Where to park in Keswick
Whether you’re planning a hike, bike ride or stroll by the lakeshore, here’s a handy guide on where to park in Keswick.
National Trust Car Parks
There are a number of National Trust car parks in the nearby Borrowdale Valley; every car parking ticket sold helps to support National Trust conservation work to care for paths, gates, stiles and wildlife in the Lake District. Day tickets can be purchased which can be used across all Borrowdale and Buttermere National Trust car parks if you’re travelling around that day. Pay by Phone is available at most of these car parks. National Trust members can park for free.
Great Wood Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
Ideal starting point for walking the circular route around Derwetwater and visiting Calfclose Bay.
Ashness Bridge Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
A small car park with around 15 spaces, it is the most popular spot to park visiting Ashness Bridge.
Surprise View Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
A small pay and display car park with around 15 spaces right beside the main viewpoint for Surprise View.
Watendlath Car park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
A large car park with around 45 spaces and the main base for exploring Watendlath including Watnedlath Tarn. The road to the car park is very windy and narrow but has many passing places.
Kettlewell Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
A small car park on the shores of Derwentwater that is popularly used as a starting base for water-sports such as canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Bowder Stone Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
A large car park with around 60 spaces acting as a starting point for the footpath to the attraction of the Bowder Stone.
Rosthwaite Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
A popular car park in the village of Rosthwaite around 6 miles south of Keswick. A great base for walks along the river Derwent.
Seatoller Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
The biggest National Trust car park in the area nestled at the end of Borrowdale before Honister Pass. It has toilets and a bus stop where the 78 bus to Keswick turns round for its return journey.
Honister Pass Car Park
Up to 2 hours- £4.50, up to 4 hours- £6.50, all day ticket- £7.50.
The highest National Trust car park at 350m, this is a beautiful base for gaining some height before starting a mountain walk.
Allerdale Borough Council Car Parks
All council car parks operate a Pay and Display system. If you are a large vehicle or motorhome, you may have to pay for two bays if you cover more than one.
Parking charges for the long stay car parks below include: Up to 2 hours £3.40, up to 3 hours £5.70, up to 6 hours £8.00. Short stay car park charges include: up to 30 minutes £0.60, up to 1 hour £1.70, Up to 2 hours £3.40, up to 3 hours £5.70. All these car parks are within walking distance of Keswick town centre.
Otley Road Long Stay Car Park
Bell Close Short Stay Car Park
Central Long Stay Car Park
Lakeside Long Stay Car Park
Derwent Long Stay Car Park
Keswick Rugby Club Car Park, Crow Park Road
A locally operated car park run by Keswick Rugby Club, Keswick Rugby Club Car Park has over 200 spaces and is £4 all day and includes overnight parking. Funds go towards the running of the club with car owners who park here receiving a 15% Keswick Launch discount voucher for launch services that day.
Crosthwaite Road Car Park
A locally operated car park run by Keswick Football Club, Croswaite Road Car Park charge a flat rate of £3 all day for cars and £6 all day for campervans. Funds go towards running the football club. This is the cheapest car park in Keswick and is around a 10 minutes walk to town by the river.
Rawnsley Centre Car Park
1 hour- £1, 2 hours £3, 4 hours- £6, All day- £10
A long stay car park with a capacity of 150 spaces and 4 disabled spaces. The car park is a very short distance from the town centre.
On Street Disc Parking
Disc Zones offer free, time-limited parking on some of Keswick’s streets. Discs are available in local shops and from on street locations including Station Street and Station Road. Hotels on main streets with limited parking often offer guests street discs.