For a day in Reading, Park & Ride is the cheapest option: Reading Buses lists a £4 adult return that includes parking at Mereoak and Winnersh Triangle. In the centre, Reading Borough Council's notice of charges in force from 27 July 2026 sets Broad Street Mall at £4.30 for up to 2 hours and £16.80 for 24 hours, and Queens Road at £4.60 and £17.50, with a £3.80 night rate at both.
Where should I park in Reading?
£4 adult return including parking at Mereoak or Winnersh Triangle, according to Reading Buses.
£1.10 an hour on weekdays, 30 minutes free on Saturdays, free all day Sunday.
£3.80 night rate for entry after 6pm and exit before 8am. Both open 24 hours.
Key takeaways
- The council raised its car park prices on 27 July 2026. The first hour at Broad Street Mall doubled to £4.30, the same as 2 hours.
- Weekend discounts at the big multi-storeys have gone: Broad Street Mall, Queens Road and Civic B now charge weekday rates seven days a week.
- Night rates are £3.80 at the three central multi-storeys and £2.60 at Hills Meadow and Kings Meadow.
- Chester Street, Dunstall Close and Recreation Road are free on Sundays and from 6pm to 6am.
- Park & Ride at Mereoak and Winnersh Triangle includes parking in the £4 return. Thames Valley charges £1 an hour, capped at £4.
Where are the car parks in Reading?
Tap a pin for prices, the address and directions. Teal pins are council car parks and purple pins are Park & Ride sites.
Pin positions are approximate. Use the address or the directions link to find the entrance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How much do Reading's central car parks cost?
These are the charges in Reading Borough Council's notice of charges of off-street parking places, dated 25 June 2026 and in force from 27 July 2026. The council's individual car park pages, such as Broad Street Mall and Queens Road, were last updated in February 2026 and still show the old prices, so the notice is used here.
| Car park | Up to 1 hour | Up to 2 hours | Up to 3 hours | Up to 4 hours | Up to 6 hours | Up to 24 hours | Night rate | Early bird |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broad Street Mall (every day) | £4.30 | £4.30 | £6.40 | £8.50 | £12.80 | £16.80 | £3.80 | £8.40 |
| Queens Road (every day) | £4.60 | £4.60 | £7.00 | £9.30 | £13.30 | £17.50 | £3.80 | £8.40 |
| Civic B (every day) | £4.30 | £4.30 | £6.40 | £8.50 | £12.80 | £16.80 | £3.80 | £8.40 |
The night rate applies to entry after 6pm and exit before 8am the next day. The early bird applies Monday to Friday for entry between 6am and 8am, exiting by 11.59pm. Both come from the same notice, which also lists a £52.50 weekly ticket at Broad Street Mall and Queens Road.
Which Reading car parks are cheaper?
The council's outer car parks cost a fraction of the multi-storeys, from the same notice:
| Car park | Weekdays | Saturday | Sunday | Night rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle Market | Sunday to Friday: 2 hours £3.50, 4 hours £4.50, 24 hours £11.60 | 1 hour £1.20, 2 hours £2.20, 24 hours £8.60 | Weekday tariff | £2.20 weekdays, £1.10 weekends |
| Chester Street | 1 hour £1.10, 4 hours £4.20, 24 hours £10.50 | 30 minutes free, then 1 hour 70p, 4 hours £2.60 | Free | £1.10 |
| Dunstall Close | 6am to 6pm: 1 hour £1.10, 4 hours £2.80, 12 hours £5.30 | 30 minutes free, then from 70p | Free | Free 6pm to 6am |
| Hills Meadow and Kings Meadow | 2 hours £3.70, 5 hours £6.80, 24 hours £11.60 | 3 hours £3.30, 6 hours £5.40 (£5.80 at Kings Meadow), 24 hours £10.50 (£11.60) | As Saturday | £2.60 |
| Recreation Road | Monday to Saturday 6am to 6pm: 1 hour £1.10, 12 hours £5.30 | As weekdays | Free | Free 6pm to 6am |
| Green Park | 1 hour £1.10, 3 hours £2.10, 12 hours £5.30, 24 hours £10.50, every day | As weekdays | As weekdays | £2.20 |
Is there a Park & Ride in Reading?
Yes, three sites. Reading Buses lists an adult return of £4 that includes parking at Mereoak (route 92, south of M4 junction 11) and Winnersh Triangle (route 500), with an all-day ticket at £5.40, and a promotional £3.50 return fare at the time of writing. At Thames Valley, parking is £1 an hour capped at £4, bought from the machines, on top of the fare. Wokingham Borough Council, which runs the Winnersh Triangle car park, lists parking at £1 a day for bus users, £4 for daytime parking without the bus, a 2m height limit and 10 EV chargers.
What are the hours, and do Blue Badge holders pay?
Broad Street Mall (750 spaces, 12 parent and child bays, 19 disabled bays) and Queens Road (700 spaces, 12 parent and child bays, 8 disabled bays) are open 24 hours, every day, and the council states that charges apply on bank holidays and that disabled bays require payment. The council adds that Broad Street Mall's lifts work only during the shopping centre's opening hours. Height limits aren't listed on the council's pages, so this guide doesn't state them.
Own a home in Reading? 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 Reading.
Frequently asked questions
How much is parking in Reading town centre?
From 27 July 2026, Reading Borough Council charges £4.30 for up to 2 hours and £16.80 for 24 hours at Broad Street Mall and Civic B, and £4.60 and £17.50 at Queens Road, every day of the week.
Is there a cheap way to park in Reading?
Park & Ride. Reading Buses lists a £4 adult return that includes parking at Mereoak and Winnersh Triangle. In the centre, Chester Street is £1.10 an hour on weekdays and free on Sundays.
What is the night rate in Reading car parks?
£3.80 at Broad Street Mall, Queens Road and Civic B for entry after 6pm and exit before 8am, under the council's July 2026 notice. Hills Meadow and Kings Meadow are £2.60.
Is Reading parking cheaper at the weekend?
Not any more in the main multi-storeys. The council's July 2026 notice brought weekend prices at Broad Street Mall, Queens Road and Civic B up to the weekday rates. Chester Street and Dunstall Close stay free on Sundays.
Do Blue Badge holders pay in Reading car parks?
Yes. The council's pages for Broad Street Mall and Queens Road list the disabled bays as payment required.
How much is the early bird at Reading car parks?
£8.40 at Broad Street Mall, Queens Road and Civic B for entry between 6am and 8am on weekdays, exiting by 11.59pm, under the council's July 2026 notice.
Related guides
Sources
Prices are taken from Reading Borough Council's July 2026 notice, Reading Buses and Wokingham Borough Council on the date shown above, and can change. Check the machine or sign before you pay.