Chelmsford City Centre Car Parks: Prices, Postcodes & Opening Times
Finding somewhere to park in Chelmsford city centre can depend heavily on where you are going, how long you plan to stay and what time you arrive.
There are car parks close to the High Street, shopping centres, Chelmsford Theatre, railway station, restaurants and leisure facilities, ranging from small surface car parks to large multi-storeys.
This City Hub guide brings together the main Chelmsford city centre car parks, postcodes, prices and opening times, helping you decide where to park before travelling.
Parking charges were checked in September 2026. Always check the tariff displayed at the car park before leaving your vehicle, as prices and conditions can change.
Quick guide: where should I park in Chelmsford?
For Chelmsford High Street: High Chelmer, Bond Street, Meadows Surface and Q-Park Meadows are all convenient choices.
For High Chelmer Shopping Centre: High Chelmer Car Park is the obvious choice, with direct access to the heart of the city.
For Bond Street and John Lewis: Bond Street's underground car park is directly beneath the shopping development and has lifts serving John Lewis.
For Chelmsford Theatre: Fairfield Road and Coval Lane are particularly convenient, with both within easy walking distance.
For Chelmsford railway station: Townfield Street is approximately 0.1 miles from the station. Fairfield Road and West End are also close.
For Moulsham Street: Moulsham Street Car Park and Parkway are useful options.
For The Meadows and Odeon: Meadows Surface, Meadows Retail and Q-Park Meadows are all nearby.
For all-day weekday parking: Coval Lane, Baddow Road, Rectory Lane West, Fairfield Road and Townfield Street are among the options worth comparing.
For cheap weekend parking: Coval Lane is particularly worth knowing about, with weekend parking currently costing £3 for the day.
High Chelmer Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1LE
Type: Multi-storey
Opening: 6am-midnight daily
Height restriction: 2 metres
Best for: High Chelmer, High Street, shopping and city centre
High Chelmer is one of the most centrally located car parks in Chelmsford and is particularly convenient for the High Street and High Chelmer Shopping Centre.
Current Monday-Saturday charges start at £2.50 for one hour, rising to £3.90 for two hours, £5.20 for three hours and £6.80 for four hours.
Parking after 5pm costs £2.80 until midnight.
On Sundays, parking costs £2.50 for one hour, £3.90 for two hours, £5.20 for three hours or £6.80 until midnight.
The car park uses ANPR and is locked after midnight.
Bond Street Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1GD
Type: Underground
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 286
Height restriction: 2.05 metres
Best for: Bond Street, John Lewis, Everyman Cinema and High Street
Bond Street has its own privately operated underground car park directly beneath the shopping development.
Access is from the Springfield Road roundabout beside Tesco, with lifts providing access to street level and directly into John Lewis.
Current daytime charges between 8am and 6pm are £3 for one hour, £4.50 for two hours, £5.50 for three hours and £7.50 for four hours.
The evening and overnight tariff is considerably cheaper, starting at £1.50 for one hour, £2.50 for one to three hours and £3.50 for more than three hours between 6pm and 8am.
The car park is cashless and uses number plate recognition.
Meadows Surface Car Park
Postcode: CM2 0WP
Entrance: Can Bridge Way
Type: Surface
Opening: 24 hours
Best for: Meadows Shopping Centre, High Street, Odeon and restaurants
Meadows Surface is a council-run car park close to the southern end of Chelmsford High Street.
Monday-Saturday parking currently costs £2.50 for one hour, £3.90 for two hours, £5.20 for three hours and £6.80 for four hours.
Longer stays rise progressively to £20 until midnight.
After 5pm, parking costs £2.80 until 5am.
On Sundays, the maximum charge is currently £6.80 until midnight.
Do not confuse Meadows Surface with Meadows Retail or Q-Park Meadows – they are separate car parks with different tariffs.
Q-Park Meadows
Postcode: CM2 0WP
Entrance: Baddow Road
Type: Multi-storey
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 454
Disabled spaces: 14
EV charging points: 8
Height restriction: 1.93 metres
Best for: Odeon, Meadows Shopping Centre, restaurants and High Street
Q-Park Meadows is a privately operated multi-storey opposite the Odeon cinema and beside The Meadows.
It has more than 450 spaces and is open 24 hours a day.
Unlike most council car parks, Q-Park also allows motorists to book some parking products online.
Parking prices can vary, so motorists should check the current Q-Park tariff before travelling.
Meadows Retail Car Park
Postcode: CM2 6LU
Type: Multi-storey
Opening: 6am-midnight
Height restriction: 2 metres
Best for: Meadows Retail Park and eastern side of the city centre
Meadows Retail is another council-operated car park and should not be confused with either Meadows Surface or Q-Park Meadows.
Monday-Friday charges are currently £2.50 for one hour, £3.60 for two hours, £5 for three hours or £8.50 until midnight.
