Public Parking near Bath

We stayed at a B&B and took the bus into town rather than drive and park. If you look at Google maps you’ll notice a couple car parks along the river on the south side of town and also a couple on the north side of town. Is you intend on visiting during the main tourist season, parking could be an issue since Bath is a favorite tourist destination. Try to pick a hotel with its own parking, even if it isn’t free, so you’re pretty much guaranteed a parking spot. Or, stay outside of the historic center.

We spent three nights in Bath in a B and B and loved it. Parking is hard to find. There was a public parking area behind us. I suggest that you do a search on the internet for public parking in Bath.

When in Bath , I have used this car park , quite large and an easy stroll into the center -https://www.google.com/maps/place/Charlotte+Street+Car+Park/@51.3839174,-2.3692379,17.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48718115a9ea0bbd:0xe7b5a1346134194e!8m2!3d51.3842417!4d-2.3666954

Thank you...We have reserved a room at the Apex City of Bath Hotel in mid August. There is a public parking lot nearby, but I am worried it might be full. Maybe we change our reservation to a place outside the city that has free parking. I see many hotels that offer free parking, but sometimes that only means on a first come first serve basis.

We had no difficulty finding parking in one of several car parks in Bath. We visited last June. It was just a short walk to the Roman Baths, etc. I’m sorry that I can’t remember the exact name/address.

Do these public parking lots let you leave your cars overnight?

Bath is fill of narrow streets - well, it is old! The roads into Bath can be congested. If staying outside of Bath, I suggest you use the nearest Park & Ride to the direction from which you are coming. (A P&R is a place with a large car park on the outskirts from which shuttle buses will take you to the centre. It is not suitable for overnight parking - which is probably banned). Downtown parking will be expensive. https://travelwest.info/park-ride/bath

Be sure that you know the best way to reach Snowdonia - and the part of Snowdonia where you are staying as it covers quite an area.

We found a B&B called "The Kennard" that provides their guests with parking permits which cover the on-street residential area of Zone 01. I'm I right to assume that even with a permit we still might not find a place to park on the street?

James: What is the best way to get to Snowdonia? We will be staying in Penmaenmawr.. please don't ask me how to pronounce it. :)

So, it is Bath to Penmaenmawr! Basically you have a choice of 3 routes. The first thing you need to do is get out of Bath = take A46 N to the M4 (M=Motorway = Interstate in American). Then M4 west towards the Severn bridges. Now, if you want to stay on motorways all the way, you need to take the M5 going NE up to Birmingham and then the M6 going north. You will finally see a route going west to become the A55 expressway along the north Wales coast to Penmaenmawr. (Chester is well worth a stop). Anyway, the trouble with this route is that it can be a bit boring and jams can happen - especially around Birmingham. However, it does have the best quality roads.

The second possible route is to cross the Severn on the M48 bridge and come off at the first junction on the Welsh side and take the A466. This has the advantage of taking you up the scenic lower Wye Valley - see the ruins of Tintern Abbey. (The road is very bendy).
Anyway- continue north passing Monmouth and on to Hereford (which can get congested). The A49 going N - stop at LUDLOW - real ye olde world England. About 1 mile N of Ludlow - visit STOKESAY CASTLE (on left). Then continue N on A49 - skirting Shrewsbury - A5 and then A483 towards Chester to join A55 expressway.

The 3rd possible route (& most scenic) is to cross the Severn on the M4 bridge and leave M4 at J24 (just E of Newport) and take A449 expressway to RAGLAN (which has a ruined CASTLE - but be careful on exit to carefully follow signs to get back on westbound A40 towards Abergavenny) - zoom down on map that follows to see road configuration at Raglan). A40 expressway to Abergavenny - be careful at confusing double roundabout south of town. Then A40 to Crickhowell - turning R onto A479 just N of town. (Visit TRETOWER COURT)? Continue on A479 through the Black Mountains and then follow signs at Talgarth for A470 to Builth Wells. Stay on A470 all the way to Llandudno Junction and proceed west to Penmaenmawr.

It is quite a long haul from Bath to Penmaenmawr. To be honest, it would have been better to have spent the night somewhere mid way and made more of seeing places en-route. Please use the map that follows and zoom down on the routes mentioned at various points to see the roads on street view. This will help you determine which route you think is right for you.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.3596566,-3.2439946,8.5z/data=!5m1!1e1
You can check out driving times for the routes here:> http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp

PS. When staying at Penmaenmawr, from the nearby village of Abergwyngregyn - a minor road leads to a parking area. From here, you can walk up the valley to Aber Falls.

Google places mentioned for more info. Also go to the Wales forum and read some of the other posts there for more info on Wales.
www.visitwales.co.uk

Thanks again for the advice. I would like to take the scenic route. I know it's a long drive, but living in the U.S. a 5 hour drive isn't really a very long drive for us. This will be our first time driving in the UK, so I'm sure it will be different experience for us, with a lot more twisting & turning roads.