The beautiful and quaint town of Canterbury wasn’t made for cars, so before you can enjoy the narrow cobbled streets on foot, you will have to find yourself somewhere to park your car. Not a nice thought, I know. But great news, I have spent a day in Canterbury hunting out the best places you can not only park but also park your car for free.
Free Parking in Canterbury, UK – 2023
So, Where is there free parking in Canterbury? Here are the roads in Canterbury where it is free to park:
- Market Way
- Forrester Close
- South Street
- Uplands
- The Crescent
- Dunelm Car Park (Customers Only)
- Council Offices Car Park Free All Day – Sat & Sun
- Council Offices Car Park Free After 6 pm – Mon to Fri
- Victoria Recreation Park Free 9 pm to 7 am All Week
Read on to see more hidden parking locations with nearer and long stay free parking. You will also find out where the cheapest 4, 8 and 24-hour car parks are. You will be happily surprised by what you find.
There are places, times and ways to park for free if you are a little clever, know where to go, and don’t mind a little walk to the centre of town.
The City Council Offices are closed at the weekends, and so they allow the public to park in their 200 space Car Park on Saturdays and Sundays.
But if you are going shopping and have things to do around town on foot, why not mix the two together. Many stores in Canterbury offer up to all-day parking as long as you buy something.
With a bit of forethought, you can have your parking and shopping done, and your parking is taken care of for a good few hours while you go around town.
Free Car Parks in Canterbury
| Location | Price if Any | Duration | Walk To the Cathedral |
| City Council Office Car Park | Free | All-day Sat & Sun After 6 pm Mon to Fri | Approx 15 mins |
| Sainsbury’s Car Park Customers Only | Free With time restrictions | 2 Hours Mon to Sat 7 am to 10 pm Sun 10 am to 4 pm | Approx 8 mins |
| Dunelm Car Park Customers Only | Free With time restrictions | All Day Mon to Fri 9 am – 8 pm Sat 9 am – 6 pm Sun 10 am – 4 pm | Approx 15 mins |
| B & Q Car Park Customer Only | Free With time restrictions | All Day Mon to Fri 7 am – 9 pm Sat 7 am – 8 pm Sun 10 am – 4 pm | Approx 25 mins |
| Marshwood Retail Park Customers Only | Free With time restrictions | All Day Mon to Fri 9 am – 8 pm Sat 9 am – 7 pm Sun 10 am – 4 pm | Approx 28 mins |
| Asda Car Park Customers Only | Free With time restrictions | All Day Mon 7 am – 12 am Tues to Fri 24 hour Sat 12 am to 10 pm Sun 10 am – 4 pm | Approx 28 mins |
Free On-Road Parking in Canterbury
Ok, So if the City Council Office Car Park is full and you don’t want to be a customer in any of the stores offering free parking to customers all day. What are you Gonna Do?
There is still on-street Parking, where you can leave your car for an hour, a day, or a few days, and it won’t cost you a penny. See below where the nearest roads are using Canterbury Cathedral again as a geographical reference, the approximate walking distance.
Free Parking on the North Side of Canterbury
| Parking Free Roads on the Northside of Canterbury | Walk to the Cathedral |
| Market Way | 17 mins |
| The Terrace | 23 mins |
| The Crescent | 23 mins |
| South Street | 23 mins |
| Uplands | 27 mins |
| Manwood Ave | 23 mins |
| Moorfield | 24 mins |
Free Parking on the East Side of Canterbury
| Parking Free Roads on the Eastside of Canterbury | Walk to the Cathedral |
| Spring Lane | 17 mins |
| Russet Road | 19 mins |
| Pilgrims Way | 20 mins |
| Laxton Way | 21 mins |
| Sussex Avenue | 22 mins |
| Surrey Road | 23 mins |
| Cumberland Avenue | 23 mins |
| Hampshire Road | 24 mins |
| Forrester Close | 24 mins |
| Dorset Road | 25 mins |
Free Parking on the South Side of Canterbury
According to google maps, the South Side of Canterbury is the South Side, as it shows the shortest walk to Canterbury from any of the free roads in the town. Please spread yourselves around and use the other roads as well.
