Bournemouth Airport Parking Guide: Every Option Compared (Including the Cheapest)
- Sam Burden
- Aug 10, 2025
- 5 min read
When I booked my most recent solo trip from Bournemouth Airport, the first thing I realised was that getting there was going to be almost as stressful as the journey itself.
There's no one to drop you off. You're carrying your own luggage. The bus timetable is limited. And parking prices that rival London airports for a fraction of the airport size.
If you're flying solo from Bournemouth Airport, or you're visiting someone and need to pick them up, this guide covers every transport option honestly, including the cheapest, and which one I'd actually recommend.
At a Glance: Every Option Compared
Prices correct at time of writing (June 2026) always check directly before booking as costs can change.
Bournemouth Airport Drop-Off Charges Explained
Transport Option | Cost | Journey Time | Pros | Cons |
CWRC Taxi | £35-45 (approx) | 20-30 mins | Door-to-door, no parking stress, luggage help | Higher cost |
Morebus (Service 1) | ~£4-5 | 45-60 mins | Cheapest option, regular service | Takes longer, managing luggage on bus |
Official Drop Off Zone | £6 (30 mins) | N/A | Quick goodbyes | Still costs money, 30-min limit |
Park & Stride | ~£50/week | N/A | Secure long-term parking | Expensive for short trips |
Get Someone to Drop You just outside Bournemouth Airport's entrance | Free | Varies | Free! | Not always possible. Is quite dangerous as there isn't a complete pavement |
Bournemouth Airport Parking: Why It's So Expensive
My first instinct was to drive and park. It felt like the simplest option. Then I checked the prices.
Four days in the official Bournemouth Airport car park came to £115. For context, I checked Gatwick for the same dates, a major international hub handling tens of millions of passengers and it came to roughly half that. The disparity is hard to ignore.
Third-party options like JustPark bring the cost down a little, but even those were over £60 for four days, and some require you to hand over your keys or take an additional shuttle not ideal when you're already managing luggage solo.
Park & Stride is the better value long-stay option at around £50 per week, but it still adds up. If you're going away for more than a few days, the maths shifts quickly against driving.
Tip: If you do drive, book in advance. Airport parking at Bournemouth, like most UK airports, is significantly cheaper booked online ahead of your trip than paying on the day.
Not sure which option is right for you? Here's what I learned from actually trying these. Scroll down for detailed breakdowns of each option.
Bournemouth Airport Drop-Off: Is There a Free Option?
Short answer: not really.
The official drop-off zone costs £6 for 30 minutes. It's fine if you have someone who can drop you quickly, but for solo travellers without a willing driver, it's a moot point.
You can technically be dropped off just outside the airport entrance for free. But there's no complete pavement, and it can feel genuinely awkward with luggage. I wouldn't recommend it as a reliable plan.
The Morebus 737 service is the cheapest way to get to Bournemouth Airport, at around £4–5. But there's a significant catch: the timetable is extremely limited.
The service runs only a few times a day, predominantly in the early morning. If your flight is later in the day, or you're arriving back in the evening, the 737 simply isn't an option. For solo travellers on early flights with hand luggage, it works. For anything else, it's not reliable enough to plan around.
Solo traveller reality: Managing a suitcase on a bus, navigating connections, and timing everything around a limited timetable is a lot of mental load before you've even reached the airport. Factor that in alongside the time cost.
Airport Taxi: The Practical Choice for Solo Travellers
After working through the options, I chose to book an airport taxi, specifically CWRC Taxis, a local Bournemouth-based service. (Not a sponsored mention, just a service I used and would book again.)
Here's why it worked better than the alternatives for a solo trip:
No parking fees. The £35–45 transfer cost compared well against £115 for four days of parking.
Door to door. Picked up at home, dropped at the terminal. No shuttle, no long walk, no managing luggage solo across a car park.
Works around your flight time. Unlike the 737 bus, an airport taxi runs when you need it, including early mornings and late arrivals.
No drop-off charge. The driver drops you at the terminal. No £5 zone fee on top.
CWRC Taxis: My Recommended Bournemouth Airport Transfer
📞 Call: 01202 888810
🌐 Book online: info@cwrc.com
Serving Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne, and surrounding areas for airport drop-offs, airport transfers, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Bournemouth Airport Parking, Transfers, and Getting There
Q: What are the best ways to get to Bournemouth Airport?
A: You can get to Bournemouth Airport by driving and using official or third-party parking, taking the limited 737 airport bus, arranging a lift from family or friends (with drop-off charges), or booking an airport taxi service like CWRC Taxis for convenient door-to-door transfers.
Q: How much does parking cost at Bournemouth Airport for a week?
A: Official Bournemouth Airport parking costs around £115 for 4 days, which roughly breaks down to about £28–£30 per day. For a full week (7 days), you can expect to pay around £200 or more. In comparison, parking at Gatwick Airport for a week usually costs about half as much, making Bournemouth parking noticeably more expensive per day.
Q: Does Bournemouth Airport have drop-off charges?
A: Yes, Bournemouth Airport charges £5 for 30 minutes in the drop-off zone. This fee applies even for quick drop-offs.
Q: Is public transport a reliable option for getting to Bournemouth Airport?
A: The 737 bus runs to Bournemouth Airport but only a few times per day, mainly early mornings, making it unreliable for many travellers.
Q: Are there airport extras available at Bournemouth Airport?
A: Bournemouth Airport offers limited extras compared to larger airports. You won’t find services like valet parking or fast-track security passes commonly available here.
Q: Are there hotels or other transport options near Bournemouth Airport?
A: While there are no hotels directly at Bournemouth Airport, several hotels and guesthouses are located within a short drive in Bournemouth and nearby towns like Poole and Wimborne. Besides the limited 737 airport bus, other transport options include taxis like CWRC Taxis, private car hires, or arranging lifts. There’s no direct train station at the airport, so trains require additional transfers from Bournemouth town or nearby stations.
Q: How do airport taxi services like CWRC Taxis compare to driving and parking at Bournemouth Airport?
A: Airport taxis eliminate parking fees, drop-off charges, and scheduling hassles with public transport. CWRC Taxis provide door-to-door airport transfers tailored to your flight times, offering a convenient and often cost-effective alternative.
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