To build your own Itinerary, click to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Already saved an Itinerary?
Christmas shopping can be stressful enough without the extra hassle of finding a parking spot. Luckily in Nottingham there are over 8,000 places to park your car, plus an award-winning bus operator, nine park and ride sites and a far-reaching tram network, so there are plenty of options if you plan ahead!
This page indicates any changes to parking and public transport over the Christmas and New Year period so you can make your festive experience in Nottinghamshire hassle free. For regular information about parking, public transport, park and ride, taxis and trains in Nottinghamshire, please visit our Getting Around page.
Beat the crowds and park at a satellite location, and get an NCT bus or NET tram into Nottingham City Centre.
With nine sites across the network and over 6,500 spaces available, Park & Ride in to Nottingham City Centre for just £6 per car with Nottingham City Transport bus routes. The £2 single bus fare cap will remain in place until the end of December 2024. However, please be aware that this fare may not apply to all services, so it is advisable to check before you travel.
Open 7 days a week, the NET Tram Park & Ride sites are cleaned daily and patrolled by staff as well as monitored by CCTV. Park Mark approval means those sites have met the national standard for UK car parks that have low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles. There are disabled and parent and child spaces close by and cycle hubs and electric vehicle charging points at some sites. Their tram service operates a "turn up and go" service, with trams from every 7 minutes during the week (every 3 minutes within the City Centre) and from every 10 minutes at weekends and bank holidays. Displays at every stop will let you know when the next tram is due to arrive.
Click here to see all Park and Ride options into Nottingham City Centre.
With over 8,000 spaces in city centre car parks, plus thousands of on-street pay-and-display bays and over 6,500 spaces at the Park & Ride sites, there are plenty of places to leave your car in Nottingham.
To see a map of Nottingham's car parks, on-street parking, and their prices, please click here.
Motorists can use the RingGo app to pay for parking. This means not having to worry about carrying loose change on you, avoiding queues at ticket machines, and even being able to extend your stay using your phone if you decide you need more time when out shopping. To find out how to use the RingGo app on your smartphone, please click here.
Victoria Centre is the largest indoor shopping centre in Nottingham City Centre with a large car park and affordable rates. Their car parks are now cashless so please be prepared to tap a contactless payment method at the entrance barrier and then tap again (twice), take a ticket upon entry and pay at the barrier when leaving or pay with a contactless method at one of the pay stations. They also have 24 electric vehicle charging bays, 74 disabled spaces, 30 parent & child bays, and 22 motorbike spaces. Please find their rates below.
You can find NCP Car parks all over Nottingham. They are often open 24hrs with cashless payment available through their app. Season tickets are also available from as little as £3.52 per day. Check out their pre-booking availability, too! For the full list and info of prices and sites, visit: ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks.
Locations:
Nottingham City Council run a variety of car parks in Nottingham City Centre. Most are available 24 hours and have cashless payment options via the RingGo app. If you take a parking ticket instead, you must go to one of the pay stations upon your return. They should accept cards, coins and notes and will also issue change. For full info please visit: parking.nottinghamcity.gov.uk.
A couple of deals are available at the Lace Market car park seven days per week. Enter between 3pm and 5pm and stay for up to five hours for just £5. Normal tariffs apply for longer stays. Park all day on Sundays and pay no more than £6.50 at the Lace Market. Must leave before midnight.
There are no maximum stay restrictions for most on street pay and display bays, however, you must refer to local signage for further information.
On street parking is free within motorcycle and pay and display bays and unless local signage indicates otherwise, there is no time limit. No charge applies at Trinity Square car park but it must be parked in the designated motorcycle area. Motorcycles must be parked in the cage at the Lace Market car park, a charge applies. Other council run car parks are free of charge.
Nottingham Station is a short walk away from the main city centre, meaning it is a great car parking option even if you are not using the rail network. They offer a great all-day rate of £9.50, or just £5 all day at weekends or weekdays if you park up after 10am, making it one of the most affordable parking options in Nottingham City Centre at Christmastime.
East Midlands Railway trains do not normally run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day (with a few exceptions) and they won't resume until as late as midday the day after, on 27th December. Passengers on this day should check train times carefully, and plan ahead. Train services run as usual but may end a bit earlier on New Year's Eve.
For up to date info, please visit eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/timetables-updates.
The £2 single bus fare cap will remain in place until the end of December 2024. However, please be aware that this fare may not apply to all services, so it is advisable to check before you travel. Full timetables for the Christmas and New Year period are uploaded to the NCTX Buses app and on their website at: nctx.co.uk/services.
Here are some updates on the normal routes:
Here's a handy summary of how Trent Barton busses are expected to run this festive period to help keep you moving:
Open 7 days a week, the NET Tram Park & Ride sites are cleaned daily and patrolled by staff as well as monitored by CCTV. Park Mark approval means those sites have met the national standard for UK car parks that have low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles. There are disabled and parent and child spaces close by and cycle hubs and electric vehicle charging points at some sites.
Their tram service operates a "turn up and go" service, with trams from every 7 minutes during the week (every 3 minutes within the City Centre) and from every 10 minutes at weekends and bank holidays. Displays at every stop will let you know when the next tram is due to arrive.
For more information visit: thetram.net
While lots of businesses close over Christmas and New Year, the airport is certainly not one of them!
East Midlands Airport is the closest airport to Nottinghamshire. Their busiest Christmastime dates are the 10th, 26th and 30th December, with almost 10,000 passengers travelling through the airport on each of those days in 2023. The quietest December dates to travel are the 6th, 13th, and 25th December.
We always recommend checking the latest travel information with your airline and on your airport's social media channels, so you’re always in-the-know about any last-minute changes which could include weather disruptions.
© Visit Nottinghamshire 2024. All Rights Reserved