On 15th September 2006 Suffolk County Council provided a table containing details of the minor parking sites within the county. This can be download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from Here.
Suffolk County Council have parking details/links for the county on their web site.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
While reading the small print at some parks in Suffolk, was pleased to see no charges during winter months. They don't make it obvious though! (Many thanks to BD for this information, received 31 January 2008).
On 13th March 2009, a request was sent to Suffolk County Council asking if it was possible to park a motorhome at the P&R sites in the county.
On 19th March 2009, the council replied:
All three sites (in the Ipswich Park & Ride scheme), London Road, Bury Road and Martlesham will allow motorhomes to park on site if the bus service is being used. To allow for barriers to be raised the patrons will have to contact the site before arrival.
If using the park and ride service (i.e. to travel to another part of the county or beyond and return the next day) the parking ticket is valid for 24 hrs from the time of purchase but no camping (sleeping or eating in the vehicle) is allowed.
There is a P&R web site Here which has contact details.
Babergh
On 11th December 2007 Babergh District Council confirmed that it does not have specific information for motorhomes but does have general information regarding car parks on its web site Here.
Forest Heath
Forest Heath District Council provided the following information on 12th September 2006:
1 Height restrictions at 6'9" (2 meters) operate on all car parks except the Market Square, Church Lane, Rous Road and Grosvenor Yard car parks in Newmarket.
2 Vehicles are required to park in bays
3 No provision for toilet or waste disposal
4 No specific spaces aimed at motorhomes or caravans
5 Car parks are open 24 hrs, there is no specific ban on overnight parking, however some car parks in Newmarket (Rous Road, Market square and Rookery Multi story) are restricted to a maximum stay of 3 hrs.
6 Access from the High street to Grosvenor Yard car park in Newmarket would be difficult for a caravan or motorhome, but access to the same car park via Fitzroy Street is not restricted.
Forest Heath District Council have more information regarding car parks on their web site Here.
On 13th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council provided the following information:
Forest Heath has a number of public car parks but these would be unsuitable for motorhomes due to the height barriers 6’2” in most cases. The following car parks do not currently have height barriers but they would also be unsuitable for a motorhome as they are tight for access:- Church Lane/Turner Hall/St Marys, Newmarket; Rous Road, Newmarket; Grosvenor Yard, Newmarket (access to this car park via Fitzroy Street is not restricted and is to the same car park).
Vehicles are required to park within a bay and will be subject to an excess charge notice if parked out of a bay (if you were to purchase two tickets for the vehicles and display you would not receive an excess charge notice). All the car parks in Newmarket have charges which apply – for details please see the council's web site Here.
Mildenhall, Brandon and Lakenheath do not have car park charges.
Market Square, Newmarket is expected to close the end of April/May for re-development.
We currently have no restrictions for overnight parking/sleeping/eating accept at the short stay car parks:- Rous Road and The Guineas.
The council website has location plans of the car parks at Newmarket Here. On the webpage there is a list on the right hand side of subjects covered.
Ipswich
On 22nd August 2006, Suffolk County Council reported that Ipswich Borough Council were very helpful when asked for information previously. Their Cattle Market car park (car park P3 on the online map - see below) has no height or space restrictions.
On 28th September 2006, Ipswich Borough Council provided the following information:
Information regarding Height restrictions, Requirements for parking within bay confines, overnight parking and restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances is on the council's web site. Choose the 'Car Parking Tariffs' and 'Regulations, Statistics and Other Information' options from the link given below. Some of the information is in the Parking Orders accessible from the "Regulations" page (especially Schedule 1 of the Off Street Order).
There are toilets at the Crown multi-storey car park but no toilets at any other car park site and no car park site has waste disposal facilities.
Ipswich Borough Council have no spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans.
Ipswich Borough Council have information regarding car parks on their web site Here.
On 27th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided the following information:
All the recorded information we have available regarding parking for motorhomes is available on the Ipswich Borough Council website (see link above).
Overnight camping is prohibited in all of the council-owned carparks.
See top of page for Ipswich P&R Scheme.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Ipswich
1) We tend to use P&R (where possible) on our travels and I thought a link to the Ipswich P&R sites might be useful for other motorhomers. Information is on the Suffolk County Council web site Here. Although I can't see anything on the website I understand that the one at Martlesham now has height barriers. (Thanks to MC for this information, received on 26 April 2007).
2) Tesco, A14/A12 Copdock - medium vans, trailers in lorry park. Sainsburys (east) - small trailers in Homebase park. Truckstop, A14 Nacton. All have fuel & cafe. (Thanks to MK for this information, received on 28 October 2007).