After 5pm, the charge is just £1.70 until midnight.
Saturday and Sunday parking costs £2.50 for one hour, £3.60 for two hours or £5 until midnight.
The car park is locked after midnight.
Fairfield Road Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1TD
Entrance: Coval Lane
Type: Surface long stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 352
Height restriction: 2.4 metres
Best for: Chelmsford Theatre, railway station and all-day parking
Fairfield Road is particularly useful for visitors to Chelmsford Theatre and people travelling from Chelmsford railway station.
Monday-Friday parking currently costs £3 for one hour, £4 for two hours, £5 for three hours or £11 until 5am.
After 5pm, the overnight tariff is £3.30.
At weekends, parking costs £5 until midnight.
September/October 2026 warning
Resurfacing work is taking place at Fairfield Road between September 21 and October 11, 2026.
Sections of the car park are being closed during the work and the council warns that available parking spaces will be very limited.
Coval Lane Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1TG
Entrance: Rainsford Lane
Type: Surface long stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 188
Height restriction: 2 metres
Best for: Chelmsford Theatre, railway station and weekend parking
Coval Lane is one of the most useful car parks to know about if you are attending Chelmsford Theatre or visiting the city at the weekend.
Monday-Friday parking costs £3 for one hour, £4 for two hours, £5 for three hours or £8.50 until 5am.
After 5pm, the overnight tariff is currently only 30p.
At weekends, the tariff is particularly attractive: 50p for up to one hour or £3 until midnight.
Townfield Street Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1QX
Entrance: Railway Street
Type: Multi-storey long stay
Spaces: 726
Height restriction: 1.9 metres
Best for: Chelmsford railway station and commuters
Townfield Street is the closest major council car park to Chelmsford railway station, at approximately 0.1 miles away.
It has 726 spaces and uses ANPR.
Monday-Friday parking costs £3 for one hour, £4 for two hours, £5 for three hours or £11 until midnight.
The evening tariff from 5pm is £2.80.
Saturday and Sunday parking costs £5 until midnight.
Townfield Street opens at 5.30am Monday-Saturday and 6am on Sundays, closing at midnight each night.
Baddow Road Car Park
Postcode: CM2 7PJ
Entrance: Baddow Road
Type: Surface, mixed long/short stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 250
Height restriction: 2 metres
Best for: All-day parking and southern side of the city centre
Baddow Road has 250 spaces and is open around the clock.
Parking costs £2.50 for one hour, £3.60 for two hours, £5 for three hours or £8.50 until 5am.
The evening tariff from 5pm is £1.70 until 5am.
Moulsham Street Car Park
Postcode: CM2 0LF
Entrance: George Street
Type: Surface, mixed long/short stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 170
Best for: Moulsham Street, restaurants, bars and independent shops
Moulsham Street Car Park is particularly convenient for the many restaurants, pubs, bars and businesses around Moulsham Street.
Parking costs 70p for 30 minutes, £2 for one hour, £2.80 for two hours, £4.40 for three hours or £8.50 until midnight.
After 5pm, parking costs £1.70 until 5am.
Motorcycles can park free in the designated motorcycle spaces.
Important: part of Moulsham Street Car Park is currently closed for archaeological works. The council says the partial closure will remain in place until further notice.
Parkway Car Park
Postcode: CM2 0DG
Type: Surface short stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 97
Height restriction: 2 metres
Best for: Southern High Street, Moulsham Street and short city-centre visits
Parkway is a relatively small 97-space car park close to the city centre.
Monday-Saturday parking starts at £2.50 for one hour, £3.90 for two hours, £5.20 for three hours and £6.80 for four hours.
The evening tariff from 5pm is £2.80 until 5am.
Sunday parking costs a maximum of £6.80 until midnight.
Rectory Lane West Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1RE
Entrance: Elms Drive
Type: Surface long stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 305
Height restriction: 2 metres
Best for: Longer stays and northern side of the city centre
Rectory Lane West offers more than 300 spaces and can be useful for motorists who do not need to park directly beside the High Street.
Monday-Friday parking costs 70p for up to 30 minutes or £9 until midnight.
Saturday and Sunday parking costs 70p for 30 minutes or £4.50 until midnight.
The evening tariff from 5pm is £1.70 until 5am.
West End Car Park
Postcode: CM1 1QS
Entrance: Railway Street
Type: Surface short stay
Opening: 24 hours
Spaces: 45
Best for: Short visits near Chelmsford railway station
West End is a small short-stay car park near the station.
Parking costs 70p for 30 minutes, £2 for one hour, £2.80 for two hours or £4.40 for three hours.
There is a maximum stay of three hours and motorists cannot return within one hour.
After 5pm, parking costs £1.70 until 5am.
Waterloo Lane car parks
Postcode: CM1 1BD
Type: Surface
Best for: High Street, Bond Street and eastern city centre
Chelmsford City Council operates three separate car parks at Waterloo Lane.
