Cambridge Parking

Parking in central Cambridge is tricky, as the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is enforced every day of the week. This means that every street has some kind of parking restriction. Parking restrictions to look out for are:

Pay and Display car parks

Double yellow lines, where you can't park

Single yellow lines, where you can only park at some times. Be sure to check the signs when parking on these

Kerb flashes showing loading restrictions

In the rest of the Cambridge City Council Area, parking restrictions are mostly found on bus routes and main roads to keep the traffic moving. Restrictions in residential areas make schools, junctions and crossings safer. Much of the parking is in pay and display car parks or multi-storey car parks. The most popular central car parks are Grafton East car park, Grafton West car park, Grand Arcade car park, Park Street car park and Queen Anne Terrace car park. There is also parking around Addenbrookes Hospital. You can check how many spaces are available online through the Cambridge Council website.

Avoid circling the car parks, and head to our App to check out availability on the go. On the YourParkingSpace map, we make sure that we only offer parking spaces that you are entitled to park in, so there are no surprise fines through the letterbox!

The closest airport to Cambridge is Stanstead. For both long and short stay parking options, visit our Stanstead airport page.

Cambridge is a beautiful city, with lots of lovely countryside to explore. It’s less than two hours to drive to London, or head to the Norfolk coast to take in the fresh air, or to the Chiltern Hills to take in the open plains, marshland and rolling scenery. Cambridge City is steeped in academic history, and you can feel its presence strolling down the Cambridge Backs, down Trinity Lane and in the vast and stunning vaulted ceilings of Kings College Chapel.

If you’re looking to do some shopping, head to browse the stalls in Market Square. Once you’re stocked up, stroll down Market Passage and into Lions Yard arcade to check out the latest fashion. John Lewis is just next door for further browsing for your home. If you’re searching for a flavour of student life, check out the impressive architecture of the University Library, cross over the water and through town to the Round Church, and next to it the Cambridge Union Society. Finish off your day with a comedy performance at the infamous ADC Theatre.

Finding parking spaces in the city centre’s favourite locations is a walk in the park with YourParkingSpace. You can park up just moments from the best attractions, at cheap prices.

Car

Cambridge is easily accessible from London by car at 1h 40mins, via the M11. Peterborough, Canterbury and Southend-on-Sea are all within driving distance for a day trip. Heading to Birmingham? Take the M6 and M1, or if you’re travelling onto Leicester it’s the M1 and A14.

Take your pick of 5 different Park and Ride services that surround the city.   

Train

Cambridge Station and Cambridge North both have regular trains to London and the surrounding areas. Cambridge Station is walking distance from the city centre, about a 25 minute walk.

Electric car recharging points are available at Grafton East car park level one and Queen Anne Terrace car park level three (ground floor).

As you may already know, the Blue Badge allows you to park in more places, for longer, and often free of charge!

Blue Badge holders can park for free for up to three hours in Cambridge City multi-storey car parks. Normal parking charges apply after the free-parking period has ended.

1. When you are ready to leave, take your Blue Badge to a pay station and follow the instructions
2. The machine will scan your badge to ensure it’s valid, and automatically deduct three hours off the parking fee
3. If you’ve stayed less than three hours your ticket will be returned to you to allow free exit. Otherwise, pay the fee shown on the screen and your ticket will be returned to you
4. Insert your ticket at the exit barrier

Parking for Blue Badge holders is free for the first three hours at Castle Hill car park and Riverside car park.

Adam and Eve Street car park and Gwydir Street car park have a maximum stay of two hours. Blue Badge holders can stay for up to this long for free.

1. Display your Blue Badge and time clock clearly on the dashboard before you leave your car
2. If you’re staying for more than three hours, buy a ticket for the extra time and display it with your badge and time clock

Officers checking parking tickets will know to add three hours to the time you have paid for.

There are plenty of off-street car parks to choose from in Cambridge, which run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Enter your dates and times into our search results page and you can find a space for a time frame and location that suits you.

On Bank holidays resident and visitor permits are not required in the CPZ zones, where parking is free and unrestricted on these days.

Got access to empty parking spaces in Cambridge? Register your driveway, parking space or lock-up garage with us. It’s free to list and takes just two minutes. Sit back, relax and watch the bookings roll in.

Is there free parking on Saturday in Cambridge?

There is no free on-street parking in Cambridge city centre. The City Council Car Park has 100 uncovered spaces and offers free parking from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm. Queen Anne Terrace is the cheapest car park and is situated near Parker's Piece - and is a 15 to 20 minute walk into the centre of the city.

Is there free parking on Sunday in Cambridge?

There is no free parking in Cambridge city centre unless you are a valid Blue Badge holder and require disable bays. Cambridge city centre has the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), which means that every street has some kind of parking restriction at some point in time, apart from on Bank Holidays. You can check online on the Cambridge City Council website for parking space availability in the main multi-storey car parks: Grafton East car park, Grafton West car park, Grand Arcade car park, Park Street car park, Queen Anne Terrace car park (cheapest option).

Can you park on the street overnight in Cambridge?

Some residents’ permit zones in the CPZ allow for overnight parking, depending on restrictions; many are enforced 8am – 8pm, with a window for overnight parking. Make sure to check local signage for guidance. A recommended place to park overnight in Cambridge would be at the DoubleTree Hilton by Cambridge City Centre, or at the Cambridge University Engineering Department. Both are available for overnight and weekend bookings and can be booked on YourParkingSpace website or on our App.   

Is there parking near Cambridge train station?

There are lots of parking options near Cambridge train station, around Davy Road and Brackyn Road which is a short walk to the station via the pedestrian footbridge. There are also spaces to rent for monthly, hourly or weekly bookings close to Station Road, closer to the city centre. One possibility is Bailey House: the space is suitable for vehicles up to the size of a Large - (4x4). On-site there is Covered Parking, Security Lighting, Underground Parking and Disabled Access. The space is available 24 hours on all days. The space is accessed via a security fob which will be provided to you on arrival. It is inside a gated and covered residents car parking area on ground level which is operated by fob. It is an exceptionally good location, only a 5 minute walk to Cambridge train station on the cycle bridge.