3) Park & Ride. There are three around Town: Bury Road nr Asda on the A14 - Height barrier; Martlesham on A12 - Height barrier; Copdock @ Tesco - No height barrier and MH are welcome as per Suffolk County Council today.
Other places to consider: Morrisons or the estate opposite @ Sproughton off A14, No height restrictions; Asda off A14, No height restrictions; Tesco Copdock, there is a barrier but it is not always in operation; Sainsberry @ Warren Heath, Hard to get into but no restrictions.
Avoid the Town Centre as there is parking but not recommended at all. If anyone wants to try the best place are the 2/3 roads off A137 Wherstead Road on your RIGHT coming in from the A14. Its about 5-10 mins wander in.
(Thanks to AJP for this information, received on 17 October 2008).
4) Thanks very much to AJP for providing the following information on 3 March 2009:
Information from Ipswich Council on 24 February 2009:
Further to our recent discussions, I have discussed your request to allow Motorhomes to park overnight on the Old Cattlemarket car park in Portman Road with Councillor **** ****. It has been agreed that the Council will allow for such parking, Monday to Friday nights, with parking allowed after 6pm each evening up until 8am the next morning at a cost of £6 per night. It has further been decided that this agreement will be for a six month experiment (March - August 2009). This will allow for the suitability of this temporary arrangement to be assessed on both sides. I am sure that you will endeavour to make sure that your members do not abuse this facility by indulging in some of the unsatisfactory toiletting activities that I discussed with you when we met. I trust this experiment will meet with your approval. I will endeavour to make contact with you again in around 5 months time in order that we can both review the success or otherwise of the experiment. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Notes from AJP:
Post Code IP1 2DA is the closest I can get. (GJH note - there is an entry for the Cattlemarket car park in the PoI set).
Directions A14 - A1214 - Over Traffic Lights @ Hotel; Take right hand lane (avoiding Bus Lane); Down Hill; Over 1st set of lights; Take right hand lane; Turn right at the next traffic lights by the BMW garage; Take 1st Left Portman Walk; Go past the Football Ground; The entrance is in front of you.
To walk into the Town Centre: Simply go out the poedestrian entrance (the opposite way to you came in); Under the underpass and within 200 yards you are in the Centre of Town
5) Thanks very much to Olley for providing the following extra information about the Cattlemarket car park on 4 March 2009:
The route suggested down Portman Walk is banned to all but buses & HGVs between the hours of 7.30pm to 3am. To access the park between these times stay on the main road after the BMW garage until you come to the one way system, at the first set of lights turn left, then bear left again after 100 yards and the car park is on your right. The car park also doubles as an overnight lorry park but there are no marked spaces for lorries. All the spaces are marked for cars so you will have to straddle 2-4 of them OK at night but not sure about doing this during the day, you might get a ticket. Its £4.40 for all day parking so £10.40 per 24 hours. As I was going into town to day I stopped off and took some pics.
Nacton
We allow Motorhomes and Caravans to park on our Lorry Park, The Orwell Crossing. A 24 hour price of £14, inc £3 meal voucher and one Shower. The lorry park has a web site Here. (Thanks to K for this information, received on 23 May 2009).
Mid Suffolk
On 22nd August 2006, the Council provided the following information:
There is no recorded information that directly answers your questions and there is a lot of information about our car parks already in the public domain.
What I have done is started with the location information of the car parks from our Mid Suffolk mapping area of our web site and made up a spreadsheet from this to which I added what information I personally know from my own local knowledge about them which I hope answers the questions you have asked.
The spreadsheet can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from Here.
The Council also stated:
Where charges are imposed, if a vehicle takes up more than one space the additional space(s) need to be paid for.
There are no dedicated motor home spaces.
Not aware of any height barrier restrictions or difficult access to any of the car parks.
Mid Suffolk District Council has, on 4 March 2004, pursuant to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 Section 35, made "The Mid Suffolk District Council (Off-Street Parking Places) Order number 10". This order bans overnight use of vehicles at all MSDC sites. A copy of the Order is available for inspection at the Council's Offices, or at the Cashier's Office, Wilkes Way, Stowmarket, during normal office opening hours. The Order came into effect on 1 April 2004
On 10th December 2007, in response to a follow-up request, the Council confirmed that the above information had not changed.
Mid Suffolk Council used to have further parking details on their web site but they had been removed last time it was checked.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Stowmarket
1) Park at Asda but use the section opposite the store as there is more room. We managed to park our Bessacar E540 without problem. Only snag is that you have a maximum of 4 hours parking with no return but ample as it is not a large place. (Thanks to PG for this information, received on 24 July 2007).
