Finding convenient, safe, and affordable parking can often be a daunting task for drivers across the UK, especially when you consider other factors like electric vehicle or disabled spaces.
To uncover the parking conditions of the most populous cities, we’ve delved into the data of 76 busy car parks across the UK and ranked them by their parking provisions. We’ve crunched the numbers, factored in average vehicle crime rates, parking costs that won’t break the bank, the availability of electric vehicle bays, spots designed for blue badge holders, and total spaces to reveal the best city in the UK for parking.
Middlesbrough and Nottingham are Crowned the Best Cities for Parking
Middlesbrough and Nottingham have emerged as the unsung heroes of parking in the UK. Surprising as it may be, the vibrant city of Middlesbrough has snatched the crown. With it being the cheapest city to park in at just £1.05 an hour. Not to mention, with remarkably low vehicle crime rates at car parks at 38 on average. In total there were 568 vehicle crimes across the top 5 car parks over the last three months. A decent amount of electric vehicle bays – 6.4 on average, and a commendable provision of disabled bays at 15 on average. Middlesbrough has ticked all the right boxes.
Nottingham, the city renowned for its rich history and legendary tales of Robin Hood, has joined forces with Middlesbrough to claim the throne for the best parking experience in the UK. The city has many disabled spots at 44 on average, alongside an admirable amount of EV bays on average at 7.
The Most and Least Safe UK Cities for Parking are Belfast and Birmingham
Birmingham drivers beware! Our study reveals city car parks are a criminal’s paradise, averaging a staggering 139 vehicle crimes each! New Street Station takes the crown (or should we say, loses the most hubcaps) as the worst offender, clocking in at a whopping 180 crimes in just three months.
Not far behind is Bristol. The city witnesses 105 vehicle crimes in local car parking facilities. The worst-affected car park is Rupert Street, which sees 144 vehicle crimes on average.
On the other side of the coin, Belfast is named the safest city for parking. On average, there are 33.6 vehicle crimes across the city’s most popular car parks. The safest car park appears to be City Quays, which has only 22 vehicle crimes on average. The next best city to park your car if you want peace of mind is Middlesbrough with 38 vehicle crimes on average, and the safest car park in Middlesbrough is Zetland, averaging 34 vehicle crimes.
Manchester Charges Ahead: The City is the Best for EV Parking Bays
When it comes to embracing the electric revolution, Manchester takes the crown with an average of 24.2 electric vehicle bays across the top five busiest car parks in the city. Of the cities analysed, the average number of electric bays was just 3. So, Manchester is significantly miles ahead—21, to be exact.
The next best city for electric vehicle parking bays is Nottingham. Alongside Nottingham being the best city overall for parking, the city is the second best for EV bays at 7 on average across the top five busiest car parks in the city.
Liverpool Leads the Way for Disabled Parking
In the realm of accessibility, Liverpool stands tall as a beacon of inclusivity. With an impressive average of 59 disabled bays throughout the city, according to our analysis of the top five busiest car parks in Liverpool. The council allows blue badge holders to park in blue badge bays, and other designated bays free of charge all day.
London is the Worst City for Disabled Parking
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the UK’s capital, London falls disappointingly short in providing sufficient disabled parking options. Shockingly, London has just 3 disabled bays on average across the most popular car parks in the city.
Forget the nationwide Blue Badge scheme in the City of London! Parking gets a special twist here. You can’t park in suspended bays or on yellow lines. But fear not, for those with the highest level of disability living allowance, there’s a special perk: the Red Badge. This London-only program grants holders exclusive parking privileges, making city life a breeze.
Whether you’re after more insights into the automotive industry, like our look into which countries are adopting EVs the fastest, or want to find out how we can help you get the best deals on car finance, we’ve got you covered.
Methodology
CarMoney analysed 76 of the busiest car parks in the top 15 most populous cities. Then ranked the parking facilities of the UK cities based on vehicle crime within one mile of the car park, the number of disabled bays, the number of electric vehicle bays, cost per hour, and total spaces. No vehicle crime data was available for Glasgow, Edinburgh, and parts of Newcastle upon Tyne and Belfast, so the average was applied.
