Let’s first talk about Edinburgh and then, we will explore the best parking spots there, both free and paid.
Edinburgh has been Scotland’s capital city since at least the 15th century, though evidence of human habitation dates back to 8500 BC. The city’s long history has included wars, plagues, the Scottish Reformation, the Scottish Enlightenment, and witch trials. Because the town was surrounded by walls in the 17th century, it became common to build upwards rather than outwards; these structures are considered the forerunners of modern skyscrapers. Printing, brewing, and distilling are some of Edinburgh’s thriving industries. The Old Town deteriorated significantly in the nineteenth century, and it took a massive slum clearance project in the 1960s and 1970s to restore it to its former glory.
The city is jam-packed with history. The Castle, Scott’s Monument, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirk, and the nearby Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat are among the most well-known attractions. There is a plethora of beautiful architecture, ancient burial grounds, and historical buildings; both the old and new towns are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Education is an important factor in Edinburgh. The city has three universities, including the University of Edinburgh (founded in 1582), which is regarded as one of the world’s best research institutions. Edinburgh is a multidisciplinary education hub as well as the UK’s second-largest financial centre.
There are numerous Scottish cultural institutions in Edinburgh, including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, and the Scottish National Gallery. The Surgeons Hall is another unusual and popular museum, with Edinburgh Zoo being the most popular paid tourist attraction.
The city is well-known for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the world’s largest international arts festival. Other festivals, such as Scottish Air, Edinburgh Hogmanay, and Beltane Fire Festival, take place annually. The city has a strong arts presence, with numerous theaters and live music venues for classical and contemporary music. John McLeod is a contemporary composer from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is home to three professional football teams, as well as a national and city rugby team. Cricket, ice hockey, basketball, and American football are among the other sports played in the city. Also, the Edinburgh Marathon attracts 16,000 runners each year.
The city has a population of more than 500,000, and Edinburgh is the UK’s second most popular tourist destination, with nearly 5 million visitors each year.
Because Edinburgh is so old and popular, finding parking in the city centre is extremely difficult. Streets are extremely narrow, and traffic can be heavy. Paying to park in the centre can be extremely expensive, sometimes costing nearly £30 per day!
On this page, we’ve compiled a list of all of Edinburgh’s free parking options to help you save money. A map at the top of the page provides a quick overview, with additional information and options discussed in the article.
Important Note:
While UKFreeParking.com takes every step to ensure that the parking information provided is accurate at the time of writing, local ordinances, parking availability, parking prices, and parking regulations change with time.
UKFreeParking.com accepts no responsibility for any fines or tickets received as a result of using our website.
Please ensure that you park your vehicle safely and responsibly every time, making sure to adhere to local parking rules, signs, and regulations.
Free and Paid Parking in Edinburgh
Free Residential Streetside Parking
One of the best ways to park for free in a city is to know which residential streets have no restrictions. This is easier said than done in an unfamiliar environment. We’ve compiled a list of all of Edinburgh’s unrestricted residential streets, complete with postcodes and walking distances to the city centre.
North
If you’re going to the Royal Botanic Garden, park on one of the north residential streets. When you reach the city centre, you will enter through the New Town.
- Iona Street EH6 8SF – 0.9 miles
- Murano Place EH7 5HH – 0.9 miles
- Spey Street Lane EH7 4PZ – 0.9 miles
- Spey Terrace EH7 4PX – 0.9 miles
- Dryden Street EH7 4PT – 1 mile
- Dryden Gait EH7 4QR – 1 mile
- Redbraes Place EH7 4LL – 1.3 miles
- Warriston Road EH7 4HW – 1.5 miles
- Ferry Road EH5 3AD – 1.6 miles
- Bangholm Place EH5 3EA – 1.7 miles
- Bangholm Grove EH5 3AQ – 1.7 miles
- Bangholm Road EH5 3AZ – 1.8 miles
- Wardie Road EH5 3QD – 1.8 miles
- Wardie Avenue EH5 2AB – 1.9 miles
- Clark Road EH5 3BG – 1.9 miles
- Arboretum Road EH3 5PN – 1.9 miles
- Rosebank Road EH5 3QW – 1.9 miles
The following roads are more north-easterly than the others and a further walk from the city centre. They are more handy for the Western General Hospital and Craigleith Retail Park.