2) Tesco - large car park; has fuel & cafe. (Thanks to MK for this information, received on 28 October 2007).
3) Tesco, Stowmarket no longer has a restaurant. It has been replaced by "Costa" coffee bar so no hot meals at discount prices. (Thanks to MK for this information, received on 22 November 2007).
St Edmundsbury
St Edmundsbury Borough Council provided the following information on 7th September 2006:
1. The following car parks have height restrictions:
Bury St Edmunds: Ram Meadow, St Andrews Street North, St Andrews Street South, Prospect Row, Parkway MSCP, Risbygate Street, Lower Baxter Street;
Haverhill: Ehringshausen Way, Town Hall.
2. Vehicles parked out of bays will be issued with excess charge notices unless they purchase 2 tickets.
3. There are toilets situated close to the Ram Meadow and St Andrews Street South car parks in Bury St Edmunds.
4. Five spaces are being created specifically for motor homes at the Ram Meadow former coach park. This work should be completed by mid September.
5. There is no ban on overnight parking but access to the St Andrews North and Parkway surface car parks is restricted at night.
6. There is no restriction caused by narrow access but the Lower Baxter Street car park is small and has limited room to manoeuvre.
Update 29 October 2006. The spaces at Ram Meadow car park are now open.
On 2nd April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council provided updated information:
Motorhomes can be parked at the following off street car parks during caytime - Ram Meadow annexe in the specialist motor-home bays provided (normal charges apply); Parkway Surface car park; St Andrews; Manor House; Hardwick Heath; Bury St Edmunds. Leisure Centre, Haverhill. We allow vehicles to occupy more than one space if a pay and display ticket is purchased for each space used.
The following off street daytime car parks are height restricted: Cattle Market; Olding Road, Parkway MSCP, main Ram Meadow site; Bury St Edmunds Annexe to Town Hall car park and Meadow car park Haverhill.
The following sites we would advise against motorhome use because of restricted space: Robert Boby Way; Lower Baxter Street; Bury St Ehringhausen Way, Haverhill.
The following site is short stay restricted - Lower Downs Slade, Haverhill.
We are happy for Motorhomes to stay for one night only in the specialist motor-home bays at the Ram Meadow annexe site but do not allow sleeping or eating outside the vehicle, all sleeping/eating must be contained within the vehicle.
Public toilets near car parks: Ram Meadow (7am to 6pm); Bus Station (8am to 6pm); Hardwick Heath (8.30 till dusk); Nelson Road (M,T,Thur,Fri 7.30 to 6pm; Weds, Sat 7am to 60m; Sun Sam to 5pm) Haverhill; Jubilee Walk, (M,T,W 8am to 7pm; Th, Fri 8am to 8pm; Sat 8am to 6pm; Sun 9am to 3pm).
St Edmundsbury Borough Council have more information regarding car parks on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Bury St Edmunds
Tescos - crowded, no large vans. Sainsburys - usually room for vans, not trailers (Lorry park 1/4 mile). Both supermarkets have fuel & cafe. (Thanks to MK for this information, received on 28 October 2007).
Suffolk Coast
Suffolk Coastal District Council initially responded to the original request for information on 29th August 2006 and subsequently (on 13th March 2007) provided a spreadsheet listing car parks in Felixstowe together with grid references and whether or not they can be used by motorhomes.
On 4th March 2008, the council provided updated information without waiting to be asked - well done Suffolk Coastal Council:
Following our correspondence last year I thought I'd make you aware of some changes to parking in our district for you to pass on to your members should you so wish.
Here is a link to our website and the area that explains the changes to permitted vehicles and charges effective 1 April 2008.
You'll see there is a column in the schedule that states whether motorhomes are permitted and if so, what charges apply. There are also maps of all the car parks (charged and free) so may be helpful.
Suffolk Coastal District Council have further information regarding car parking on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Before parking (especially overnight) check the schedule on the council web site (link above). Use of car parks by motorhomes may have changed since some of the following contributions were received. Suffolk Coastal District Council have been more helpful than many in providing information - and in providing parking places - so please don't abuse the facilities.
Aldeburgh
1) We did successfully stay in a council car park at Thorpeness N52 10' 39.1" E1 30' 49.6" in Suffolk Coastal by careful selection of the starting time as only a set number of hours were allowed.
Nearby at Sizewell N52 12'31.4" E1 37' 16.8" it is also OK to stay in a car park right on the sea front complete with public toilet. But there is the
noise of the power station right next door.
