Free Parking in Bedford

It can be difficult to park in the centre of Bedford, especially if you aren’t familiar with the area.

You’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of free parking spots without restrictions in and around Bedford.

12 places to park for free in Bedford (2026)

Finding a free parking spot during your visit to Bedford can be a great way to save money that would otherwise be spent on using a council run car park which often comes with expensive parking charges.

Free parking spots around the city are not hidden, they are simply streets that have no restrictions meaning you can park – it’s all about knowing where they are.

If you are looking for a free parking spot near Bedford so you can save money on parking charges, you’ll be pleased to know that we have done the research and found the free parking spots available.

You can park for free in Bedford on the following streets near to the town centre:

North of Bedford:

West of Bedford:

East of Bedford:

South of Bedford:

You should always check for any newly installed restriction signs before leaving your car.

What to know about parking free in Bedford

When parking, please be considerate of others:

• Ensure you don’t block any driveways
• Tuck your car as close to the kerb as possible.
• Don’t double park as you may be parked on a bus route

Cheapest all-day parking in Bedford

We found the cheapest car park in Bedford to be Tesco Extra Bedford, which can be pre-booked, even if you are not a customer.

You book this car park all day (9am – 5pm) for just £2, so it’s a great option for commuters or those visiting Bedford for the full day.

Cheapest monthly parking in Bedford

We found the cheapest car park for monthly parking in Bedford to be Tesco Extra Bedford which costs £30 per month, making it ideal for commuters.

You can use this car park 7 days a week, including overnight, and leave and re-enter the car park as many times as you need to, although you must pre-book.

Free Parking near Bedford Hospital

Bedford Hospital does have its own car park, but you can expect to pay higher parking charges.

If you are visiting Bedford Hospital, you can expect to pay around £4.50 to park, so we recommend parking on Melbourne Street, Redwood Grove, Marlborough Road, Cutcliffe Grove or Westfield Road.

Free Parking near Bedford Train Station

There is a car park located at Bedford Train Station, but you can expect a daily charge of around £9.20, which can make commuting quite expensive.

You can park for free near Bedford Train Station on Marlborough Road, Cutcliffe Grove or Westfield Road.

Free Car Parks in Bedford

You can park for free in Bedford on Sunday’s, 2 hours on Saturday and after 6pm daily at the following car parks:

Car Park	Address	Spaces	Free Parking
Allhallows multi-storey car park	MK40 1LX	430	All day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays and between 6pm and 8am daily.
Lurke Street multi-storey car park	MK40 3HZ	790	All day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays and between 6pm and 8am daily.
Queen Street multi-storey car park	MK40 2HA	634	2 hours (Mon – Sat), all day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays and between 6pm and 8am daily.
River Street multi-storey car park	MK40 1UH	465	All day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays.
Duckmill Lane surface car park	MK42 0AU	11	All day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays and between 6pm and 8am daily.
Greyfriars surface car park	MK40 1JD	143	All day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays and between 6pm and 8am daily.
St Peter’s Street surface car park	MK40 3NG	110	All day Sunday, 2 hours on Saturdays and between 6pm and 8am daily.

Free on-street parking in Bedford

If you would rather park in one of the on-street parking bays in Bedford, you can park for free in all zones between 6pm and 8am. Specific zone information can be found here:

Zone A – View map of Zone A

Zone B – View map of Zone B 

Zone C – View map of Zone C 

Zone D – View map of Zone D 

Zone E – View map of Zone E 

Zone G – View map of Zone G 

Zone J – View map of Zone J 

Zone K – View map of Zone K

Zone M – View map of Zone M 

Zone N – View map of Zone N 

These parking zones are central to Bedford town centre so ideal if you are heading out shopping or for a meal.

Park and ride sites in Bedford

Park and ride is a great way to travel into Bedford without having to battle through traffic.

It’s also a much cheaper option than paying car parking charges. There’s one park and ride site in Bedford – Elstow Park and Ride, with free parking and low cost bus travel:

Park and Ride Site	Address
Elstow Park and Ride	MK42 9XF

Alternatively, if you don’t want to be watching the clock, you can use one of our recommended free parking spots.

Free disabled parking in Bedford

If you have a Blue Badge, you can park for free in the following car parks in Bedford for any period of time:

Car Park	Address
Allhallows multi-storey car park	MK40 1LX
Lurke Street multi-storey car park	MK40 3HZ
Queen Street multi-storey car park	MK40 2HA
River Street multi-storey car park	MK40 1UH
Duckmill Lane surface car park	MK42 0AU
Greyfriars surface car park	MK40 1JD
St Peter’s Street surface car park	MK40 3NG

Free motorcycle parking in Bedford

Motorcycle parking is free of charge and without time limit at any council owned car park or on-street pay-and-display parking bay in Bedford.

The only caveat is that you park perpendicular to the kerb subsequently using minimal parking space.

Residential parking in Bedford

If you are a resident in Bedford where permits are required, you can apply for a residents parking permit.

Cost for the first vehicle is £27.15, the second £79.30 and third is £102.10. Each change to a permit will incur a charge of £5.45.

In order to apply, you will need to prove you are a resident, so will be required to provide proof of address and proof of vehicle.

About Bedford, UK

Bedford has plenty to offer for both families and those living locally.

There’s Bedford Park if you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some green space. In the park you’ll find a duck pond, a pavilion and a fountain as well as plenty of space to enjoy a picnic or walk the dog.

If you want to experience some heritage, you can visit the Panacea Museum where you’ll go back in time and see what life used to be like.

Other towns and cities nearby

If you’re visiting the area for a short trip or just looking for things to do nearby, you can explore these towns and cities that are near to Bedford:

• Milton Keynes
• Cambridge

About the Author

Information was last updated on January 8th, 2024