- Davidson Road EH4 2PE – 2.4 miles
- Davidson Park EH4 2PF – 2.4 miles
- Kimmerghame Place EH4 2GE – 2.5 miles
- Grigor Avenue EH4 2PQ – 2.6 miles
- Grigor Drive EH4 2PJ – 2.6 miles
- Telford Drive EH4 2NQ – 2.7 miles
- Easter Drylaw Bank EH4 2QL – 2.9 miles
- Easter Drylaw Avenue EH4 2QZ – 2.9 miles
- Easter Drylaw View EH4 2QP – 3 miles
East
The residential streets to the east of Edinburgh are handy for green spaces like Holyrood Park, London Road Gardens, and Calton Hill. Walking into the centre will take you past the Scottish parliament building and the Burns Monument, and the Museum of Edinburgh. You will end up near Edinburgh Waverley train station and the Scott’s Monument area of the city centre.
- Lyne Street EH7 5DN – 0.8 miles
- Abbey Street EH7 5XN – 0.9 miles
- Lady Menzies Place EH7 5BE – 0.9 miles
- Maryfield Place EH7 5AU – 0.9 miles
- Waverley Place EH7 5RZ – 0.9 miles
- Regent Place EH7 5BG – 0.9 miles
- Salmond Place EH7 5ST – 0.9 miles
- Tytler Gardens EH8 8HQ – 0.9 miles
- Milton Street EH8 8HA – 0.9 miles
- Waverley Park EH8 8EU – 1 mile
South
Parking in a southerly direction will put you near Holyrood Park and the University of Edinburgh. You will walk past the Surgeons Hall Museum and the National Museum of Scotland before getting to the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle.
- Marchhall Crescent EH16 5HL – 1.7 miles
- Marchhall Road EH16 5HR – 1.7 miles
- Kirkhill Gardens EH16 5DF – 1.9 miles
- Kirkhill Terrace EH16 5DQ – 1.9 miles
- Macdowall Road EH9 3ED – 1.9 miles
- Savile Place EH9 3EB – 1.9 miles
- Priestfield Road EH16 5HX – 2 miles
The next list of streets is further south from the city centre. However, you will be nearer the University of Edinburgh’s Kings Buildings, the Royal Observatory, Hermitage of Braid, and Cameron Toll Shopping Centre.
- Lussielaw Road EH9 3BX – 2 miles
- Langton Road EH9 3BP – 2.1 miles
- Lygon Road EH16 5QA – 2.2 miles
- Rankin Avenue EH9 3DB – 2.2 miles
- Rankin Drive EH9 3DJ – 2.2 miles
- Ladysmith Road EH9 3EU – 2.4 miles
- Blackford Hill Rise EH9 3HB – 2.5 miles
- Observatory Road EH9 3HG – 2.5 miles
- Midmar Gardens EH10 6DZ – 2.7 miles
West
Parking on westerly streets puts you closer to Edinburgh Zoo and Murrayfield Stadium, and walking into the city centre takes you past the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
- Sauchiebank EH11 2NN – 2 miles
- Craigleith Crescent EH4 3JL – 2.5 miles
- Ashley Drive EH11 1RN – 2.6 miles
When parking in residential streets, make sure not to block driveways or entrances, and keep junctions clear. Do not park on double-yellow lines, and keep noise to a minimum as a courtesy to the residents. Remember that leaving your vehicle on unrestricted streets is at your own risk, and always look for signs that limit parking at certain times.
