Free Parking in Holyrood, SCT: Where to Find It
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Holyrood Park has free-to-visit access and named car parks at Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch (Historic Environment Scotland). These are daytime options, not guaranteed all-night spaces, because overnight parking is prohibited anywhere in the park. If they are occupied, Edinburgh Holyrood Car Park at 2 Viewcraig Gardens is open 24 hours every day, with charges from £4.50 for one hour.
Parking Near Holyrood
Free parking around Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park provides parking at Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch car parks, according to Historic Environment Scotland. The authority also states that Holyrood Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, and free to visit, but the free admission does not make every parking arrangement unrestricted.
Holyrood Park prohibits overnight parking anywhere in the park. Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch therefore work within the park’s access and parking conditions rather than as guaranteed all-night spaces. A driver looking for a free stop should treat the park’s named car parks as daytime options and allow for the overnight restriction.
Parksy parking near Holyrood’s Old Tolbooth Wynd
A secure covered parking space in Edinburgh’s Old Tolbooth Wynd is 0.2 miles from Holyrood and costs £90 a month. A convenient Old Tolbooth Wynd space is also 0.2 miles away and costs £9 an hour. These priced spaces provide nearby alternatives when free parking in Holyrood Park is occupied.
Secure garage parking in central Edinburgh is 0.3 miles from Holyrood and costs £5 an hour. Secure 24/7 parking in Edinburgh is 0.4 miles away and costs £18 a day. Convenient 24/7 parking on the Royal Mile is 0.5 miles away and costs £25 a day, while a secure 24/7 parking lot with shuttle service is 0.5 miles away and costs £54.50 a day. The listed locations give drivers several priced choices around Holyrood rather than requiring a search for another free bay.
Holyrood’s overnight and permit parking rules
Holyrood Park prohibits overnight parking anywhere in the park, according to Historic Environment Scotland. The restriction applies across the park, including the areas served by Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch car parks. A driver leaving a vehicle overnight in Holyrood Park risks breaching the park’s parking conditions.
The University of Edinburgh’s City car parks include Holyrood, and only certain University permits are valid in City car parks. Visitors and contractors may park in City car parks with a permit valid for the City areas, while contractors may also use a Contractor City Annual Permit. St Leonard’s Land has RingGo parking for non-University permit holders from 18:00 to 04:00 Monday to Friday and 24 hours at weekends. These University arrangements are permit-based and are not general free parking for Holyrood visitors.
Cheapest named paid alternatives when Holyrood fills up
When Holyrood Park’s named car parks are full, Edinburgh Holyrood Car Park at 2 Viewcraig Gardens, EH8 9UL, is open 24 hours every day, according to NCP. NCP charges £4.50 for one hour, £9 for one to two hours, £13.50 for two to three hours, £18 for three to four hours, £22.50 for four to five hours and £27 for five to 24 hours. The car park accepts cards and payment through the NCP App.
NCP also offers season tickets at Edinburgh Holyrood Car Park from £3.91 per day. The published season-ticket figure is based on an annual season ticket purchased and used for a minimum of 365 days. The car park has a maximum vehicle height of 2.15 metres, which matters for taller vehicles using the Viewcraig Gardens site.
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 Holyrood?
Holyrood Park has free-to-visit access and named car parks at Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch (Historic Environment Scotland). These are daytime options, not guaranteed all-night spaces, because overnight parking is prohibited anywhere in the park. If they are occupied, Edinburgh Holyrood Car Park at 2 Viewcraig Gardens is open 24 hours every day, with charges from £4.50 for one hour.
Which car parks offer free parking in Holyrood Park?
Historic Environment Scotland identifies Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch as Holyrood Park car parks. Holyrood Park is free to visit and open 24 hours a day, year-round, but its parking conditions still apply. The named car parks should therefore be treated as daytime options rather than guaranteed unrestricted parking.
Can I leave my car overnight in Holyrood Park?
No. Holyrood Park prohibits overnight parking anywhere in the park, according to Historic Environment Scotland. This restriction includes Broad Pavement, St Margaret’s Loch and Duddingston Loch car parks. A vehicle left overnight anywhere in Holyrood Park risks breaching the park’s parking conditions, even though the park itself is open 24 hours a day.
Is University parking at Holyrood free for visitors?
The University of Edinburgh’s City car parks include Holyrood, but only certain University permits are valid in City car parks. Visitors and contractors need a permit valid for the City areas, while contractors may also use a Contractor City Annual Permit. These arrangements are permit-based, not general free parking for Holyrood visitors.
What paid car park can I use when Holyrood Park is full?
Edinburgh Holyrood Car Park at 2 Viewcraig Gardens, EH8 9UL, is open 24 hours every day, according to NCP. It charges £4.50 for one hour, £9 for one to two hours and £27 for five to 24 hours. It accepts cards and payment through the NCP App, and has a maximum vehicle height of 2.15 metres.
Are there other parking options near Holyrood?
Priced alternatives include a secure covered space in Old Tolbooth Wynd, 0.2 miles from Holyrood, at £90 a month, and another Old Tolbooth Wynd space at £9 an hour. Secure garage parking in central Edinburgh is 0.3 miles away at £5 an hour, while secure 24/7 parking 0.4 miles away costs £18 a day.
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