Free Parking in Old Town, ENG: Where to Find It
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Free marked bays are available on High Street, Bell Lane, Church Lane, Drapers Way and Primett Road. High Street south of Letchmore Road and Stanmore Road, Walkern Road, Primett Road and Drapers Way allow up to three hours; High Street north of Drapers Way, Bell Lane and Basils Road allow two hours. A four-hour no-return rule applies, except for valid blue-badge holders.
Free parking streets around Old Town High Street
Old Town’s free on-street spaces are on High Street and adjacent roads including Bell Lane, Church Lane, Drapers Way and Primett Road (stevenage.gov.uk). These marked bays provide the main general parking option for a short visit, with five dedicated disabled spaces on High Street. The High Street disabled spaces are reserved for vehicles displaying a valid blue badge.
High Street south of its junction with Letchmore Road and Stanmore Road, Walkern Road between Church Lane and High Street, Primett Road and Drapers Way have a maximum stay of three hours. High Street north of its junction with Drapers Way, Bell Lane and Basils Road between Church Lane and High Street have a maximum stay of two hours. The council directs drivers needing longer stays to off-street car parks near High Street, including Primett Road and Church Lane.
Old Town’s four-hour no-return parking rule
Every free parking space listed for Old Town has a no-return-within-four-hours restriction, except for vehicles displaying a valid blue badge (stevenage.gov.uk). A driver who leaves a free bay cannot return to another qualifying bay within four hours, so moving between nearby streets does not reset the restriction.
High Street south of Letchmore Road and Stanmore Road, Walkern Road between Church Lane and High Street, Primett Road and Drapers Way allow up to three hours. High Street north of Drapers Way, Bell Lane and Basils Road between Church Lane and High Street allow up to two hours. The relevant parking signs visibly display these restrictions, and the bays have appropriate road markings.
When Old Town’s free bays are full
Drivers looking for a longer visit should use an off-street car park rather than remain in a short-stay bay, because Primett Road and Church Lane are identified as car parks near the High Street.
Primett Road is also one of the roads containing free on-street parking, while the council separately identifies Primett Road and Church Lane as off-street options for longer periods. The free on-street locations are High Street, Bell Lane, Church Lane, Drapers Way and Primett Road, with the High Street section and the other named roads subject to different two-hour or three-hour maximum stays.
Old Town parking enforcement and blue-badge exception
Old Town’s free bays are clearly marked with road markings and the restrictions are displayed on existing parking signs (stevenage.gov.uk). The enforceable limits are three hours on High Street south of Letchmore Road and Stanmore Road, Walkern Road between Church Lane and High Street, Primett Road and Drapers Way, and two hours on High Street north of Drapers Way, Bell Lane and Basils Road between Church Lane and High Street.
Five dedicated disabled parking spaces are available on High Street, and the blue-badge exception is the specific concession attached to the free-space no-return rule. The council’s stated purpose is to prevent longer stays and make spaces easier for other drivers to find.
Photo: Pexels / Altaf Shah * Please note: parking prices, time limits and fine amounts change frequently and vary by operator, council and local authority. Everything on this page is indicative and provided on a best-endeavours basis. Always check the sign, the operator or the issuing authority before you rely on a figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I park for free in Old Town?
Free marked bays are available on High Street, Bell Lane, Church Lane, Drapers Way and Primett Road. High Street south of Letchmore Road and Stanmore Road, Walkern Road, Primett Road and Drapers Way allow up to three hours; High Street north of Drapers Way, Bell Lane and Basils Road allow two hours. A four-hour no-return rule applies, except for valid blue-badge holders.
Which streets have free parking around Old Town High Street?
Old Town’s free on-street spaces are on High Street and adjacent roads including Bell Lane, Church Lane, Drapers Way and Primett Road (stevenage.gov.uk). These marked bays provide the main general parking option for a short visit. High Street also has five dedicated disabled spaces for vehicles displaying a valid blue badge.
How long can I park for free in Old Town?
High Street south of its junction with Letchmore Road and Stanmore Road, Walkern Road between Church Lane and High Street, Primett Road and Drapers Way have a maximum stay of three hours. High Street north of Drapers Way, Bell Lane and Basils Road allow a maximum stay of two hours.
Can I return to another free bay within four hours?
No. Every free parking space listed for Old Town has a no-return-within-four-hours restriction, except for vehicles displaying a valid blue badge (stevenage.gov.uk). The relevant parking signs visibly display these restrictions.
Where should I park for a longer visit when the free bays are full?
Drivers looking for a longer visit should use an off-street car park rather than remain in a short-stay bay. The council identifies Primett Road and Church Lane as off-street car parks near High Street for longer periods. Primett Road is also one of the roads containing free on-street parking.
What are the blue-badge rules for free parking in Old Town?
Five dedicated disabled parking spaces are available on High Street for vehicles displaying a valid blue badge. A valid blue badge is also the specific exception to Old Town’s free-space no-return-within-four-hours restriction (stevenage.gov.uk). The free bays are marked with road markings and the restrictions appear on existing parking signs.
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