Parking Near Cardiff Central Station: Cardiff Central Quay Guide

Cardiff Central Station is the main railway station in Cardiff and one of the most important transport interchanges in Wales. It stands at Central Square in the city centre and connects passengers with destinations across South Wales, the wider UK and Cardiff’s local transport network. The station is managed by Transport for Wales and has step-free access to all platforms.

Parking near Cardiff Central Station has changed significantly because of the station enhancement programme. The former Penarth Road surface car park and Riverside car park beside Platform 0 permanently closed on 1 July 2026. Drivers using Cardiff Central Station now have a principal nearby option in the Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park on the south side of the station.

The current parking arrangement is important for commuters, rail passengers, visitors, families, people collecting passengers and travellers with reduced mobility. Cardiff Central Quay provides 681 spaces, 28 disabled spaces and 28 electric vehicle charging spaces. It operates 24 hours a day and is managed by APCOA on behalf of Network Rail.

The information below explains where to park, how the current car park works, what it costs, how long the walk takes, where to drop off passengers and what drivers need to know during ongoing station construction.

Where can you park near Cardiff Central Station?

The main parking facility near Cardiff Central Station is Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park on Penarth Road and Crawshay Street. It provides 681 spaces, operates continuously, supports accessible parking and offers electric vehicle charging facilities.

Cardiff Central Quay is the principal parking facility for people travelling from Cardiff Central Station. The multi-storey car park was developed as part of the wider regeneration of the area around the railway station.

APCOA operates the car park. Network Rail manages the facility, while Transport for Wales directs station users to Cardiff Central Quay for parking, pick-up and drop-off.

The car park has entrances accessible from Penarth Road and Crawshay Street. Its address is Central Quay Car Park, Crawshay Street, Butetown, Cardiff, CF10 5DS. APCOA lists the facility as open 24 hours.

The facility is particularly relevant because the former station car parks are no longer available. Drivers should therefore avoid navigating to the old Penarth Road surface car park or Riverside car park expecting to park there.

The current arrangement places parking slightly farther from the station entrance than the previous surface facilities. Transport for Wales advises passengers to allow additional time for parking and walking to the station.

How many parking spaces are available at Cardiff Central Quay?

Cardiff Central Quay has 681 parking spaces, including 28 disabled spaces and 28 electric vehicle charging spaces. The eight-storey facility also provides lifts, stairs, CCTV, automatic number-plate recognition, bicycle facilities and staff patrols.

The size of Cardiff Central Quay makes it substantially different from a small station-side surface car park. Its 681 spaces are distributed through a multi-storey structure designed to serve rail passengers and wider city-centre users.

There are 28 dedicated disabled parking spaces. These spaces support passengers who hold appropriate Blue Badge entitlement and require accessible parking close to the station.

The car park also has 28 electric vehicle charging spaces. APCOA lists electric vehicle charging at a tariff of £0.48 per kWh. The parking charge and electricity charge are separate considerations for electric vehicle users.

Automatic number-plate recognition, known as ANPR, records vehicle registration numbers when vehicles enter and leave. Drivers should use the correct payment or booking process associated with the facility.

The car park also has CCTV and staff patrols. These facilities form part of its security arrangements.

How much does parking near Cardiff Central Station cost?

Current APCOA tariffs at Cardiff Central Quay start at £4.95 for up to one hour and rise according to parking duration. The listed daily rate is £18, while weekly, monthly and annual season-ticket options are also available.

APCOA currently lists the following standard parking charges for Cardiff Central Quay:

Up to one hour costs £4.95.

Up to two hours costs £7.90.

Up to three hours costs £9.80.

Up to four hours costs £10.90.

Up to six hours costs £12.80.

The listed daily rate is £18.00. APCOA also lists a weekly season ticket at £68.40, a monthly season ticket at £256.80 and an annual season ticket at £2,666.40.

These charges are useful for comparing short visits with longer stays. A passenger travelling for a few hours pays according to the applicable duration band. A commuter parking regularly can examine the season-ticket options.

Parking tariffs are subject to change. Drivers should check the current APCOA tariff before travelling, particularly when planning a long stay or purchasing a season ticket.

Pre-booking is also available. APCOA provides an online booking facility for Cardiff Central Quay. Advance booking can help passengers plan their parking before reaching Cardiff.

