Local parking guide

Parking in Leicester

What a parking ticket costs in Leicester, what it costs to park, what a resident permit costs, who enforces it and how to challenge one.

Leicester City CouncilLeicesterEngland

Leicester publishes its car park prices in full and its on-street prices not at all: the council says only that on-street charges vary by location, so check the machine or the sign. In the three main city centre car parks — Haymarket Centre, Newarke Street and Dover Street — there is no two-hour band. An hour costs £2.50, and anything longer, up to three hours, costs £5. The cheapest council car park is Goscote House at £1 an hour, free overnight and on Sundays. Blue Badge holders park free in every council car park.

Leicester City Council Leicester England

Leicester lists eligible streets for its permit zones but does not publish a count of zones, so we do not state one.

On-street charges are not published centrally. The cheapest council car park, Goscote House, charges £1 an hour.

What a ticket costs in Leicester

Leicester does not publish the amount of a parking penalty charge. Its pay page states the 50 per cent discount for payment within 14 days but not the figure it applies to, and the challenge page gives none either. The amount is on the notice itself.

Paying by phone

Leicester City Council accepts PayByPhone. Check the sign in the bay for the location code before you start a session — it is the code, not the street name, that decides what you are charged.

Council car park charges

AreaPer hourMaximum stayNotes
Haymarket Centre, Newarke Street and Dover Street car parks £2.50 for up to 1 hour No maximum stated Up to 3 hours £5, up to 4 hours £6.30, up to 6 hours £8.80, up to 9 hours £12.50, up to 12 hours £15. No two-hour band. Haymarket and Dover Street open 24 hours; Newarke Street Monday to Saturday 6.30am to 1am, Sundays and bank holidays 10am to 6pm.
Victoria Park car park £1.30 for up to 1 hour No maximum stated Up to 2 hours £2.50, up to 3 hours £5, up to 4 hours £6.30, up to 9 hours £12.50, up to 12 hours £15. Open 24 hours, no height restriction.
St Margaret's, Abbey Park and Watermead Country Park car parks £2.20 for up to 2 hours No maximum stated Up to 3 hours £3.30, up to 4 hours £4.40, up to 12 hours £9.90. At St Margaret's on Sundays and bank holidays: up to 3 hours £1.10, up to 6 hours £3.30.
Upper Brown Street and Phoenix Square car parks £2.50 for up to 1 hour No maximum stated Up to 3 hours £5, up to 4 hours £6.30. Phoenix Square also up to 9 hours £12.50 and up to 12 hours £15.
Goscote House car park £1 No maximum stated Monday to Saturday, 6am to 7pm. Free overnight and on Sundays.

Resident permits

First vehicle£35

The council lists ‘Residents parking: £35’ without stating the period. An annual visitor permit is £40, and a visitor or maintenance permit £2 for 24 hours. Permits are digital and handled through MiPermit.

Park and ride

  • Meynell's Gorse · Buses to the city centre every 15 minutes, 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.
  • Enderby · Every 15 minutes, 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, and every 20 minutes from 7pm to 9pm.
  • Birstall · Every 15 minutes, 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

Who enforces, and where to appeal

Leicester City Council issues penalty charge notices for parking, and also for bus lanes, bus gates, bus stop clearways and box junctions. A parking PCN number starts with LE.

Challenge the notice first. If the challenge is rejected, the council sends a Notice to Owner, which is your formal representation; if that is rejected too, you can appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. The council publishes a list of reasons it does not accept, including ‘I only stopped for a minute’ and ‘I went to get change for the pay and display machine’.

How to challenge a ticket, step by step →

Related rules

Other cities

Common questions

How much does it cost to park in Leicester city centre?
In the council's main car parks — Haymarket Centre, Newarke Street and Dover Street — £2.50 for up to 1 hour, £5 for up to 3 hours, £6.30 for up to 4 hours, £8.80 for up to 6 hours, £12.50 for up to 9 hours and £15 for up to 12 hours. On-street charges vary by location and the council does not publish them centrally.
Is there a two-hour ticket at Haymarket or Newarke Street?
No. The bands go from up to 1 hour at £2.50 straight to up to 3 hours at £5, so a stay of an hour and a quarter costs the same as three hours. Victoria Park does have a two-hour band, at £2.50, and charges £1.30 for up to 1 hour.
What is the cheapest council car park in Leicester?
Goscote House, at £1 an hour from 6am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and free overnight and on Sundays. St Margaret's, Abbey Park and Watermead Country Park charge £2.20 for up to 2 hours and £9.90 for up to 12 hours, and St Margaret's is £1.10 for up to 3 hours on Sundays and bank holidays.
Do Blue Badge holders pay in Leicester car parks?
No. Blue Badge holders park free in all council car parks.
How much is a resident parking permit in Leicester?
The council lists residents parking at £35, an annual visitor permit at £40 and a visitor or maintenance permit at £2 for 24 hours. Permits are digital: you apply, renew and buy visitor permits through a MiPermit account.
How much is a parking ticket in Leicester?
The council does not state the amount on its pages. It does state that you get a 50 per cent discount if you pay within 14 days. The full amount is printed on the notice, and a parking PCN number starts with LE.
How do I challenge a parking ticket in Leicester?
Challenge it first. If the council rejects the challenge, it tells you what you still owe and sends a Notice to Owner, which you can return as a formal representation by post or email. If that is rejected, you can appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Sources

Figures last checked 29 September 2026