They are useful for shorter city-centre visits, although motorists should check which Waterloo Lane car park they have entered because tariffs and arrangements can differ.
For example, Waterloo Lane 2 currently starts at 70p for 30 minutes, with one hour costing £2.50 and two hours £3.90. Its evening tariff is £1.90 until 5am.
Always check the tariff board for the individual Waterloo Lane car park before parking.
Cheap parking in Chelmsford city centre
The cheapest option depends heavily on when you visit.
For a very short visit, several council car parks offer a 30-minute tariff of 70p, including West End and Moulsham Street.
Coval Lane is particularly competitive at weekends, currently charging £3 until midnight, while its evening/overnight tariff from 5pm is just 30p.
Moulsham Street and Baddow Road currently charge £1.70 for evening parking, while High Chelmer and Meadows Surface charge £2.80.
Always compare the tariff with the location you actually need – saving a pound may not be worthwhile if it adds a substantial walk to your journey.
Parking near Chelmsford Theatre
For most theatre visitors, Fairfield Road and Coval Lane are among the most convenient council car parks.
Coval Lane can be particularly attractive for evening performances because of its low evening tariff.
High Chelmer is another option if you want to combine a theatre visit with shopping or eating in the city centre.
Remember that Fairfield Road has restricted capacity during resurfacing works between September 21 and October 11, 2026.
Parking near Chelmsford railway station
Townfield Street is approximately 0.1 miles from Chelmsford station and is one of the main options for commuters.
Fairfield Road and West End are approximately 0.2 miles from the station, while Coval Lane and High Chelmer are around 0.3 miles away.
For commuters parking regularly, it is worth comparing daily charges with season-ticket options.
Parking for Chelmsford High Street
For the central High Street, High Chelmer is one of the most convenient choices.
Bond Street is ideal for the eastern end of the High Street, John Lewis and Bond Street shopping.
Meadows Surface and Q-Park Meadows are useful for the southern High Street, Meadows Shopping Centre, Odeon and nearby restaurants.
Evening parking in Chelmsford
Evening parking can be considerably cheaper than daytime parking.
Current council evening tariffs include:
Coval Lane: 30p
Baddow Road: £1.70
Moulsham Street: £1.70
Rectory Lane West: £1.70
West End: £1.70
Waterloo Lane 2: £1.90
High Chelmer: £2.80
Meadows Surface: £2.80
Parkway: £2.80
Townfield Street: £2.80
Fairfield Road: £3.30
Check the individual car park's operating conditions, particularly at multi-storeys which are locked overnight.
Blue Badge parking in Chelmsford car parks
Chelmsford City Council currently provides three hours of free parking for Blue Badge holders in its car parks.
Drivers should display or register their badge as required and check the instructions at the particular car park.
Designated disabled spaces are available at many locations, although the number varies.
Electric vehicle charging in Chelmsford car parks
EV charging is available at several Chelmsford car parks.
Council information lists charging spaces at locations including Baddow Road, Fairfield Road, Meadows Surface and Rectory Lane West.
Q-Park Meadows also has eight electric vehicle charging points.
Check that chargers are operational before relying on them, as equipment may occasionally be unavailable for maintenance or upgrading.
On-street parking in Chelmsford
Drivers making a short visit may not necessarily need a car park.
Chelmsford City Council operates paid on-street spaces at locations including Broomfield Road, Cedar Avenue, Coval Lane, Railway Street, Rainsford Road, Victoria Road, Waterloo Lane and Wicks Place.
These are generally limited to a maximum stay of two hours.
Current charges are:
Up to 15 minutes: 30p
Up to 30 minutes: 60p
Up to one hour: £1.10
Up to two hours: £1.40
Charges normally apply Monday-Saturday between 8am and 6pm.
Chelmsford Park and Ride
If you would rather avoid driving into the city centre, Essex County Council operates two Park and Ride services serving Chelmsford:
Chelmer Valley Park and Ride
Sandon Park and Ride
These can be particularly useful during busy shopping periods and major events.
Paying for parking in Chelmsford
Most council surface car parks accept credit/debit cards, contactless payments and payment through MiPermit.
The council's barrier-controlled car parks – High Chelmer, Meadows Retail and Townfield Street – use ANPR and pay-on-foot arrangements.
Private car parks such as Bond Street and Q-Park have their own payment systems and terms.
Are Chelmsford car parks open on bank holidays?
Council car parks remain available on bank holidays unless otherwise stated.
Chelmsford City Council says normal weekday charges apply when a bank or public holiday falls on a weekday, while normal weekend charges apply when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Check before travelling
Parking prices, opening hours, closures and payment arrangements can change.
For that reason, this guide is regularly reviewed, but motorists should always check the signs and tariff information displayed at the car park when they arrive.
Chelmsford City Hub will also report significant temporary closures and changes affecting parking in the city centre.