Ipswich Park and Ride
Ipswich Park & Ride, from First Bus
Situated at each end of the town, our Park & Ride service is your shortcut to effortless, breezy journeys into the heart of Ipswich. Whether you’re off to work, heading to college or uni, out to snag a bargain, having lunch with friends or cheering on the Tractor Boys, we've got your back. No stress, no fuss - just a fast, and frequent ride straight to wherever you need to be.
Why choose Ipswich Park & Ride?
Skip the traffic, park for free, and ride into Ipswich on fast, comfortable buses – simple, smart travel made easy.
Wave goodbye to the hassle of hunting for a parking space! Park at either one of our easy-to-reach sites on the outskirts of town, and hop aboard one of our buses. It's a smooth ride into the heart of Ipswich - quick, convenient, and absolutely stress-free.
Forget the traffic jams and sky-high town centre parking fees! Enjoy a FREE, secure parking spot, then pay for your travel with the driver, and glide down the bus lanes into Ipswich in almost no time at all. It's a win for your wallet, and your schedule.
Feel good about the journey you're taking. Each bus can take around 40 cars off the road, so with every trip you're cutting down on congestion and reducing pollution. What could be better?
Park & Ride buses also stop right next to One Sixth Form College and the University of Suffolk making us the ideal partner to your studies.
Heading to the football? Head over to our dedicated Ipswich Town Football Club webpage with all the information you need for your journey to run smoothly. Come on you blues!
Key Facts:
Conveniently located just off the A12/A1214 junction, Martlesham Park & Ride is the ideal gateway into Ipswich. Whether you're heading to the football, attending a lecture, meeting friends, or enjoying a day of shopping, we take the hassle and expense out of city-centre parking. Simply park, ride, and relax while we get you into Ipswich quickly and comfortably.
Martlesham Park & Ride - Town Centre - London Road Park & Ride
Travel into Ipswich usually takes between 25 & 35 minutes depending on how traffic is feeling that day.
Up to every 20 minutes
550 spaces inc. 11 disabled bays, 15 family spaces and 14 EV charging spaces
Located just outside Ipswich with easy access from the A12/A14, London Road Park & Ride offers a straightforward and affordable way to reach the town centre. Whether you're travelling for work, study, shopping, or a day out, leave the car behind and enjoy a convenient journey into the heart of Ipswich. With regular services and hassle-free parking, getting into town has never been easier.
London Road P&R - Town Centre - Martlesham P&R
Travel into Ipswich usually takes 15 minutes depending on how traffic is feeling that day.
Up to every 20 minutes
550 spaces inc. 6 disabled bays, 6 family spaces and 8 EV charging spaces
Getting here:
Address:
Martlesham Heath, Martlesham, Ipswich IP5 3QN
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Martlesham Park & Ride is located on the A12/A1214 junction, just on the outskirts of Ipswich.
Address:
London Road, Pinewood, Ipswich IP8 3TQ
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London Road Park & Ride is situated on the A12/A14 junction just outside of Ipswich.
Service information
- Route: 800
- Destination: Martlesham Park & Ride - Town Centre - London Road Park and Ride
- Frequency: Services run up to every 15 minutes
- Operating Hours:
- The first bus leaving London Road P&R departs at 06:55 M-F & 07:30 on Saturday. The final bus from Tower Ramparts Bus Station (Stand EE) leaves at 19:21 M-F and 19:09 on Saturday.
- The first bus leaving Martlesham P&R departs at 07:00 M-F and 07:20 on Saturday. The final bus leaving Ipswich, Revolution is at 19:13 M-F and 19:09 on Saturday
The 800 service operates solely Monday to Saturday. No service operates on Sunday.
Download your Ipswich P&R Route Map here
Prices
Day Tickets
Prices shown below in the Park & Ride Day column are only valid when boarding at the Park & Ride sites. If you catch the 800 bus anywhere else along the route, the Ipswich Zone fares apply.
