Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust would like to let patients, visitors and the local community know about upcoming change to some car parking charges at Darent Valley Hospital, and explain why this change is being made.
From 1 August 2026, some car parking charges for patients and visitors at Darent Valley Hospital will increase, bringing us more in line with other NHS hospitals across Kent and Medway. This is the first increase to parking charges for several years.
We understand that the cost of parking can add to the pressures of attending hospital. However, while parking charges have remained unchanged for a number of years, the cost of operating, maintaining and improving the hospital's car parks has continued to rise.
New parking charges from 1 August 2026
Length of stay |
Charge |
|---|---|
|
Up to 1 hour |
£2.00 |
|
Up to 2 hours |
£3.00 |
|
Up to 3 hours |
£4.00 |
|
Up to 4 hours |
£5.00 |
|
Up to 5 hours |
£6.00 |
|
Up to 6 hours |
£7.50 |
|
Up to 7 hours |
£9.00 |
|
Up to 10 hours |
£10.00 |
|
Up to 16 hours |
£11.00 |
|
Up to 24 hours |
£12.50 |
|
Weekly pass |
£32.00 |
|
Blue Badge holders |
Free |
Key information
- Blue Badge holders will continue to park free of charge.
- Improvements are also being made to the layout and access of the hospital's car parks to help people find a space more easily and improve traffic flow. These changes will be introduced alongside the new charges.
We recognise that any increase in costs may be difficult for some patients and families, particularly those who need to attend hospital regularly. This decision was not taken lightly.
Income from car parking helps cover the costs of maintaining safe, accessible and well-managed parking facilities and supports the delivery of services for patients and the wider community.