Parking in Edinburgh

Festival city — tight streets and tough enforcement

Edinburgh's historic layout — with narrow medieval closes in the Old Town and Georgian crescents in the New Town — makes city-centre parking challenging. The City of Edinburgh Council operates extensive CPZs across both areas, and enforcement is particularly strict during the Festival (August) and Hogmanay. Park and ride from the outskirts is often the most practical option.

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Edinburgh parking at a glance

PCN penalty charge

£100 (£50 if paid within 14 days)

CPZ operating hours

Mon–Sat 8:30 am – 6:30 pm (most central streets)

Park & Ride sites

Ingliston, Newcraighall, Straiton

Festival period

August — significant additional restrictions apply

Parking tips for Edinburgh

Use park and ride in summer

During the Edinburgh Festival, driving into the city centre is impractical. Ingliston park and ride offers direct trams into the city for a flat fee.

Royal Mile has no parking

The Royal Mile and surrounding streets are largely pedestrianised or severely restricted. The nearest parking is on Holyrood Road or Canongate.

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Nearby parking guides

🅿️ Manchester

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