You can pay with contactless on board the bus, or buy an mTicket on the First Bus App before you go.
| Park & Ride Day | Ipswich Zone Day | |
| Adult | £4 | £5.50 |
| Young Person (5 - 19) | £3 | £4 |
| High5 Group* | £8 | £11 |
| Concession Pass Holders |
£2.50 |
valid on all First Bus services in the Ipswich Zone |
*With a High5 group ticket, *up to 5 people (maximum 2 adults) can save when they travel together. That works out at as little as £1.60 each
Going further? You can also use our Ipswich Zone ticket which allows unlimited travel on all of our other bus services in the Ipswich Zone, as well as Ipswich Park & Ride.
Longer term tickets
| Week | Month | First Unlimited |
||
| on app or on bus |
on app | on app | ||
| Adult | £18 | £65 | £55.10 | |
| Young Person | £14 | £49 | Monthly subscription ticket |
5-day, week, month and Unlimited tickets are all valid for unlimited travel on park & ride buses whenever you want.
Please note that you'll only be able to buy 5-day and week tickets from the driver at the prices above when you board the bus at either one of the park & ride car parks. Otherwise, normal Ipswich Zone prices will apply.
You can buy all of the tickets above in a variety of ways:
- On the bus: Week
- With an mTicket on the First Bus App: Week, Month
- First Bus Travel Centre: Week & Month
- Online: First Unlimited
Download our FREE First Bus App to make your journey more convenient
Have everything you need to travel at your fingertips!
- Plan your journey
- Buy your tickets on the app
- Track the bus to your stop
- See live seat availability on your bus before it arrives at your stop!
Tap On Tap Off
You can now Tap On Tap Off on Ipswich Park & Ride.
| Tap on and off each time you get the bus... |
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
...you'll never pay more than £4 a day £2 |
.. you'll never pay anything! | ||||||
| 1st Journey | £3 | £3 | £3 | £3 | £2 | ||
| 2nd Journey | £1 | £1 | £1 | £1 | FREE | FREE once you have reached the weekly limit of £18 | |
| Any further journeys that day | FREE | ||||||
| ...you'll never pay more than £18 a week! | |||||||
How Park & Ride works
Drive
Travel to your chosen Park & Ride site and follow signs to the car park.
Park
Park your vehicle for free all day in one of the available spaces.
Buy a ticket
Purchase your ticket on the bus from the driver.
Ride
Enjoy a quick, direct journey into Ipswich.
Useful tools
Journey Planner
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Download the First Bus App
Travelling by bus on Ipswich Park & Ride couldn't be easier!
Frequently Asked Questions
Parking
Overnight parking is not permitted at either Ipswich Park and Ride site. Check the opening times for each site before you travel.
No, overnight parking is not permitted, so vehicles cannot be left on site for consecutive days. However, you’re welcome to use the Park & Ride service on multiple days — as long as you leave the sites before closing each day and return to park again the next day.
You are not permitted to park at this site unless you use the Park & Ride bus service, or cycle into the city centre.
The site is equipped with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
You can still enter the Park & Ride sites on foot and retrieve your car.
Yes. There are fast charging facilities provided by Osprey at London Road, and FastNed at Martlesham.
How to use the Service
Arrive at one of our easy-to-reach Park & Ride sites just outside Ipswich, and park in one of the marked bays. Then hop on one of our frequent buses and buy your travel ticket from the driver. Alternatively, you can pre-purchase tickets on the First Bus App
London Road Park & Ride is situated on the A12/A14 junction. The postcode is IP8 3TQ. Martlesham Park & Ride is on the A12/A1214 junction. The postcode is IP5 3QN.
No, there’s no need to book. Simply follow the four easy steps: drive to the site, park for free, buy your ticket on the bus, and ride into Ipswich.
No, no registration is required. Simply park up for free, board the P&R service, purchase a ticket from your driver and enjoy your day!