| Parking Free Roads on the Southside of Canterbury | Walk to the Cathedral |
| Gordon Road | 12 mins |
| Tudor Road (Narrow) | 12 mins |
| York Road (Narrow) | 13 mins |
| Martyr’s Field Road | 15 mins |
| Oxford Road | 15 mins |
| Saint Mildred’s Place | 14 mins |
| Victoria Road | 15 mins |
| Simmonds Road (Industrial Estate) | 14 mins |
Free Parking on the West Side of Canterbury
The free parking roads on the West side of Canterbury are the furthest away from the centre, with the nearest to the cathedral being approximately a 22-minute walk. You may choose to go to the North, South or East side where parking is still free, but a little closer to town.
| Parking Free Roads on the West side of Canterbury | Walk to the Cathedral |
| Miller Avenue | 22 mins |
| Shipman Avenue (narrow road) | 25 mins |
| Squire Avenue | 26 mins |
| Franklyn Road | 26 mins |
| City View | 26 mins |
| Wife of Bath Hill | 26 mins |
| Merchants Way | 27 mins |
| Priest Avenue | 27 mins |
| Pardoner Close | 28 mins |
Is there Free Parking near the University of Kent?
Just minutes away from campus, there is a good few residential roads with available on-street parking that is free. See the chart below.
| Free Parking near the University of Kent | Walk to the Cathedral |
| Downs Road | 4 mins |
| The Close | 5 mins |
| The Crescent | 8 Mins |
| Manwood Avenue | 8 Mins |
| Tenterden Drive | 16 mins |
| Headcorn Drive | 19 mins |
| Rough Common Road | 10 mins |
| Highfield Close | 10 mins |
| Oaks Park | 12 Mins |
Is there Car Parking at the University of Canterbury, Kent?
There are 5 Visitor Car parks on campus At Kent University, but they can not guarantee you a parking space when you arrive. All the car parks on campus cost the same and have the same operating hours and free parking opportunities.
| University of Kents Car Parks Central Visitor Car Park North East Side Sports Centre Car Park Center of campus Beverley Farm Car Park South Side of campus Pavilion Car Park North West Side Oaks Car Park is also at the Noth West Side Opening times: 8 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday | Prices |
| Up to 3 hours | £2.00 |
| Over 3 hours | £6.00 |
| Monday to Friday from 5 pm to 7 am the next day Sat & Sun Free All Day | Free |
Click here to See a helpful University of Kent Campus Parking Map
Free Parking near Canterbury Christ Church University
| Free Parking near Canterbury Christ Church University | Approx Walk time to the University |
| Spring Lane | 11 mins |
| Russet Road | 11 mins |
| Sturmer Close | 11 Mins |
| Laxton Way | 13 mins |
| Fiesta Walk | 15 Mins |
| Warwick Road | 15 Mins |
| Sussex Avenue | 16 mins |
| Kent Avenue | 17 mins |
| Devon Road | 17 mins |
Nearest Car Parking for Canterbury East Train Station
| Free Parking Near Canterbury Railway Station | Approx Walking Time to The Train Station |
| St Stephens Road | 8 mins |
| Forty Acres Road | 10 Mins |
| Pine Tree Avenue | 10 mins |
| Dexter Close (Narrow) | 11 mins |
| Market Way | 12 Mins |
| Cadnam Close | 13 mins |
| Foxdown Close | 14 Mins |
| Willow Close | 16 mins |
| Ulcombe Gardens | 20 mins |
Free Parking near Kent & Canterbury Hospital
| Free Parking near Kent & Canterbury Hospital | Approx Walking Time to The Hospital |
| Mount Road | 4 Mins |
| Cromwell Road | 5 mins |
| Winchester Gardens | 7 Mins |
| George Roche Road | 7 mins |
| Old Dover Road | 9 mins |
| Bristol Road | 12 mins |
| Durham Close | 13 Mins |
| Zealand Road | 13 mins |
| Barton Road | 20 mins |
Is there Car Parking at Canterbury Christ Church University?
Due to limited space, Canterbury Christ Church University does not offer visitor or student parking on campus. The University Website, Suggests visitors use the Canterbury City Council Park and Ride scheme at the Wincheap, Sturry Road, and New Dover Road Park & Ride car parks.
See the New Dover Road Park and Ride bus route. It is only £3.50 to use for up to 6 passengers, and you can register and pay online here.
Buses run every 8 minutes from 7 am to 7.30 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the buses run every 15 minutes from 10 am, and the last bus is at 6 pm.
See the map below; the university is in Orange. Click on one of the green or red drops and let Google maps guide you to your free parking spot.
