Dr Mobeus
Parking Fees Are Ruining Days Out – Here Is Where to Park for Free
You have planned the perfect day out. Packed the sandwiches, sorted the route, got everyone in the car. Then you pull into the attraction car park and it wants £12 for the privilege of leaving your car on some tarmac. Suddenly your “free day out” is not so free anymore.
Parking at UK tourist attractions routinely costs £5-15 a day. For a family visiting two or three places over a weekend, that is £30+ just on parking alone. Over a year of days out, you could easily spend £200-300 just to leave your car somewhere.
But here is the thing: almost every popular UK attraction has free parking within walking distance if you know where to look. You just need to know the spots. That is what this guide is for.
Why Parking Costs So Much at Attractions
Attraction car parks are a revenue stream, pure and simple. National Trust properties charge £5-7. English Heritage sites charge £3-8. Theme parks can charge £10-25. Even free attractions like museums and country parks often charge for parking because they know you have limited options.
The trick is that most attractions are surrounded by residential streets, public car parks, or alternative entrances that do not charge. You just need to know where they are.
General Free Parking Strategies
Before we get to specific attractions, here are some strategies that work everywhere:
- Check Parkopedia – The website parkopedia.co.uk shows free and paid parking for any UK location with prices and time limits. It is the single most useful tool for finding free parking.
- Look for residential streets – Most attractions have nearby housing where parking is free. Look for streets without yellow lines or permit zone signs. A 10-minute walk can save you £10+.
- Use council car parks off-peak – Many council car parks are free after 6pm or on Sundays. If your day out starts late or ends late, you might dodge the charges entirely.
- Try park and ride – Cities like Bath, Cambridge, Oxford, Norwich and York have park-and-ride services that cost £3-5 for the whole day including bus travel. Often cheaper than attraction parking.
- National Trust and English Heritage membership – If you visit regularly, membership includes free parking at all their sites. NT membership pays for itself in 3-4 visits if you factor in parking alone.
- Blue Badge – Blue Badge holders get free parking at most attraction car parks and on-street. Always check the specific rules, but this is a significant saving if you qualify.
Free Parking at Specific UK Attractions
London
British Museum – No on-site parking, but NCP Bloomsbury is £28 a day. Instead, park on Lamb’s Conduit Street or nearby Bloomsbury streets (free on Sundays). Nearest free parking: Brunswick Square (free after 6:30pm weekdays, free all day Sunday).
Natural History Museum – On-street parking around South Kensington is free on Sundays and after 6:30pm on weekdays. Try Collingham Road or Kensington Court – both within a 5-minute walk.
Tower of London – Expensive car parks everywhere. Your best bet is street parking in Wapping or Shadwell (about 15 minutes walk) or the free car park at Waitrose on Trinity Buoy Wharf (20 minutes walk, 2-hour limit).
South West
Stonehenge – English Heritage charges £5 for parking (free to members). The nearby Winterbourne Stoke village has free on-street parking about a 25-minute walk along the byway. Not ideal for everyone, but it saves the fee.
Bath – Central Bath parking is expensive (£15+ a day). Use the Lansdown Park and Ride (£3.20 return including bus). Alternatively, park on Great Pulteney Street (free on Sundays) and walk 10 minutes.
Eden Project – Parking is included in the admission price, so no extra charge. But if you are just visiting the cafe or shop, parking is still free for a 2-hour stay.
South East
Leeds Castle, Kent – £4 parking on-site. Free alternative: park at East Farleigh or Bearsted railway stations (both free) and walk or take the shuttle bus in summer.
Windsor Castle – Central Windsor car parks are £15+ a day. Park at Datchet Road car park (free for 2 hours) or Alexandra Gardens (free after 6pm). Better still, park at Windsor and Eton Central station and walk 10 minutes.
Canterbury Cathedral – City centre car parks are £12-18 a day. Park at Sturry Road Park and Ride (£3 all day including bus) or try Wincheap Industrial Estate (free on Sundays, 20 minutes walk).
