Brighton is a well-known seaside resort city located 42 miles south of London. A thriving tourist industry of approximately 9.5 million visitors per year boosts the 300,000-strong population during the holiday seasons. Brighton has long been known for its famous Palace Pier, lovely beaches, and vibrant arts scene. It is also regarded as one of the happiest places to live in the United Kingdom, as well as the most LGBT-friendly city. Many well-known names call Brighton home, including musicians Fatboy Slim and Nick Cave, authors Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling, and YouTube personalities Jacksepticeye and Pewdiepie.
Parking has become a major issue due to the city’s popularity and proximity to the capital. Parking has become increasingly difficult and expensive as a result of a 2-mile square restricted parking zone in the city center. One hour in a central car park costs on average £4! However, if you know where to look, you can still find free parking options in Brighton.
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 Brighton
Free Parking Zones in Brighton
Brighton has Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs). These are used to help residents and workers find parking near their homes or workplaces. CPZs operate during specific hours, which are marked on signs near the zone’s roads; during these hours, no parking is permitted unless you have a valid permit.
Outside of operating hours, however, anyone can park for free in these areas, which is especially useful if you need overnight or weekend parking. Outside of the permitted hours, there may still be a time limit, so check the signs.
- Zone A: Preston Park – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone B: Coldean – All day, every day (except for match or event days)
- Zone C: Queens Park – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone D: Moulsecoombe – All day, every day (except for match or event days)
- Zone E: Preston Park Station North – Mon-Fri nights 8pm-9am, all day on Sat & Sun
- Zone F: Fiveways & Balfour Road – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone G: Hollinbury Road/Ditchling Gardens – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone H: Kemp Town & Hospital – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone I: Craven Vale – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone J: Preston Circus – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone K: Preston Village – Mon-Fri nights 8pm-9am, all day Sat & Sun
- Zone L: West Hove – Every day from 12pm-6pm and every night from 7pm-11am
- Zone M: Brunswick & Adelaide – Every night from 6pm-9am
- Zone N: Central Hove – Every night 8pm-9am
- Zone O: Goldsmid – Mon-Sat nights 8pm-9am, all day Sun
- Zone P: Hove Park – Mon-Fri from 10am-1pm and from 2pm-9am, all day Sat & Sun
- Zone Q: Prestonville – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone R: Westbourne – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone S: Elm Grove & Hanover – Mon-Fri from 12pm-6pm and from 7pm-11am, all day Sat & Sun
- Zone T: Hove station – Every day from 8pm-9am
- Zone U: Coombe Road – Mon-Fri from 11am-5pm and from 6pm-10am, all day Sat & Sun
- Zone V: Elm Grove & Hanover – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone W: Wish Road – Every day from 11am-7pm and every night from 8pm-10am
- Zone Y: Central Brighton North – Every night from 8pm-9am
- Zone Z: Central Brighton South – Every night from 8pm-9am
It is important to note that finding a space in these zones may take some time, and there is no guarantee that you will get one. If you need to park during restricted hours, you can also buy a visitor permit.
Free and Unrestricted Residential Streetside Parking
You could consider parking on a residential street and walking to the town center. If you’re unfamiliar with a location, the disadvantage is not knowing which streets you can park on. We’ve compiled a list of all of Brighton’s residential streets with free parking, including postcodes and distances from the seafront (specifically the Palace Pier). To make it easier for you to find the streets that are most convenient to you, the list is divided into the directions from which you can approach Brighton.
Keep in mind the usual rules for parking on residential streets, such as not parking over driveways or on double yellow lines, keeping noise to a minimum (especially in the evening), and double-checking for signage indicating when and where you’re allowed to park, if any.
North Brighton
These are the most convenient streets to try to park in if you’re approaching Brighton from the north, including visitors from London. Before you even get to the beach, a walk down to the seafront from this direction will take you past The Level Park and Valley Gardens, the famous Lanes shopping district, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, and the Royal Pavilion!
- Hollingdean Road BN2 4AA – 1.6 miles
- Upper Hollingdean Road BN1 7GA – 1.7 miles
- Davey Drive BN1 7BF – 1.8 miles
- Roedale Road BN1 7GD – 1.8 miles
- Dewe Road BN2 4BE – 1.9 miles
- Dudley Road BN1 7GL – 1.9 miles
- Hollingdean Terrace BN1 7HB – 1.9 miles
- Horton Road BN1 7EG – 1.9 miles
- Milner Road BN2 4BR – 2 miles
- Redvers Road BN2 4BG – 2 miles
- Brentwood Road BN1 7ES – 2.3 miles
- The Avenue BN2 4FA – 2.5 miles
North West Brighton
Coming into Brighton from the west of the country, or from the north-west, this group of streets is the most convenient to reach. A walk from here to the Palace Pier passes by the Booth Natural History Museum, Dyke Road Park and Hove Green, The Lanes, the Royal Pavilion, and the Old Steine Gardens.