Is Cardiff Central Quay open 24 hours?

Yes. Cardiff Central Quay is listed as open 24 hours, seven days a week. APCOA lists continuous opening from Monday through Sunday, making the facility suitable for early departures, late arrivals, overnight rail journeys and extended parking stays.

The published opening schedule covers every day of the week from midnight to midnight.

This operating pattern is important for passengers using early-morning trains. Cardiff Central has services that operate outside conventional daytime shopping hours, so continuous car-park access supports a broad range of railway journeys.

The 24-hour operation also benefits passengers returning to Cardiff late at night. Drivers do not need to rely on a daytime-only parking facility for an evening or overnight railway journey.

The station itself and its entrances can have different operating arrangements from the car park. Passengers should follow current Transport for Wales instructions when construction works affect access routes.

The car park has lifts and staircases, allowing passengers to move between parking levels and the surrounding pedestrian routes.

How far is Cardiff Central Quay from Cardiff Central Station?

Cardiff Central Quay is immediately adjacent to Cardiff Central Station, but the current pedestrian route is longer than the former routes from the closed Penarth Road and Riverside car parks. Drivers should allow extra time for parking and walking.

The car park sits on the south side of Cardiff Central Station. Its location makes it a practical facility for railway passengers, but the route into the station has changed because of construction activity.

Transport for Wales specifically states that the pedestrian route between Cardiff Central Quay and the southern station entrance is longer than the previous route from the Penarth Road car park.

The exact walking time depends on the parking level, the exit used and temporary pedestrian arrangements.

Station enhancement works can change pedestrian routes around the site. Directional signs therefore take priority over older online maps or previously used walking routes.

Passengers carrying luggage should allow additional time. The same applies to families with children, passengers requiring assistance and people travelling during busy periods.

The station remains accessible, but people who have arranged passenger assistance should follow Transport for Wales guidance for the current accessible route.

Why did the old Cardiff Central Station car parks close?

The former Penarth Road and Riverside car parks closed permanently on 1 July 2026 to support preparatory works for Cardiff Central Station enhancements and Cardiff Crossrail. Cardiff Central Quay replaced them as the nearby principal parking facility.

The closure forms part of a larger redevelopment programme rather than a temporary parking restriction.

The Penarth Road car park was located on the south side of Cardiff Central Station. The Riverside, also known as Fish Jetty, car park stood adjacent to Platform 0.

Transport for Wales confirmed that both facilities permanently closed on Wednesday 1 July 2026. The closures allow preparatory work to proceed for planned improvements to Cardiff Central Station and Cardiff Crossrail.

This distinction matters because older Cardiff parking guides can contain information about facilities that are no longer available.

Search results, historic maps and older travel articles can still reference the former car parks. Drivers should use current Transport for Wales and APCOA information when planning a journey.

The change also affects passenger pick-up and drop-off arrangements. Drivers should not attempt to use the former Riverside or Penarth Road locations for station collection.

Can you drop off or pick up passengers at Cardiff Central Quay?

Yes. Cardiff Central Quay provides a 20-minute free pick-up and drop-off period in its parking bays, except ground-floor spaces reserved for electric vehicles and accessible electric vehicles. The facility also supports private-hire and ride-sharing pick-ups.

The 20-minute arrangement is particularly useful for families, commuters and passengers arriving with luggage.

Transport for Wales states that the 20-minute free period applies in all parking bays at the multi-storey facility, apart from ground-floor spaces designated for electric vehicle and EV-accessible parking.

Drivers should remain within the stated free period. Longer stays are subject to the normal parking tariff.

Passengers with reduced mobility have additional arrangements. Transport for Wales advises passengers who have arranged passenger assistance to use Cardiff Central Quay for accessible pick-up and drop-off and speak to a TfW colleague on arrival.

Ride-sharing services and private-hire vehicles can also use Cardiff Central Quay for pick-up and drop-off under the 20-minute free period.

The taxi arrangement is different. Transport for Wales states that taxi pick-up and drop-off continues at the Saunders Road taxi rank on the north side of the station, except on event days.

Where should taxis pick up passengers from Cardiff Central Station?

