Short answer: The castle has no car park. Several town car parks sit within a few minutes' walk, and some have free short-stay periods — worth checking the signage, as terms vary between them.
The thing that catches most visitors out: Launceston Castle is right in the middle of town and has no dedicated parking at all.
Several council car parks sit within a short walk of the castle and town centre. Some offer free short-stay periods, though the terms vary — worth reading the specific signage rather than assuming.
There is on-street parking close to the castle entrance, which can have a free hour with no return within a set window. It fills fast in summer.
Launceston has a genuine working market, and market days bring noticeably heavier town-centre traffic. If your visit is flexible, avoiding those is the easiest win.
If the town centre looks full, Cowslip Workshops just outside has its own parking, a café and a vintage shop — a decent plan B that turns a parking problem into a stop worth making.
Launceston Steam Railway has its own free parking on site, which is genuinely useful — you can leave the car there, ride the line, and walk into town afterwards rather than fighting for a town centre space.
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