Bath and Bristol CAZ Guides for Campervans
Two of the South Wests most popular cities for van life — Bath and Bristol — both have Clean Air Zones. Here is how to navigate them in a campervan without getting fined.
Bristol CAZ (Class D)
Bristol introduced a Clean Air Zone in November 2022. It is a Class D zone, which means it applies to all vehicles: cars, vans, taxis, buses, coaches, HGVs, and motorhomes/campervans. The zone boundary: The inner ring road (the A4044, A4032, A38, A37, and the Portway). This covers the city centre, Harbourside, Park Street, Bedminster, St Pauls, Easton, and parts of Stokes Croft. The M32 is inside the zone (you pay to drive on it through the city centre). Charge for non-compliant campervans: £9 per day (same as cars). The charge applies 24/7, 365 days. Payment must be made by midnight the following day on the Bristol City Council website. Compliance: Euro 6 diesel (most vans registered after September 2016) or Euro 4 petrol (post-2005). Check your V5C. If your campervan is registered as a Motor Caravan (body type 87 or 97), the rules are the same as a car. Exemptions: None for campervans. Disabled drivers with Blue Badges are not exempt. The CAZ does not apply on: The M5 (Junctions 16-19), the M4 (Junctions 18-20), the Portway (A4) south of the Suspension Bridge, and the A4174 ring road. You can circumnavigate Bristol without entering the zone.
Bath CAZ (Class C)
Bath introduced its CAZ in March 2021. It is a Class C zone, which means it applies to all vehicles except cars. Campervans are classed as vans or motorhomes and are included. The zone boundary: The inner ring road (A36, A367, A4, A3039). This covers the city centre, the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent, and the main shopping streets. The Park & Ride sites (Odd Down, Lansdown, Newbridge) are outside the zone. Charge for non-compliant campervans: £9 per day. Payment on the BathNES Council website. Compliance: Same as Bristol — Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol. Key difference from Bristol: Bath CAZ allows a 12-month grace period for non-compliant vehicles registered within Bath and North East Somerset. If your van is registered to a Bath address, you get 12 months of free access.
How to Avoid Both Zones
| Strategy | Bristol | Bath |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the daily charge | £9/day | £9/day |
| Park outside, bus in | Park at Cribbs Causeway (free parking, but M5 into Bristol is fine — the M5 is not in the zone). Bus into the centre (£4 return). | Park at Bath Park & Ride (Odd Down or Lansdown). Bus £2 return into the centre. |
| Visit on a compliant van | Euro 6 diesel (post-2016) = free | Euro 6 diesel (post-2016) = free |
| Circumnavigate | Use the A4174 ring road | Use the A36 bypass (not the city centre) |
Best Van Parking Outside the Zones
Bristol
- Cribbs Causeway: Massive free car park (no height barrier). 15-minute bus ride into Bristol. Alternatively, walk 10 minutes to Patchway station, train to Bristol Temple Meads (£3).
- Ashton Court Estate: Free car park (Bristol City Council). No overnight parking, but fine for day visits. Walk across the Suspension Bridge into the centre (20 minutes).
- Portway Park & Ride: Free parking, bus into centre (£2 return). No overnight.
Bath
- Bath Park & Ride (Odd Down): £5/day, no height barrier. Bus every 10 minutes (£2 return). The best option for van lifers. Overnight parking is fine — many vanners stay here.
- Bath Park & Ride (Lansdown): Same price, same frequency. Lansdown has better views (overlooks the city).
- Bristol Road (A4) laybys: West of Bath, on the A4 between Bristol and Bath. Several laybys near Saltford. Free, quiet overnight.
Overnight Parking in the Zones
If you park overnight in the CAZ, you pay per day. A 3-day stay in Bristol city centre costs £27 in CAZ charges on top of parking fees. It is almost always cheaper to park outside the zone and bus in.
Checking Your Van's Compliance
Use the DVLA vehicle checker (free online). Enter your reg number. The results show the Euro status. If it says "Euro 6" or "Euro 4" (petrol), you are compliant. If it says "Euro 5" or earlier, you pay. The Motor Caravan loophole: If your van is registered as a Motor Caravan, it may be treated as a passenger vehicle in some zones. Bristol treats motorhomes the same as cars (Class D applies to all vehicles anyway). Bath Class C excludes cars — so if your campervan is registered as a Motor Caravan, the charge should not apply. Check with the council before relying on this.
Verdict
Bristol and Bath are the most popular van life cities in the South West, and both charge £9/day for non-compliant vans. The cheapest solution is to park outside the zone (Bath Park & Ride, Cribbs Causeway) and bus in. If you visit regularly, buy a Euro 6 diesel van (2016+) and the CAZ charges do not apply.