The regular taxi pick-up and drop-off point is the Saunders Road taxi rank on the north side of Cardiff Central Station. Cardiff Central Quay is instead used for ride-sharing, private-hire vehicles and accessible pick-up arrangements.

Saunders Road remains the principal taxi location under the current station arrangements.

This distinction prevents confusion between conventional taxis and private-hire or ride-sharing vehicles.

Event days can change the normal taxi arrangement. Cardiff hosts major sporting, entertainment and cultural events throughout the year, creating significant changes in traffic and pedestrian movement around the city centre.

Drivers collecting passengers during major events should follow temporary signage and instructions from transport staff.

Cardiff Central is located in Central Square, an area connected to Cardiff city centre’s major pedestrian routes, bus services and other transport facilities.

Is Cardiff Central Station accessible from the car park?

Cardiff Central Station has step-free access to all platforms, while Cardiff Central Quay provides disabled parking, lifts and accessible facilities. Passengers requiring assistance should use the current accessible route and speak with Transport for Wales staff at the station.

National Rail lists Cardiff Central as a Category A station for accessibility, meaning step-free access is available to all platforms. The station also has lifts and passenger assistance meeting points.

Cardiff Central Quay has 28 disabled parking spaces. The facility also has lifts and staircases connecting the different parking levels.

Transport for Wales specifically directs passengers with reduced mobility who have arranged assistance to use Cardiff Central Quay for accessible parking, pick-up and drop-off.

Construction activity can alter pedestrian routes. Passengers should therefore follow temporary accessibility signs instead of relying solely on historic routes.

Allowing extra time is particularly important when assistance has been pre-arranged. The current station improvement programme is designed to improve accessibility and passenger movement, but construction itself creates temporary route changes.

What facilities does Cardiff Central Quay provide for drivers?

Cardiff Central Quay provides 681 spaces, CCTV, staff patrols, ANPR, lifts, stairs, disabled bays, electric vehicle charging and bicycle facilities. The 24-hour facility supports commuters, visitors, rail passengers and drivers collecting or dropping off passengers.

The facility is designed as more than a basic parking structure.

ANPR supports automated vehicle entry and exit management. CCTV and staff patrols provide security monitoring. Lifts and staircases connect the parking levels with pedestrian access routes.

Electric vehicle users have access to 28 charging spaces. APCOA currently lists the charging tariff at £0.48 per kWh.

Cyclists also have bicycle facilities. This supports multimodal travel, where a passenger combines car travel with rail or cycling.

The multi-storey design is part of the wider Central Quay redevelopment around Cardiff Central. The facility opened in January 2026 as part of the wider regeneration programme.

The car park received attention for its eight-storey design and transport-focused facilities, including electric vehicle charging and bicycle infrastructure.

How does Cardiff Central Station parking fit into the station redevelopment?

Cardiff Central Station is undergoing a major enhancement programme designed to address passenger growth, overcrowding, congestion, accessibility and passenger facilities. The programme is supported by up to £140 million from government and regional funding sources.

Cardiff Central is Wales’s busiest railway station. Transport for Wales describes the enhancement programme as a long-term project intended to make the station more welcoming, accessible and efficient.

The planned works include improvements to customer facilities, pedestrian movement, accessibility and the overall station environment. The programme also supports Cardiff Crossrail development.

Transport for Wales states that the scheme is funded by up to £140 million from the Department for Transport, Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh Government.

The station has an important historical role. Cardiff Central opened in 1850 and is a Grade II listed building. Transport for Wales highlighted 2025 as the station’s 175th anniversary and the wider railway’s 200th anniversary.

The redevelopment explains why parking arrangements have changed. The closure of the former car parks creates space for construction and station improvements while Cardiff Central Quay provides a replacement parking facility.

What should commuters know about long-stay parking near Cardiff Central?

Regular commuters can use Cardiff Central Quay for long stays, with APCOA listing a £18 daily rate and season-ticket options. Weekly, monthly and annual products provide alternatives for passengers who park frequently for rail journeys.

Long-stay users should compare the daily charge with season-ticket costs.

APCOA currently lists a weekly season ticket at £68.40. The monthly season ticket is £256.80, while the annual season ticket is £2,666.40.

A commuter travelling on most weekdays should calculate the total number of parking days against the available season-ticket products.