Free Parking near HM Prison Canterbury
The prison in Canterbury is located on the campus grounds of the Canterbury Christ Church University and doesn’t have a car park for visitors to use. But there are Roads nearby where you can park, and what’s more, for free. See the chart below and the map above.
| Free Parking near HM Prison Canterbury | Approx Walking Time to the HM Prison |
| Spring Lane | 4 Mins |
| Pilgrims Way | 8 mins |
| Sussex Avenue | 11 Mins |
| Surrey Road | 11 mins |
| Cumberland Avenue | 13 mins |
| Hampshire Road | 14 mins |
| Dorset Road | 15 mins |
| Mount Road | 13 mins |
9 Free Weekend Parking Tips in Canterbury
Where is there free weekend parking in Canterbury? You can on the following roads in Canterbury for free at the weekend:
- Gordon Road
- Oxford Road
- Tudor Road
- Martyr’s Field Road
- Saint Mildred’s Place
- Winchester Gardens
- Pilgrims Way
- Market Way
- Victoria Road
| 9 Free Weekend Parking Spots in Canterbury | Approx Walking Time to the Canterbury Roman Museum in central Canterbury |
| Gordon Road | 12 mins |
| Oxford Road | 15 mins |
| Tudor Road (Narrow) | 13 mins |
| Martyr’s Field Road | 14 mins |
| Saint Mildreds Place | 15 mins |
| Winchester Gardens | 20 mins |
| Pilgrims Way | 20 mins |
| Market Way | 19 mins |
| Victoria Road | 19 mins |
Best Priced Car Parks in Canterbury
If free parking isn’t good enough, here are Canterbury’s cheapest car parks. We have also put them into the order of the cheapest 4, 8 and 24-hour parking as they do differ from time to time. Happy parking
Cheapest 4-hour Car Parks in Canterbury
| Cheapest 4-hour Car Parks in Canterbury | Price |
| Victoria Recreation Park | £1.10 |
| Castle Street | £3.50 |
| Holman’s Meadow | £3.50 |
| Wincheap Park & Ride | £3.50 |
| Sturry Road Park & Ride | £3.50 |
| Maynard Road | £4.00 |
| Cow Lane | £4.00 |
| Canterbury East Station | £4.30 |
| Toddlers Cove | £6.00 |
| Rosemary Lane | £7.60 |
Cheapest 8-hour Car Parks in Canterbury
| Cheapest 8-hour Car Parks in Canterbury | Price |
| Castle Street | £3.50 |
| Wincheap Park & Ride | £3.50 |
| Sturry Road Park & Ride | £3.50 |
| Canterbury East Station | £4.30 |
| Victoria Recreation Park | £4.30 |
| Maynard Road | £8.00 |
| Cow Lane | £9.30 |
| Toddlers Cove | £12.00 |
| Rosemary Lane | £15.30 |
Cheapest 24 hour Car Parks in Canterbury
| Cheapest 24 hour Car Parks in Canterbury | Price |
| Wincheap Park & Ride | £3.50 |
| Sturry Road Park & Ride | £3.50 |
| Canterbury East Station | £8.60 |
| Castle Street | £9.00 |
| Holman’s Meadow | £9.00 |
| Victoria Recreation Park | £9.20 |
| Maynard Road | £14.00 |
| Cow Lane | £14.00 |
| Canterbury West Station | £15.20 |
Best Motorcycle Parking in Canterbury, Kent
Canterbury is a great destination for a motorcycle road trip, and it has laid-out parking opportunities throughout the city. So, on your bike
Where is there free motorcycle parking in Canterbury? Here are where the motorcycle parking bays are in Canterbury:
- Castle Row
- Castle Street Multi-Storey car park
- Gladstone Road
- Holman’s Meadow
- Longport
- New Dover Road Park and Ride
- Pound Lane
- Queningate
- St Radigunds
- Sturry Road Park and Ride
- Watling Street
- Whitefriars Multi-Storey car park
- Wincheap Park and Ride
Sourced from Canterbury.co.uk
If you are in Canterbury for a good few days, fancy a day trip to one or more nearby towns. We have also visited and written posts on the best free parking in Ashford, Maidstone or the stunning coastal towns of Margate, Dover and Hastings. Kent is such a beautiful part of England, so make the most of it while you are down this way.
I hope this article sees you all safely parked up in Canterbury and that we have helped make your visit smoother. Have a great time, and remember Road Trip Heroes.com when you are visiting other towns and cities. We aim to explore more of the UK and, in the process, share with you great little parking tips from where we go.
Keep Safe.