- Bavant Road BN1 6RD – 2.2 miles
- Knoyle Road BN1 6RB – 2.2 miles
- Cornwall Gardens BN1 6RJ – 2.3 miles
- The Paddock BN3 6LT – 2.3 miles
- Bishops Road BN3 6PN – 2.4 miles
- Elms Lea Avenue BN1 6UG – 2.5 miles
- Fairlie Gardens BN1 6PY – 2.5 miles
- Hazeldene Meads BN1 5LR – 2.5 miles
- Surrenden Road BN1 6PA – 2.5 miles
- Withdean Avenue BN1 5BL – 2.5 miles
East Brighton
Coming in from the east and parking there is one way to get closer to the sea. You can walk through town, past the Secret Garden and the Flea Market, or take the scenic route along the marina and beach.
- Manor Close BN2 5EG – 1.5 miles
- Manor Hill BN2 5EL – 1.5 miles
- Manor Crescent BN2 5EJ – 1.6 miles
- Flimwell Close BN2 5GJ – 1.7 miles
- Henfield Close BN2 5GN – 1.7 miles
- Marlow Road BN2 5NB – 1.7 miles
- Peel Road BN2 5ND – 1.7 miles
- Reading Road BN2 5NE – 1.7 miles
- Cliff Road BN2 5RD – 1.8 miles
- Wadhurst Rise BN2 5PW – 1.8 miles
- Chiddingly Close BN2 5GE – 1.9 miles
- The Cliff BN2 5RE – 1.9 miles
- Findon Road BN2 5LP – 1.9 miles
- Whitehawk Crescent BN2 5FD – 1.9 miles
- Roedean Way BN2 5RJ – 2.2 miles
The cost of free parking in Brighton is still time and effort. It can take a long time to find a parking spot, and you may have to walk a long distance to get to your destination, which can be difficult for families with small children, as well as the disabled and elderly.
Free but Restricted Residential Streetside Parking
These residential streets have free parking at certain times of the day. Outside of these hours, a resident’s permit is required to park here. As always, park in a manner that allows others to use the road without having to maneuver around your vehicle. Leave enough space for others to exit any parallel parking spaces and avoid blocking any driveways or access points.
- Riley Road BN2 4AG – 1.7 miles | free 11am to 5pm and 6pm to 10am, weekends
- Ewhurst Road BN2 4AL – 1.8 miles | free 11am to 5pm and 6pm to 10am, weekends
- Mafeking Road BN2 4EL – 1.8 miles | free 11am to 5pm and 6pm to 10am, weekends
- Kimberley Road BN2 4EP – 2 miles | free 11am to 5pm and 6pm to 10am, weekends
- Ladysmith Road BN2 4EH – 2 miles | free 11am to 5pm and 6pm to 10am, weekends
- The Droveway BN3 7QA – 2.5 miles | free 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 9am, weekends
- Hove Park Way BN3 6PW – 2.5 miles | free 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 9am, weekends
- Harrington Villas BN1 6RG – 2.1 miles | free 10am to 2pm and 3pm to 9am, weekends
- Varndean Road BN1 6RR – 2.5 miles | free 10am to 2pm and 3pm to 9am, weekends
- Gordon Road BN1 6PE – 2.1 miles | free 8pm to 9am
- Herbert Road BN1 6PB – 2.1 miles | free 8pm to 9am
- Bates Road BN1 6PF – 2.2 miles | free 8pm to 9am
- Loder Road BN1 6PL – 2.2 miles | free 8pm to 9am
- Preston Drove BN1 6FJ – 2 miles | free 8pm to 9am
Keep in mind that the distances listed here are to the Palace Pier. Check out our companion map to see if any of these spots are near where you’re going.
Free Car Parks in Brighton
Looking for a few hours of free parking? Do you mind paying for a cup of coffee in exchange for having your parking validated? There are still a few businesses and shopping malls where you can park for free for two or three hours. Remember to check whether you need to validate your parking with a purchase or not. While the information on this page was correct at the time of publication, these parking lots may change their policies at any time.
- Brighton Marina BN2 5UT – 2 hours maximum stay
- Pavilion Retail Park BN2 3QA – 2 hours maximum stay, customers only
- Tesco Hove BN3 2DL – 3 hours maximum stay
Pay and Display Streetside Parking near Brighton City Centre
Street Parking with Pay and Display Near Brighton City Centre
- George Street – £2.80 for 2 hours
- John Street – £2.80 for 2 hours
- William Street – £2.80 for 2 hours
- Princes Street – £2.80 for 2 hours
- Broad Street – £2.80 for 2 hours
- Kingswood Street – £2.80 for 2 hours
- Old Steine – £8.80 for 2 hours
- Avenue – £8.80 for 2 hours
- Bartholomews – £8.80 for 2 hours
- Black Lion Street – £8.80 for 2 hours
- Middle Street – £8.80 for 2 hours
- King Place – £8.80 for 2 hours
- Tichborne Street – £8.80 for 2 hours
Cheapest Paid Car Parks near Brighton City Centre
- Morrisons BN2 1RE – £4.00 for 2 hours
- Chapel Street Car Park BN2 1RQ – £4.20 for 2 hours
- Churchill Square Orange Carpark BN1 2RU – £5.50 for 2 hours
- NCP Brighton Theatre BN1 1US – £7.90 for 2 hours (pre-booked via NCP app)
- Regency Square Car Park BN1 2FH – £8.60 for 2 hours
- Trafalgar Street Car Park BN1 4DZ – £9.70 for 2 hours
- The Lanes Car Park BN1 1ND – £10.40 for 2 hours
- Regency Mews BN1 2HF – £11.00 daily flat rate