Free Overnight & Weekend Parking in Edinburgh
- Forth Street EH1 3LD – free 6:30pm-8:30am Monday-Saturday, free all day Sunday
- Gayfield Street EH1 3NR – free 5:30pm-8:30am Monday-Friday, free all day Saturday & Sunday
- Dalmeny Street EH6 8RA – overnight parking permitted
- Henderson Place Lane EH3 5DG – free 5:30pm-8:30am Monday-Friday, free all day Saturday & Sunday
- Albany Street EH1 3PY – free 6:30pm-8:30am Sunday-Friday 6:30pm Saturday-midday Sunday
- East London Street EH7 4BN – free 5:30pm-8:30am Monday-Friday, free all day Saturday & Sunday
- Great King Street EH3 6RN – free 5:30pm-8:30am Monday-Friday, free all day Saturday & Sunday
- Ravelston Dykes EH4 3ED – overnight parking permitted
- Chester Street EH3 7RF – free 6:30pm-8:30am Monday-Saturday, free all day Sunday
- Merchiston Park EH10 4PW – free 5:30pm-8:30am Monday-Friday, free all day Saturday & Sunday
Park & Ride Services in Edinburgh
Using one of Edinburgh’s seven Park & Rides is a more convenient way to get to the city centre. Parking at these locations is free or very inexpensive, and you won’t have to drive through city traffic, pay a lot to park in car parks, or look for an unrestricted parking spot. The buses, trains, and trams arrive frequently, making it an easy way to get into town.
- Ferrytoll Park & Ride KY11 1LN (north) – 1040 spaces, 37 disabled spaces, free parking (including overnight), bus links
- Newcraighall Park & Ride EH21 8SG (east) – 565 spaces, 30 disabled spaces, 50p for 24 hours of parking, connects to rail and bus services
- Wallyford Park & Ride EH21 8BU (east) – 300 spaces, 13 disabled spaces, free parking, Lothian Buses link
- Sheriffhall Park & Ride EH22 1FD (south) – 561 spaces, 15 disabled spaces, free parking (including overnight), bus links with Lothian Buses
- Straiton Park & Ride EH20 9NP (south) – 600 spaces, 37 disabled spaces, free parking (including overnight), bus links with Lothian Buses
- Ingliston Park & Ride EH28 8LS (west) – 1085 spaces, 46 disabled spaces, free parking, Lothian 300 bus service and Edinburgh Tram – adult day ticket £4.50 child day ticket £2.20 family day ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £7.50
- Hermiston Park & Ride EH14 4AT (west) – 450 spaces, 11 disabled spaces, free parking (including overnight), bus links with Lothian buses
The Lothian Buses fares are:
- Adult day ticket: £5.00
- Child day ticket: £2.50
- Family day ticket (for 2 adults and up to 3 children): £10.50
Cheapest Paid Parking Options in Edinburgh
If you prefer the security and convenience of a paid parking space, finding an affordable one in Edinburgh’s city centre can be difficult. The following are the cheapest options we found within walking distance of the city centre:
- Scottish Widows EH3 8BL – £4.50 for 2 hours
- Dynamic Earth EH8 8AS – £5.50 for 2 hours
- OMNI EH1 3AN – £6.60 for 2 hours
- Distillery Lane EH11 2BQ – £2.80 for 2 hours
- Calton Road EH1 3EG – £5.50 for 2 hours
Edinburgh is a stunning, timeless city that is well worth visiting. We hope the information on this page makes your trip go more smoothly by allowing you to easily find a free parking space.
2 Hours Free Parking/Customers Only
One often-overlooked way to get up to two or three hours of free parking is to look for commercial properties, retail parks, small shopping centers, and so on that only provide free parking to customers. You could park, go about your business, then make a small purchase (for less than the cost of parking) and be on your way. You can find free* customer-only parking at:
- Tesco Superstore EH7 4EW
- Dynamic Earth EH8 8AS
- Q-Park OMNI EH1 3AN
- Distillery Lane EH11 2BQ
- Calton Road Parking EH1 3EG