For a day in Edinburgh, Park & Ride is the cheapest option: the City of Edinburgh Council lists parking at Ingliston and Hermiston as free, so you only pay the tram or bus fare. In the centre, the council's 2026-27 schedule lists hourly bay rates from £4.20 to £9.00, depending on the area.
Where should I park in Edinburgh?
1,085 free spaces off the A8, served by the tram and Lothian Buses. No overnight parking.
450 free spaces, open 24 hours, with overnight parking for up to 3 nights. 1.9m height limit.
About 1,600 spaces. £4.20 for up to an hour and £28.20 for 8 to 24 hours.
Key takeaways
- The council publishes street parking prices on an interactive map, area by area, rather than in a single list.
- Some bays allow a full 9 hours at £1.00 an hour, up to £11.20, according to the council.
- Ingliston Park & Ride closes from 2am to 4am, and the council tows cars left overnight. Hermiston allows up to 3 nights.
- The city centre is inside a Low Emission Zone, enforced with a £60 penalty that rises for repeat entries.
- Most of the city centre's multi-storey car parks are private, and the council marks most of them as inside the Low Emission Zone.
Where are the car parks in Edinburgh?
Tap a pin for prices, the address and directions. Amber pins are private car parks and purple pins are free Park & Ride sites.
Pin positions are approximate. Use the address or the directions link to find the entrance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How much is on-street parking in Edinburgh?
The price depends on the street. The council's Parking Operations charges for 2026-27 list six hourly bay rates across the city: £9.00, £8.00, £6.80, £6.00, £4.60 and £4.20. The council doesn't publish which streets sit in which band as a list. Its Find parking bays map shows the hourly price for each area when you search an address.
On the same page, the council states that some areas have a small number of bays where you can park for the full 9 hours at £1.00 an hour, up to £8.00 for 8 hours or £11.20 for the maximum stay of 9 hours. The council also asks drivers to check the local signs, since the map may not show recent changes.
Why we don't list street-by-street prices: some guides show a price for named streets, but those figures come from press reports of the council's budget rather than a council price list. The map and the sign at the bay are the reliable sources.
Is there a Park & Ride in Edinburgh?
Yes. These details come from the council's pages for each site:
| Ingliston | Hermiston | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 2 Eastfield Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LS | Riccarton Mains Road, Currie, EH14 4AT |
| Spaces | 1,085, including 46 disabled spaces | 450, including 11 disabled spaces |
| Parking cost | Free | Free |
| Opening hours | 4am to 2am, every day | 24 hours (main building closed, no toilets) |
| Overnight | Not allowed. Cars left overnight will be towed | Allowed for up to 3 nights |
| Height limit | Not listed | 1.9m |
| Into the city | Edinburgh Tram and Lothian Buses | Several bus operators |
The council notes that Ingliston fills up early during major events at Murrayfield, and points drivers to Hermiston instead. Neither site has parking for motorhomes.
What about car parks in the city centre?
The council's multi-storey car parks page states that the city centre car parks are private, and lists these among them. Each operator sets its own prices.
| Car park | Postcode | Spaces | Run by | In the Low Emission Zone? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St James Quarter | EH1 3AD | 1,570 | St James Quarter | Yes |
| Omni Centre | EH1 3AN | 1,000 | Q-Park | Yes |
| Castle Terrace | EH1 2EN | 750 | NCP | Yes |
| New Street (Waverley Station) | EH1 1BB | 488 | Apcoa | Yes |
| Quartermile | EH3 9AU | 374 | Q-Park | Yes |
| Holyrood Road | EH8 9UL | 297 | NCP | Not marked |
| Capital Square | EH3 8BP | 166 | Q-Park | Yes |
Westfield, which runs St James Quarter, lists about 1,600 spaces over 3 levels, slightly more than the council's figure. Westfield lists these cashless prices:
| Length of stay | St James Quarter |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £4.20 |
| 2 hours | £7.30 |
| 3 hours | £10.50 |
| 4 hours | £15.20 |
| 5 hours | £18.40 |
| 6 hours | £21.70 |
| 7 hours | £24.90 |
| 8 to 24 hours | £28.20 |
Westfield also lists a limited-time £5 overnight tariff for bookings from 5.30pm to 8.30am, a 2.1m height limit, and entrances on St James Place (EH1 3BP) and Leith Street (EH1 3AS).
Is there a Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh?
Yes, covering the city centre. Under the Low Emission Zones (Emission Standards, Exemptions and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, petrol cars and vans must meet Euro 4 and diesel cars and vans Euro 6. Driving a non-compliant vehicle in the zone brings a £60 penalty, which rises for repeat entries. Westfield states that the St James Quarter car park sits inside the zone, which operates 24 hours a day.
Do Blue Badge holders pay, and where can I charge an electric car?
The council's parking bays page states that its published pay and display prices don't apply to Blue Badge holders, who follow the council's Blue Badge arrangements instead. For charging, Westfield lists 45 Pod Point chargers at St James Quarter, at £0.75 per kWh from 8.30am to 5.30pm and £0.45 per kWh in the evening, on top of the parking charge.
Own a home in Edinburgh? The guest locked out at 10pm, the boiler that dies on a Saturday with a family inside: a local manager from the Houst network takes those calls for you, and Guestwise manages short lets from 12% + VAT. See Airbnb management in Edinburgh.
Visiting for the festivals? See Edinburgh's festivals calendar
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to park in Edinburgh?
Park & Ride. The council lists parking at Ingliston and Hermiston as free, so you only pay the tram or bus fare.
How much is on-street parking in Edinburgh?
The council's 2026-27 schedule lists hourly bay rates from £4.20 to £9.00, depending on the area. Its interactive map shows the price for each area.
Can I leave my car overnight at an Edinburgh Park & Ride?
At Hermiston, yes, for up to 3 nights, according to the council. At Ingliston, no: the council states that cars left overnight will be towed.
Is there a Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh?
Yes, in the city centre. Under the Scottish regulations, petrol cars must meet Euro 4 and diesel cars Euro 6, and a non-compliant vehicle gets a £60 penalty, which rises for repeat entries.
How much is St James Quarter car park?
Westfield lists £4.20 for up to an hour and £28.20 for 8 to 24 hours, payable without cash.
Do Blue Badge holders pay for street parking in Edinburgh?
The council states that its published pay and display prices don't apply to Blue Badge holders, who follow the Blue Badge arrangements instead.
Related guides
Sources
- City of Edinburgh Council: Find parking bays
- City of Edinburgh Council: Parking Operations, events and filming charges 2026-27
- City of Edinburgh Council: Ingliston Park and Ride
- City of Edinburgh Council: Hermiston Park and Ride
- City of Edinburgh Council: Multi-storey car parks
- Westfield St James Quarter: Parking
- legislation.gov.uk: The Low Emission Zones (Emission Standards, Exemptions and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2021
Prices are taken from the City of Edinburgh Council and Westfield on the date shown above, and can change. Check the sign at the bay or car park before you pay.