Tourists Hit With Eye-Watering Parking Fees at Durdle Door
Head down to Dorset’s Durdle Door or Lulworth Cove, and don’t expect a cheap day out—at least not when it comes to parking. Travelers planning a trip to these South Coast beauty spots were left shocked by just how much it now costs to park. Visitors have described the new rates from the Lulworth Estate as nothing short of 'daylight robbery,' arguing the charges target everyone from day-trippers to campervan adventurers.
The cost to leave your car in the main Durdle Door lot? £20, covering you until 9pm. If you’re in a large vehicle like a motorhome or minibus, get ready to fork out £30 for the day, or £25 if you plan to stay just a few hours. Even those arriving on two wheels aren’t spared; motorcyclists face a charge of up to £5 for a single day. The Estate has made the system entirely cashless—parking requires a card or the JustPark app. Forget about paying with coins. The tech-only approach has sparked complaints from less tech-savvy or older visitors, who feel excluded from the process.
Is There Any Way Around the Costs?
Travelers looking to save a few quid have found a couple of alternatives, but none exactly feel generous. Durdle Door’s sister site, Lulworth Cove, offers parking at £10 for up to four hours or the same £20 daily rate as Durdle Door. Some have decided to skip both car parks entirely and try their luck in neighboring villages, though that’s not always easy—especially during peak summer weekends—and risks drawing the ire of local residents. The estate has also stepped up enforcement, introducing a brisk no-overnight-parking policy and signs warning of hefty penalties for those who overstay.
Public transport, mainly from nearby Wool, remains an option, yet many families and groups find it far less convenient or practical, especially with kids or hiking gear in tow. Mobility-impaired visitors have even more to think about: the estate openly admits that paths down to Durdle Door are steep and unpaved, making accessibility a real issue. The only advice is to park at Lulworth Cove and take it slow—hardly ideal if mobility is a challenge.
Lots of holidaymakers have sounded off online, posting about the heavy-handed pricing structures. The sticking point for many is that fees are fixed by vehicle, not by how long you stay. Drop in for a quick photo? Same price as a full day out. For those in larger vehicles, the costs almost double, with some saying the rules 'exploit' anyone simply looking for a quick pit stop along the coast. And with contactless-only payment options, people who prefer cash have found themselves frustrated or forced to turn around.
The Lulworth Estate argues that the money goes back into site maintenance, keeping the coastal path safe and the areas litter-free. They’re quick to mention that your ticket covers both Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, but plenty of tourists feel that’s cold comfort, especially if they’re only stopping briefly between other destinations. Social media groups and travel review sites have become a repository for complaints—angry at both the high costs and the lack of cheaper choices nearby.
So, if you’re planning a trip to Durdle Door or Lulworth Cove, factor parking into your budget. For now, affordable options are thin on the ground, and the debate over parking charges at this Durdle Door landmark doesn’t look set to cool off anytime soon.
