The next Goose Fair will take place on Wednesday 8th October 2025.
The information below refers to the 2024 Goose Fair and will be updated for 2025.
Please be aware that there is very little parking available in the town on Goose Fair day. Therefore, use of the Goose Fair Park and Ride Scheme is recommended.
There will be a clearly signposted one-way system operating around the town, coming into force with road closures from 5:30pm on Tuesday 8th October, lasting throughout Goose Fair day on Wednesday 9th October and ending at 7am on Thursday 10th October.
The following roads will be closed to traffic:
- Plymouth Road from Drake’s Statue to Bedford Square
- Abbey Bridge/Abbey Place
- Russell Street
- Chapel Street
- Market Road
- Canal Road
- Gulworthy Slip Road (between B3257 & A390)
For more detailed information please visit the one.network interactive map
Goose Fair Traffic Order
As usual, a number of car parks will also be closed during the event.
- Bedford Car Park will be closed from Saturday 5th until 6pm on Sunday 13th October to accommodate fairground rides
- Chapel Street Car Park will be closed from 5pm Tuesday 8th until 8am Thursday 10th October
- Guildhall Car Park will be closed from 2.00pm on Monday 7th until 8am Thursday 10th October
- Riverside Car Park will be closed from 5pm Tuesday 8th until 8am Thursday 10th October (limited space available for permit holders and Goose Fair traders)
- Russell Street Car Park will be closed from 4.30pm Tuesday 8th until 8am Thursday 10th October
- Wharf Car Park will be closed from 5pm Tuesday 8th until 8am Thursday 10th October
Car Parks at Bank Street and Brook Street will be open as usual. Abbey Car Park is reserved for blue badge holders only.
The taxi rank in Bedford Square will be closed.
Temporary taxi ranks will operate outside the St Luke’s Hospice shop in Duke Street and outside Newell’s Travel in West Street.
Disabled Parking – 2024
There is limited parking available in the Abbey Car Park PL19 9AS (exclusively for disabled parking on Goose Fair Day). This is a pay and display facility.
The Park and Ride Scheme operating from Yelverton, Gulworthy Camping & Holiday Park and Whitchurch Down has some easy-access buses for disabled passengers.
If you are intending to bring in a minibus with a group of disabled passengers please contact the Town Council by email [email protected] for advice.
Other Parking – 2024
Coach and car parking is available at Tavistock College and Tavistock Football Club both on Crowndale Road approximately 0.3 miles/7 minute walk from Drake Statue.
- Tavistock College parking charges – £20 per coach/£5 per car
- Tavistock Football Club parking charges – £25 per coach, £20 per midi-coach, £5 per car. Toilet facilities are available on site
Goose Fair Park and Ride Bus Service – 2025
A Park and Ride Scheme will be operating from the following sites:
- Yelverton Aerodrome (What3Words = ///shells.disarmed.highlighted)
- Gulworthy (What3Words = ///scarf.disengage.episode) – The Old Rectory Camping & Holiday Park PL19 8JA
- Whitchurch Down (What3Words = ///cornering.fails.shed)
The charge for all sites will now be – £3.00 per adult and £1.00 per child (under 16 years old)
Card payments will be accepted at all three Park and Ride sites.
Locations for all three sites can be found on the Park and Ride Site Map.
Yelverton Service 300 Timetable
Whitchurch Down Service 301 Timetable
Gulworthy Service 302 Timetable
Please note:
- Park and Ride prices are for return tickets
- Buses are approximately every 20/30 minutes with the first bus from sites between 8.30am and 9:15am and the last bus back from Tavistock at 9pm/9:15pm
- Wheelchairs and prams – the majority of Park and Ride buses are accessible
- Dogs are allowed at the driver’s discretion
The Lions Club of Tavistock will be manning the Park and Ride sites. The Park and Ride locations will be identified on the main routes into Tavistock by temporary AA type yellow road signs. Attempts will be made to park vehicles with disabled badges in designated areas as close to bus boarding points as possible.
Stagecoach buses will be co-ordinating the Park and Ride bus services from Yelverton (300) and Whitchurch Down (301). To avoid crowding at bus stops in Tavistock, the Yelverton and Whitchurch Down buses will drop off and pick up outside the DCC Highways yard in Pixon Lane. Stagecoach will have stewards on site to direct the public.
Tamar Coaches will be co-ordinating the Park and Ride bus services from Gulworthy, providing frequent shuttle services to the Town Centre. Buses will drop off and pick up by Drakes Statue (outside DRB Cars).
The Park and Ride bus service for all three sites will operate between 8:30am and 9pm/9:15pm depending upon demand.
Please note this is a privately operated facility and blue disabled badges and over 60’s free bus passes are not valid.
Be wise, do not attempt to drive into Tavistock on Goose Fair day use the Park and Ride.
Bus Information – 2024
Please note Tavistock Bus Station is closed from 5:30pm on Tuesday 8th October. For the duration of the closure all Tavistock services will be unable to operate from Tavistock Bus Station. Services (with the exception of 118 Tavistock to Okehampton service Dartline) will instead be operating from both of the Bus stops outside of Tavistock school on Plymouth Road, Tavistock, before the Sir Francis Drake Statue roundabout.
Stagecoach Bus Service
Service 1 to Plymouth will leave from the bus stop opposite Tavistock Primary School
Service 87 to Bere Alston & Bere Ferrers will leave from the bus stop outside Tavistock Primary School
Service 89 Town Service will leave from the bus stop opposite Tavistock Primary School
Go Cornwall Bus Service
Service 79 to Callington will leave from the bus stop outside Tavistock Primary School
Dartline
Service 118 to Okehampton will leave and terminate from the bus stop outside Lawsons, Parkwood Road
Park & Ride Bus Service
Stagecoach – Yelverton (Service 300) and Whitchurch Down (Service 301) will drop off and pick up from Pixon Lane
Tamar Coaches – Gulworthy (Service 302) will drop off and pick up from Drakes Statue (outside DRB Cars)