Yes, your park & ride day ticket is valid for as many journeys as you need.
No, you can’t. Our Park & Ride tickets are only valid for journeys that start at the Park & Ride site. If you’re starting your journey from any other bus stop, normal fares apply.
Stops & Destinations
Our buses only stop at key stops, so you’ll always be close to where you need to be. If you need some extra help, our drivers will be happy to assist
Almost! The closest stops to the football stadium are at St Clare House, just a couple of minutes walk away.
Not quite, but the stops at the Crown Court or the Fire Station are close enough to continue your journey comfortable on foot.
Payment & Tickets
You can buy your ticket on the First Bus App, or directly from the driver using cash or contactless
Yes, we offer week and month tickets at special prices for those boarding at the Park & Ride sites. Details can be found above in the tickets and prices section.
Unfortunately not, but we do offer a discounted ticket for concession pass holders at the cost of £2.50.
Yes, High5 group tickets are only valid if you’re travelling together. This is because you’ll only get one ticket for your group, not a ticket each.
A High5 group ticket is valid for a maximum of 2 adults and up to 3 children travelling together
Vehicle & Site Restrictions
Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes are not permitted to park on site. There is a 2.1meter height restriction at Martlesham, however there is no height restriction at London Road.
Accessibility
Yes, each bus has one dedicated wheelchair space, and room for pushchairs and buggies to be folded.
Facilities
London Road Park & Ride - IP8 3TQ
- Buses operate 6 days a week
- Parking is free, you pay for your travel on the bus.
- Getting into town usually takes around 15 minutes, depending on how traffic is feeling that day.
- 8 EV charging spaces, 6 family spaces, 6 disabled spaces
- Indoor Waiting Area
- Toilets
- Accessible Toilet
- Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Martlesham Park & Ride - IP5 3QN
- Buses operate 6 days a week
- Parking is free, you pay for your travel on the bus.
- Getting into town usually takes between 25 and 35 minutes, depending on where you're alighting and how traffic is feeling that day.
- Height Restriction of 2.1m
- 14 EV charging spaces, 15 family spaces, 11 disabled spaces
- Indoor Waiting Area
- Toilets
- Accessible Toilet
- Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
Pets
We welcome well-behaved dogs on leads on all of our buses, but please keep them off the seats.
Support
Please visit our lost property page. If we have an item matching the description, we will contact you to provide you with a lost property reference and a time and place of where you can collect the item from. Any lost property found on our vehicles, providing the item is not perishable, will be kept for one month.
Looking for some trip inspiration?
Christchurch Park
Offering 33 hectares of beautiful open space, Christchurch Park serves as the backdrop for many of the town's largest events throughout the year.
Portman Road
Home to Ipswich Town Football Club, Portman Road is at the heart of the community. Park & Ride buses stop right outside at St Clare House.
Ipswich Waterfront
Set against the backdrop of a picturesque marina, Ipswich Waterfront is a bustling hub of dining, culture, entertainment, and home to a variety of waterside bars, cafés, and restaurants.
Terms & Conditions
Patrons must comply with the Suffolk County Council parking order (Park & Ride Site)(Prohibition of driving with exemptions and off street parking places) Order 2004.
Suffolk County Council and First Eastern Counties Buses Ltd accept no responsibility for the safety of vehicles left at this site. Maximum stay is 24 hours. Any vehicle not complying with the below conditions may be removed.
- All vehicles must park within marked parking bays.
- Customers may not park without using the Park & Ride service
- Vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes are not permitted to park within the site.
- Vehicles parked in the disabled bay must have a valid disabled clock displayed on the dashboard.
- Camping, cooking or overnight parking is not permitted.
- Unauthorised trading including instruction of pupils undertaking driving lessons is not permitted.
- Travel is only permitted with the correct bus ticket.
- Vehicles are parked entirely at owners' own risk.
