, shops or cafés rather than constantly returning to the vehicle.
Return
Walk back to the same car park and leave the central streets to pedestrians where practical.
Visiting Bourton-on-the-Water Without Driving
Public transport can be worth considering on high-demand days. Bourton-on-the-Water does not have its own railway station, so rail visitors normally need an onward bus connection.
Via Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh is a useful rail gateway for Bourton, with onward bus connections serving the village.
Via Cheltenham
Cheltenham can also provide a bus approach. Check the exact bus timetable and transfer before committing to tightly timed train tickets.
Bourton-on-the-Water Car Park Map
Use the map to understand the relationship between Rissington Road, Station Road and the village centre. For actual navigation, enter the exact postcode of the car park you choose.
Rissington Road
GL54 2BNUse for the main council car park.
Station Road
GL54 2ENUse for the alternative visitor car park and current motorhome arrangement.
Parking Mistakes That Can Spoil a Bourton Visit
- Navigating only to the village name
- Looking for parking beside the river
- Using an old Rissington charging period
- Paying against the wrong app location
- Assuming a Blue Badge is free everywhere
- Parking in an EV bay without charging
- Using car guidance for a full-size coach
- Taking a motorhome straight to Rissington Road
- Paying for too little time
- Circling central streets when a main car park is busy
- Moving the car between village attractions
- Trusting old parking blogs over current signs
Bourton Parking Is Under Active Review
Gloucestershire County Council and local partners have been reviewing parking, pedestrian movement, bus services and coach movements in Bourton-on-the-Water during 2026. Parking pressure and pedestrian safety are among the reasons for that work.
This means older travel articles can become outdated even when the car park itself still exists. Rissington Road’s revised charging period and the experimental coach arrangements are two examples where checking current official information matters.
Your 60-Second Parking Checklist
- Choose Rissington Road or Station Road
- Save the correct postcode
- Check current parking charges
- Check the charging period
- Have card or app payment ready
- Verify PayByPhone location before paying
- Allow enough paid time for attractions
- Check Blue Badge rules if applicable
- Check EV charging availability if needed
- Use Station Road guidance for motorhomes
- Use separate county guidance for coaches
- Keep a backup plan for peak days
Bourton-on-the-Water Parking FAQs
What is the best car park in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Rissington Road Car Park, GL54 2BN, is the strongest default for many first-time visitors because Cotswold District Council publishes clear information on its spaces, prices, disabled bays, EV charging and payment methods. Station Road, GL54 2EN, is a useful alternative for a village-centre-focused visit.
How much is Rissington Road parking in 2026?
The current council tariff is £4.40 for 2 hours, £5.50 for 3 hours, £7.30 for 5 hours and £10.60 for 10 hours. Check the onsite tariff before payment in case charges have changed since this guide was reviewed.
What hours do parking charges apply at Rissington Road?
Cotswold District Council currently states that charges apply from 10am until 8pm Monday to Sunday. The charging period changed in 2026, so older sources may show different times.
What is the postcode for Rissington Road Car Park?
Use GL54 2BN for Rissington Road Car Park. Entering the exact postcode before reaching Bourton-on-the-Water can help avoid unnecessary driving through the busy centre.
What is the postcode for Station Road Car Park?
Use GL54 2EN for Station Road Car Park. It is one of the two large visitor parking options serving Bourton-on-the-Water.
What is the PayByPhone location for Rissington Road?
The current Cotswold District Council listing gives PayByPhone location number 804760 for Rissington Road. Always compare the number with the sign at the car park before completing payment.
Is Blue Badge parking free at Rissington Road?
The council currently states that Blue Badge holders may park free for up to 10 hours at Rissington Road. The car park has nine designated disabled bays. Read the current signs and display the badge correctly.
Can I charge an electric car at Rissington Road?
Yes. The council currently lists eight EV bays, including one for disabled badge holders, with 7kW Connected Kerb chargers. Normal parking charges still apply and an EV using a charging bay must be connected and charging.
Where can I park a motorhome in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Current Bourton visitor guidance says motorhomes can use Station Road Car Park. Parking is first come, first served and there is no advance booking arrangement.
Can coaches drive along Bourton-on-the-Water High Street?
Current local guidance says coaches are prohibited from accessing the High Street. Gloucestershire County Council has a separate experimental coach drop-off and pick-up arrangement on Meadow Way, followed by off-highway parking at Pulham’s Coach Depot.
Choose, Park and Explore on Foot
For a straightforward first visit, start with Rissington Road GL54 2BN. It has the strongest current council documentation, a large number of spaces, disabled bays, EV charging and nearby visitor facilities.
Use Station Road GL54 2EN when it better suits your route, central plans or qualifying larger vehicle. On busy days, having both postcodes saved before arrival is more useful than trying to find an unofficial space after reaching the River Windrush.
Parking information was reviewed in September 2026. Current signs, Traffic Regulation Orders and official council instructions take priority if arrangements change.