Where to Park in Totnes: A Visitor’s Guide
Totnes is small but its road layout is medieval. Fore Street and the High Street climb steeply through a narrow conservation area, the side streets are mostly residents-only, and on a Saturday in summer the queue for a space can move slowly. The good news is that there are plenty of car parks within five minutes of the town centre. The trick is knowing which one suits your day.
This is a plain visitor’s guide to where to park, what it costs and when to avoid each spot.
The town centre car parks
Most of the public car parks in Totnes are run by South Hams District Council. There are four you should know.
Civic Hall (Castle Street)
The most central. Sits behind the Civic Hall, two minutes walk to the Market Square. Mix of short and long stay bays, pay-and-display, and you can also pay through PayByPhone. The obvious choice if you have shopping to do, you are eating in town, or you have older legs in the group. Limited spaces though, so it fills up early on a Saturday.
North Street
Long stay, slightly further up the hill behind the High Street. Charging starts at 8am. This is the right car park for a full day in town, a long walk down to the river, or visitors who want to park, walk, and not move the car. Often has space when the Civic Hall is full.
Heath Way (Coronation Road / Steamer Quay area)
The riverside option, down near the boatyards and Steamer Quay. Right for anyone catching a Dartmouth river boat, walking the Longmarsh path, or starting a Dart Valley Trail walk south. Five minutes uphill back to the High Street.
Pavilions / Borough Park
Behind the Pavilions leisure centre on the Plymouth Road side of town. Useful for visitors arriving from the west who want to park before they reach the town centre and walk in.
What it costs
South Hams District Council reviewed parking fees in early 2025 and the rates have risen since. As a rough guide, expect to pay around £1 to £1.50 per hour for the central car parks, with daily long-stay rates around £8 to £10. Civic Hall is at the higher end because of its location, North Street is generally cheaper for a full day, and prices are subject to change so always check the meter or the South Hams District Council website for the current tariff.
PayByPhone runs in all the council car parks, which means you can extend your stay from a pub without going back to the car. Worth setting up before you arrive.
Where not to park
Most of the side streets immediately around the town centre are part of a residents-only scheme and ticket-issuing patrols are regular. The High Street itself has short on-street bays with strict time limits during the day. Disabled bays exist on Fore Street and near the Civic Hall, also with time limits.
Outside the controlled hours, normally before 8am and after 6pm, on-street spaces become available, but during the daytime they are not a realistic plan.
Free parking, sort of
There is no significant free car park in central Totnes. The closest free option is along some of the lanes towards Bridgetown on the east side of the river, but they are residential, slow to walk in from and not always reliable. Visitors who want to avoid charges sometimes park at Dartington, walk in via the meadows path and the river bridge, and use a Dartington Estate ticket for the day. It is a thirty-minute walk each way and only really works in fine weather.
Where to park for specific things
To catch the steam train
The South Devon Railway runs from Totnes Riverside, which is across the footbridge from the main-line station. There is a small car park at the heritage station itself, and you can also use the main-line station car park (managed by APCOA, with day rates from around £5).
To catch the Dartmouth river boat
Use Heath Way / Steamer Quay. The boats leave from Steamer Quay itself.
For the Saturday market
Civic Hall if you arrive before 9.30am. Otherwise North Street, and walk down through the side streets.
For a Dartington visit
The Dartington Estate has its own car park (paid, ticket includes garden entry). If you are doing the full day, park there rather than in Totnes.
For a Sharpham walk
Heath Way is the closest if you are walking out. If you are driving to Ashprington itself, the village has a small lane car park near the pub.
Campervans and motorhomes
The town centre car parks are not suitable for large vehicles. Heights are restricted and bays are tight. The dedicated motorhome and campervan provision is at Steamer Quay’s overnight area, which has been used for years and works on a small overnight fee basis. Outside Totnes, there are several certified locations and small campsites within ten minutes that offer purpose-built pitches.
The simple rule
Arrive before 10am on a Saturday in summer and you will get into Civic Hall. After that, head straight to North Street, save yourself the loop, and enjoy the walk down. Park once, walk the rest. Totnes rewards visitors who are happy to use their legs for half a day.