🚗 Boulters Lock Car Park – The Complete Maidenhead & Bray Parking Guide
Boulters Lock – scenic riverside parking, pay & display, free evenings & Sundays, steps from towpath & café.
🚗 Type: Public Pay & Display Car Park (Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead)
🕒 Open: Enforcement 08:00–18:00 Mon–Sat; free evenings (18:00–08:00), all day Sunday & Bank Holidays
🌟 Rating: N/A (no public aggregate reviews)
💰 Pricing & Permits
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Tariffs (08:00–18:00 Mon–Sat):
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Up to 1 h: £1.20
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Up to 2 h: £2.40
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Up to 4 h (max stay): £4.00
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Payment Methods:
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Pay & Display machines (coins, contactless card)
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Pay-by-App: RingGo (zone code 86520)
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Resident Permits: Not applicable (visitor attraction car park)
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Season Tickets: Weekly permit £18 (valid any enforcement day)
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | 80 bays |
| Disabled Bays | 4 marked bays (free for Blue Badge holders) |
| Motorcycle Bays | 4 marked bays (free) |
| Surface | Level tarmac with clear bay lining (2022 repaint) |
| Lighting | LED bollard lighting around perimeter (8 lux) |
| Drainage | Channel drains; cleared bi-annually |
| Security | CCTV coverage; periodic council patrols |
| Signage | Traditional pay & display signage with zone code & tariffs |
♿ Accessibility & Adapted Facilities
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Blue Badge Bays: Four bays adjacent to main entrance—free with badge displayed
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Drop-Off Zone: Kerbside pull-in beside pay machine for brief set-down
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Kerb Ramps: Tactile-paved ramps to footpath toward riverside and visitor centre
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Pathways: Smooth 2 m-wide asphalt route to Lock Island café and towpath
🔌 EV Infrastructure & Nearby Options
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On-Site Charging: None installed
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Planned (2025): Feasibility study for 2×7 kW chargers in north corner
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Nearest Live Chargers:
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Stafferton Way MSCP: 4×22 kW units, 8 min drive
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Boyn Grove Retail Park: 6×7 kW units, 5 min drive
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📅 Peak Times & Seasonal Variations
| Period | Occupancy | User Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 09:00–11:00 | 60 % | Local walkers & anglers |
| Weekends 10:00–14:00 | 85 % | Leisure visitors & café goers |
| Bank Holidays | 95 % | Picnic groups & towpath users |
| Evenings post-18:00 | 20 % | Riverside diners |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 10 AM on weekends to secure a riverside bay, or enjoy free evenings after 6 PM.
🚶 Walkability & Nearby Attractions
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Boulters Lock Island | 1 min | Café, boat hire & visitor exhibits |
| Thames Path Towpath | Adjacent | Scenic riverside walking & cycling |
| Maidenhead Bridge | 12 min | Railway footbridge to town centre |
| Bus Stop (Route 701) | 4 min | Frequent service to Windsor & Reading |
🛒 Nearby Amenities & Services
Essentials
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Public Toilets: Café foyer (free during opening hours)
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ATM: NatWest (Lower Cookham Road, 5 min)
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Pharmacy: Boots (Cookham Road, 7 min)
Food & Drink
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Boulters Lock Café: Riverside dining & snacks
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The Tyrolean: Pub & riverside terrace (5 min)
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The Landing Craft: Coffee bar & ice creams (adjacent)
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyn Grove Retail Park | 5 min drive | £1.00/hr; £5 day | EV charging & retail validation |
| Stafferton Way MSCP | 8 min drive | £1.50/hr; £6 day | Covered & rapid EV bays |
| On-Street Pay & Display (SL6) | Adjacent | £0.30/30 min; 2 h max | Short-stay flexibility via app |
⚠️ Important Notices & Byelaws
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Enforcement: 08:00–18:00 Mon–Sat by council officers; after-hours CCTV patrols
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Overstay Penalty: £70 PCN (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days)
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Towing Risk: Unauthorized vehicles may be towed at owner’s expense
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Maintenance: Quarterly surface & drainage inspections (next due Oct 2025)
📌 Expert Tips
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Riverside Stroll: Park here for free evening strolls along the Thames—bay exit till next morning free.
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Café Visits: Validate pay ticket inside Boulters Lock Café to avoid midday rush.
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Blue Badge Holders: Use one of the four free bays; ground can be uneven, so mind slope.
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Weather Alert: Eastern bays can pond after heavy rain—opt for western rows near café.
🔮 Future Developments & Planning
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2025 Q3: Install 2×7 kW EV chargers, funded by RBWM grant
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2025 Q4: Pilot digital pay-station with touchless & multilingual UI
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2026: Feasibility study for additional 30 bays on adjacent meadow (planning ref: RBWM/PLN/2024/940)
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Accessibility Audit: PAS 1899 compliance review scheduled for Jan 2026
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