Aldeburgh was healthier at Slaughden quay N52 8' 25.3" E1 35' 55.3" between the sea and the river where there were many motorhomes lined up at no charge and again a public toilet nearby.
(Thanks to HG for this information, received on 18 March 2007).
2) Parking at Aldeburgh on the sea wall near the boatyard is a superb base to visit the town, but you do need to get there early, as the places seem to fill quickly on sunny days, even at this time of year. (Thanks to MO for this information, received on 1 May 2008).
3) As I live locally and have recently acquired a new motorhome I enquired about parking in Aldeburgh (Suffolk). Please see the following message I received from the Aldeburgh TIC regarding parking on the sea wall. This facility has recently been withdrawn after complaints about waste disposal in the sea and general littering so now wardens are patrolling regularly and issueing penalty notices. There is free parking (currently) on Slaughden Quay below the sea wall beside the yacht club - no facilities except rubbish bin.
"Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, I can confirm that motorhomes will no longer be allowed to park on the sea wall at Slaughden. However, during the day you are still more than welcome to park on the lower level at Slaughden if you wish. Overnight parking is now banned after discussion between Suffolk Coastal District Council and Aldeburgh Town Council. If you do wish to stay overnight then this facility is available at Church Farm Caravan Park in Aldeburgh and their contact number is 01728-453433."
(Thanks to JB for this information, received on 1 July 2008).
4) Just returned from East Anglia and have an update for you re Aldeburgh. Parking on the streets is nearly all Linear Parking so if your van fits into the lined spaces on the road you are ok to park as long as you display time of arrival on windscreen you have 2 hours in any section this includes the main street of Aldeburgh. (Thanks to JE for this information, received on 22 July 2010).
Bawdsey
Position 52 0 30 N 1 25 56 E; 20-ish spaces; No height restriction; Bays not marked; Free Parking. (Thanks to DO for this information, received on 5 November 2007).
Bawdsey Quay
Position 51 59 33 N 1 23 45 E; ********Height restriction of 2.3m******; Bays not marked; Free Parking. (Thanks to DO for this information, received on 5 November 2007).
Dunwich
There is a very large open car park with a popular cafe next to the beach and the marshes at Dunwich. There are no marked bays. People using the car park are asked to make donations to Dunwich Church. (Thanks to MH for providing this information on 6 October 2009).
Dunwich Heath
This is National Trust property on the Suffolk Coast a few miles south of Southwold and adjacent to Minsmere RSPB nature reserve (but not the official entrance for those wishing to visit the reserve). There are lovely walks from the car park - coastal, heathland or woodland, with no height restrictions or marked bays, but there is a charge of £12 for motor homes! (Thanks to MH for providing this information on 6 October 2009).
Felixstowe
1) Location 51.56.38.8 N, 1.19.48.8 E (midway between the pier and Landguard Nature Reserve - not to be confused with the parking further south at Landguard Fort (of which I do not have any experience, but will investigate next time I'm in Felixstowe)). Free Parking (out of season) and no indication of charges in season. There are no height restrictions, about 60 places and Public Toilets. This is the car park on the spreadsheet supplied by the council which is labelled "Landguard (Manor Terrace)". (Thanks to DO for this information, received on 27 October 2007). Update from DO on 7 November 2007 - there is a weight restriction of 3.5 tons.
2) Landguard Nature Reserve 51 56 22.4 N 1 19 20.4 E; No height restriction; Capacity 10-ish; Bays are not defined; Parking free. (Thanks to DO for this information, received on 7 November 2007).
3) Felixstowe Ferry. Map Co-ordinates 632925E 237631N (N51:59:18 E1:23:28). Located Town side of Golf Course and Club House. 3.5 ton limit. Free winter, small cost summer (£3-4). Masses of room to play/park. Fantastic Sea Views 50 yards from beach. Walk to Felistowe Ferry complete with Cafe & Two Pubs even take a trip to Bawsdey. Watch kite surfers. Officially no overnight parking. No height barriers. (Thanks to AJP for this information, received on 28 February 2008).
4) An update to the footnote about Manor Terrace and Clifflands carparks in Felixstowe. Having looked at the Suffolk Council Information, I decided to go and look at each of the carparks mentioned as allowing motorhomes to park. I found that in all cases there was a weight restriction of 3.5 tons. I then went to the Tourist Information Office and asked if they knew of anywhere it was possible to park our van - weighing 5 tons. They were very helpful and called the council representative. He arrived and took all the relevant information and promised to get in touch when he knew more.