Pre-booking is also available through APCOA. Advance booking can be useful when a passenger wants to confirm parking arrangements before travelling.

The 24-hour opening period also supports early and late railway schedules.

Commuters should allow extra time during peak periods. Cardiff Central is a major interchange, and station construction can affect pedestrian movement and road access.

The most reliable approach is to check the current parking information before each journey, especially when travelling during major Cardiff events or periods of significant station works.

Is overnight parking available near Cardiff Central Station?

Cardiff Central Quay operates 24 hours and provides long-stay parking, making it suitable for overnight rail journeys. APCOA lists a daily tariff of £18, with longer-term season-ticket options for regular users.

The continuous operating schedule means drivers can enter and leave the facility outside normal daytime hours.

Overnight parking is relevant to passengers catching early trains, returning after late services or leaving Cardiff for more than one day.

The applicable tariff depends on the length of the stay and the payment arrangement. APCOA’s published daily rate is £18.00.

Drivers should check the precise booking period when using pre-booked parking. The ANPR system records vehicle movements, so drivers should follow the instructions associated with their booking or parking session.

Passengers returning late should also consider the current pedestrian route between the car park and station. Transport for Wales advises allowing additional time because routes around the station are affected by construction.

What should visitors know about parking during Cardiff events?

Event days can increase traffic, parking demand and pedestrian activity around Cardiff Central. Drivers should allow extra time, use the designated Central Quay facility and follow temporary signs because taxi and rail-replacement arrangements can change during major events.

Cardiff hosts concerts, sporting fixtures, cultural events and festivals throughout the year. Visit Cardiff maintains an events programme covering entertainment, sports, culture and other city activities.

Event traffic affects roads around Central Square and surrounding city-centre streets.

Drivers travelling to Cardiff Central on event days should avoid relying on normal journey times. Parking queues, pedestrian restrictions and temporary road controls can increase the time needed to reach the station.

Transport for Wales specifically notes that taxi arrangements differ on event days. Rail-replacement services also use a designated location outside 3 Callaghan Square, near the junction of Penarth Road and West Canal Wharf, under the current arrangement.

The best approach is to check Transport for Wales travel information before departure and follow temporary traffic signs.

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What is the best parking option for Cardiff Central Station?

For most drivers, Cardiff Central Quay is the primary parking option because it is next to the station, operates 24 hours and provides 681 spaces, accessible bays, EV charging, security systems and short-stay and long-stay payment options.

The key change is that the old Penarth Road and Riverside station car parks are permanently closed.

Cardiff Central Quay now provides the principal nearby parking solution. Its 681 spaces provide significantly more capacity than a small surface facility, while its 24-hour operation supports a wide range of rail journeys.

The facility also supports different travel needs. Short visits can use the hourly tariffs. Longer stays can use the daily rate. Frequent commuters can consider season tickets. Electric vehicle users have dedicated charging spaces. Passengers with accessibility requirements have dedicated disabled parking spaces.

The main practical issue is the changed walking route. Transport for Wales advises passengers to allow additional time when walking between the multi-storey car park and the station.

Drivers should therefore plan parking as part of the complete railway journey rather than treating the car park as a separate stop.

What should you check before parking near Cardiff Central Station?

Before travelling, check the current APCOA tariff, opening information, station access arrangements and Transport for Wales construction updates. Confirm the correct car park because the former Riverside and Penarth Road facilities are permanently closed.

Parking information around Cardiff Central is changing because the station enhancement programme remains active.

The most important checks are the current car park location, tariff, booking requirements, accessibility route and event-day arrangements.

APCOA provides current information for Cardiff Central Quay, including its 681-space capacity, tariffs, opening hours, facilities and pre-booking service.

Transport for Wales provides current station information and construction updates. These updates are particularly important because pedestrian routes, rail-replacement arrangements and access points can change as works progress.

National Rail provides station-level information, including accessibility, parking capacity and transport connections.

For a normal rail journey, the current process is straightforward: drive to Cardiff Central Quay, park according to the applicable tariff or booking, follow the signed pedestrian route to Cardiff Central Station and allow additional time for the current construction-related walking arrangements.

Cardiff Central’s parking system is therefore centred on Cardiff Central Quay rather than the former station car parks. This is the key fact drivers need when planning journeys from Cardiff’s main railway station.