North West
Lake District (all sites) – Most National Trust car parks charge £5-8. Free alternatives: park in village centres (Ambleside, Grasmere, Coniston) on residential streets and walk to trailheads. The Keswick to Threlkeld railway path has free parking at both ends.
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry – Free museum, free parking! On-site multi-storey on Lower Mosley Street. One of the few central Manchester attractions with genuinely free parking.
Liverpool Albert Dock – On-site parking is £8 for 6 hours. Instead, park at the Kings Dock NCP (£4.50 for 4 hours on weekends) or on-street at Brunswick Street (free on Sundays).
Yorkshire and North East
York Minster – Do not even think about driving into York centre. Use the Park and Ride (£3.20 return from any of the 6 sites). It drops you right at the city walls. Driving in York is a nightmare anyway with the traffic-free centre.
Whitby Abbey – English Heritage charges £5 for parking. Instead, park at the West Cliff car park (free in winter, £2.50 in summer for 4 hours) and walk 15 minutes along the cliff path. Better views too.
Alnwick Garden – £3 parking on-site. Free alternative: park on Denwick Lane or Ratten Row (10-minute walk through the pastures). Or park at Alnwick town centre car park (free for 2 hours, 5-minute walk).
Scotland
Edinburgh Castle – Do not drive to the castle. Use the Park and Ride from Sheriffhall, Hermiston or Straiton (£3 return including bus). Central Edinburgh parking is £20+ a day and you will spend half that time in traffic.
Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter bridge) – The official car park charges £3. Park for free at the National Trust for Scotland centre (if you are a member) or along the A830 near the church – about a 10-minute walk.
Loch Lomond – Many car parks charge £3-5. Free parking at Luss village (arrive early, spaces fill up) and at the Duck Bay Marina. Balloch village also has free on-street parking near the railway station.
Wales
Conwy Castle – On-site car park is £5 for 4 hours. Free parking on Bangor Road or Lidl car park (2-hour limit, 10-minute walk). The town walls walk is free and gives you great views anyway.
Snowdonia – National Park car parks charge £2-6. Free alternatives: park at the layby on the A4086 near Pen-y-Pass early morning (fills up by 8am), or use the free car park at Llanberis Railway Station and catch the Sherpa bus.
Free Parking Apps and Tools
These apps and websites are essential for finding free parking anywhere in the UK:
- Parkopedia (parkopedia.co.uk) – The best parking database. Shows free and paid options with exact prices, time limits and distances.
- Parkmobile – Useful for paying only when you need to, rather than guessing how long you will stay.
- JustPark – Rent driveways near attractions for £3-5 a day. Cheaper than attraction car parks and often closer.
- YourParkingSpace – Similar to JustPark. Good for popular locations where street parking is impossible.
- Google Maps – Search “free parking near [attraction]” and check street view for parking signs. Time-consuming but reliable.
Money-Saving Parking Hacks
A few extra tricks that can save you money at any UK attraction:
- Arrive early or late – Many car parks are free before 8am or after 6pm. If you are visiting a town for dinner, evening parking is often free.
- Sunday is your friend – On-street parking restrictions are often relaxed on Sundays in town and city centres. Check the signs – you might save £10 just by visiting on a Sunday.
- Supermarket car parks – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons often have 2-3 hour free parking. If the attraction is within walking distance of a supermarket, park there and walk. Just make sure you buy something small to comply with the terms.
- Council car parks after hours – Many council-run car parks are free after 6pm and on Sundays. Check the board at the entrance – it often shows different rates for different times.
- JustPark driveways – People near popular attractions rent out their driveways for £3-5 a day. It is often closer than the official car park and always cheaper.
The Bottom Line
Parking fees can add £100+ to your days out budget over a year. But almost everywhere has free alternatives within a short walk – you just need to know where to look. Use Parkopedia before you set off, consider Park and Ride in cities, and do not be afraid of a 10-minute walk to save a tenner.
For more ways to save on days out, check out our guides to free days out across the UK and saving money on family days out.