Yesterday I was contacted by an officer (MG) who had really done his homework - he had checked what a motorhome was defined as and what a van registered as a Private Heavy Goods actually was. He told me that although we do weigh more than the limit on the board, we could park at both of the above carparks. I am delighted to endorse your pat on the back for Suffolk Coastal District and for MG and the ladies of the Tourist Information Board for their efforts on my behalf. I hope that this information will be of help to those members who like us are over the stated weight limit of these carparks. The ban on overnight parking is still in place. (Thanks to RS for this information, received on 30 April 2008).
Orford
We found a large park on the left hand side as you approach the quay. It's mostly sectioned off with white lines, but there is a large area to the rear which is unlined and maybe meant for coaches. However, there is no indication either as you enter this area, or where you buy your ticket from that this is the case and several motorhomes were parked here in plenty of space. (Thanks to MO for this information, received on 1 May 2008).
Woodbridge
1) The Station Road car park is the only one that allows motorhomes, though the spaces are small and you may overhang into the roadway if you have a coachbuilt. (Thanks to TW for providing this information on 7 February 2007 - "Personally 'tested' within the last 3 years. Like anything else, changes may have taken place since my visit and charges WILL have risen!").
2) Station Road Car Park, as previously mentioned, which is on the left of the main road through the town and is immediately after Adnams Wine Cellar & Kitchen Store. Go through on the RHS and through to the section at the back of the community centre. On the RHS of this area you can overhang onto the grass and the bays are quite wide. We have a Bessacar E540 and managed to park in one bay this way. They welcome motorhomes and parking is £1 for 4 hours or £1.50 all day, vehicles up to 3500kg only. Public loos there and only minutes from the town centre. Lovely Restaurant called Waterside next to the Old Mill. (Thanks to PG for providing this information on 24 July 2007).
3) We easily found the Station Car Park, but it was very busy and we didn't notice the larger bays mentioned. Manouvering wouldn't have been easy in the confined space. However, if you don't mind walking a short distance, (5 minutes ?), the adjoining village of Melton has a very wide main street with no restrictions in parking apart from nearer to the traffic lights in Woodbridge. (Thanks to MO for this information, received on 1 May 2008).
4) Woodbridge, Suffolk. No parking allowed…specifically banned… anywhere that we could find in car parks for Motorhomes. Narrow streets mean problems for you and others…so my advice…do not go there. (Thanks to ES for providing this information on 14 October 2009).
Shingle Street
Position 52 2 03 N 1 27 06 E; 10-ish spaces; No height restriction; Bays not marked; Free Parking. (Thanks to DO for this information, received on 5 November 2007).
Sutton Heath South
Position 52 4 40 N 1 21 52 E; No height restriction; Bays not marked; Free Parking. (Thanks to DO for this information, received on 5 November 2007).
Waveney
Waveney District Council provided the following information on 7th September 2006:
1. The only car park with height restrictions is the North Denes Car Park in Lowestoft.
2. There is no requirement for motorists to purchase two tickets for vehicles that overhang the bay. The Traffic Road Order states all vehicles must park within marked bays. There is discretion used for larger vehicles, like motor homes. HGV's are not permitted to park on our car parks except for the Belvedere Road Car Park in Lowestoft and Quay North Car Park in Beccles. Larger spaces are available.
3. There are no provisions for toilet and waste disposal within the car parks.
4. No provision specifically for motor homes and caravans. Only HGV parking - see section 2.
5. There is a ban on over night parking on all our car parks including free sites, except for those covered above in section 2.
6. Any large vehicle trying to negotiate into our car parks could have trouble getting on or off the car park except for those mentioned above in section 2.
On 11th March 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the council confirmed that the information is still current.
Waveney District Council have further information regarding car parking on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Lowestoft
1) There is a car park with no barriers or markings at South Beach. Overlooks beach and promenade into town. Cost was £2 for the day. There was also scope to park at the kerb outside the car park - but the view was worth the fee! (Thanks to MM for this information, received on 13 July 2008).
2) There is a web site Here which gives details of free parking available in Lowestoft. Some is suitable only for cars (height restrictions) but some may well be suitable for motorhomes. (Thanks to M for this information, received on 14 February 2009).
Southwold
1) Found good car park at SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK. Just outside the town adjacent to the Lifeboat Museum. Large area with no barriers or marked bays. Over 4 hour cost was £2.75 - not bad as its right beside the beach! 15 minute walk to town along seafront. (Thanks to MM for this information, received on 12 July 2008).
2) There is a large car park adjacent to the Pier, with overflow space and areas without marked bays where motorhomes park. Car park charges apply April to October. There is easy access to the beach, and a few minutes walk along the prom to the town. (Thanks to MH for providing this information on 6 October 2009).
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Last updated: 22 July 2010