If you are familiar with Nottingham, you will know that parking, and most definitely free parking in Nottingham, can be a little frustrating, especially if you want to be close to the city centre, so we show you the best options for free parking in Nottingham without restrictions.
4 places to park for free in Nottingham (2025)
The following streets offer un-restricted FREE parking spots in Nottingham:
You should always check for any newly installed restriction signs before leaving your car.
What to consider when parking free in Nottingham
When parking, please be considerate of others:
- Ensure you don’t block any driveways
- Tuck your car as close to the kerb as possible.
- Don’t double park as you may be parked on a bus route
Free car parks in Nottingham
If you are looking to park for free in Nottingham, Sneinton Market Square Car Park (NGF3 1JB) is no longer free of charge, but does charge a small fee of just £0.50p for 1 hour.
Free street parking in Nottingham
Nottingham street parking is split into different zones, so depending which zone you want to park in, will determine whether there is free parking available:
You can park for free in Nottingham’s on-street parking locations between 10pm and 8am:
| Zone | Area | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | City Centre, The Lace Market, Hockley | 10pm – 8am |
| Zone 2 | City Centre, Hockley | 10pm – 8am |
| Zone 3 | Arboretum | 10pm – 8am |
| On Street Location | Zone | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Road | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Poplar Street | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| North Circus Street | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Chaucer Street | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Woolpack Lane | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Castle Boulevard | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Derby Road | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Upper College Street | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Talbot Street | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Peel Street | 3 | 10pm – 8am |
| Ilkeston Road | 3 | 10pm – 8am |
| Waterway Street | 3 | 10pm – 8am |
Free parking near Victoria Centre Nottingham
Victoria Centre is the ultimate shopping centre in Nottingham and the ideal place to enjoy an afternoon of retail therapy. There’s also a wide range of places to eat, including Ed’s Easy Diner, Caffe Rizolli, Subway, McDonalds and Krispy Kreme to name just a few.
There’s also a wide range of high street shops, including Boots, Accessorize, H. Samuel and Next to name a few. Although there is parking on site, you can also use one of our recommended free parking spots nearby:
- Garfield Road
- Faraday Road
Free parking near Nottingham university
If you are visiting Nottingham University either to see a loved one or you are looking at studying there, there are a number of ways to get there, including bus, train and of course car.
There is an on-site car park which is pay and display, so we recommend using one of the free parking spots nearby:
- Garfield Road
- Faraday Road
Nottingham Park & Ride Sites
Nottingham has different park and ride options, with two pocket park and ride sites where you can park up and then jump on the bus into the city centre and then there’s 7 tram park and ride sites.
| Park and Ride Site | Address | Spaces | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotgrave Park & Ride | NG12 3LA | 33 | Bus |
| Stragglethorpe Park & Ride | NG12 2JZ | 56 | Bus |
| Clifton South Park & Ride | NG11 8BF | 1,000 | Tram |
| The Forest Park & Ride | NG7 6AQ | 972 | Tram |
| Hucknall Park & Ride | NG15 7TD | 439 | Tram |
| Moor Bridge Park & Ride | NG6 8AE | 119 | Tram |
| Phoenix Park Park & Ride | NG6 8AE | 657 | Tram |
| Toton Lane Park & Ride | NG9 7JA | 1,400 | Tram |
| Wilkinson Street Park & Ride | NG7 7NW | 600 | Tram |
Nottingham Park and Ride Bus Ticket Prices
| Ticket Type | Price |
| Bus Day Single | £2.50 |
| Bus Day Return | £4.40 |
| Tram Day Single | £3 |
| Tram Day Return | £5 |
Free overnight parking in Nottingham
You can park for free overnight in Nottingham between 10pm and 8am at on-street parking locations across the city. These streets include:
| On Street Location | Zone | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Road | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Poplar Street | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| North Circus Street | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Chaucer Street | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Woolpack Lane | 1 | 10pm – 8am |
| Castle Boulevard | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Derby Road | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Upper College Street | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Talbot Street | 2 | 10pm – 8am |
| Peel Street | 3 | 10pm – 8am |
| Ilkeston Road | 3 | 10pm – 8am |
| Waterway Street | 3 | 10pm – 8am |
Coach parking in Nottingham
If you are travelling to Nottingham by coach, the most suitable car park is Queens Park and Ride site NG2 1AP, but coaches must give 24 hours notice before parking here.
You can book this car park by emailing busfacilities@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or ringing 0115 986 3205.
Residential parking in Nottingham
If you are a resident in Nottingham where permits are required, you can apply for a residents parking permit.
In order to apply, you will need to prove you are a resident, so will be required to provide proof of address and proof of vehicle. The permit is free of charge but second permits will cost around £35.
We always recommend looking out for newly installed road signs as permitted parking can change quickly.