With Loughborough being a university town, it can get quite busy with pedestrians, especially in the town centre. There are free parking spots around Loughborough without restrictions that mean you can enjoy the town without worrying about hefty parking charges.
4 places to park for free in Loughborough (2026)
You can park for free in Loughborough on the following streets near to the town centre:
You should always check for any newly installed restriction signs before leaving your car.
What to consider when parking free in Loughborough
When parking, please take into consideration:
- Be considerate – most free parking is on residential streets, so do not block driveways or exit routes
- It will likely involve a walk from your free parking spot to Loughborough town centre
Free parking near Charnwood Museum
Charnwood Museum showcases the rich heritage of the local area.
Featuring a wide range of exhibits reflecting the history, geology, archaeology and industries of Charnwood and the surrounding area.
Charnwood Museum is located central to Loughborough, just a stones throw away from the railway station.
- Cobden Street
- Pavilion Way
- Middle Avenue
- Holmfield Avenue
Free parking near Queens Park
Queens Park is a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre and enjoy some of the greenery and nature.
Here, you can enjoy a book or simple take a short stroll around the grounds. Here’s the closest free parking spots near Queens Park:
- Cobden Street
- Pavilion Way
- Middle Avenue
- Holmfield Avenue
Free parking near Loughborough University
Loughborough University has its own parking options but you may need to pay for these, so we recommend using one of the free parking spots nearby, especially if you are visiting for the full day:
- Cobden Street
- Pavilion Way
- Middle Avenue
- Holmfield Avenue
Free parking near Great Central Railway
If you are visiting Great Central Railway for a day out, we recommend using one of these free parking spots nearby:
- Cobden Street
- Pavilion Way
- Middle Avenue
- Holmfield Avenue
Great Central Railway is the UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway and a great way to enjoy the steam train whilst taking in the sights.
Cheapest all-day parking in Loughborough
We found the cheapest car park in Loughborough to be Sainsbury’s, Loughborough car park, which you can book even if you are not a customer – but it must be pre-booked.
You book this car park all day (9am – 5pm) for just £6.15, so it’s a great option for commuters or those visiting Loughborough for the full day.
Cheapest monthly parking in Loughborough
We found the cheapest car park for monthly parking in Loughborough to be Sainsbury’s, Loughborough car park, which costs £85 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 this must be pre-booked.
Free car parks in Loughborough
There are no free car parks in Loughborough itself, but there are two car parks on the outskirts that offer free parking; The Nook Car Park and High Street Barrow Upon Soar.
| Car Park | Address | Spaces | Free Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Nook Car Park | LE7 7AZ | 78 | All Day |
| High Street – Barrow Upon Soar | LE12 8PZ | 32 | All Day |
You can park in Loughborough on Sundays at Beehive Lane Car Park between 6am – 6pm for just 60p.
Overnight parking in Loughborough
If you are looking to park your car in Loughborough overnight, you can use one of our recommended free parking spots:
- Cobden Street
- Pavilion Way
- Middle Avenue
- Holmfield Avenue
If you would rather park in a secure car park, council run car parks across the town are free of charge between midnight and 6am. These include Beehive Lane car park, Granby Street car park and Southfield Road car park.
Free disabled parking in Loughborough
If you have a Blue Badge, you are entitled to park in the following car parks in Loughborough free of charge for the first 3 hours:
- Loughborough Leisure Centre Car Park (Browns Lane) – LE11 3HE
- Southfield Road car park
- Granby Street car park
Free motorcycle parking in Loughborough
If you are visiting Loughborough by motorcycle, you can benefit from free parking at the following car parks for up to 3 hours:
- Granby Street – Free parking at the front of the car park
Motorcycles must park in the dedicated motorcycle parking bays.
Free motorhome parking in Loughborough
If you are travelling to Loughborough by motorhome, we recommend you use one of our free parking spots, Pavilion Way.
This street are wide enough to accommodate a motorhome without any issues and it should be relatively easy to park.
Residents permit parking in Loughborough
If you are a resident of a disc zone in Loughborough, you can apply for a residents parking permit, entitling you to park your car on any street in that zone.
Residents permits costs are as follows:
- Car for up to 6 months – £25
- Car for 6 months up to 1 year – £50
- Motorcycles – £25
- Blue badge holders – free
In order to apply for a permit, you will need proof of residence and proof of vehicle.
You can also apply for a visitor pass in the form of a scratchcard book which costs around £10.
About Loughborough
Loughborough is a relatively large town located in Leicestershire, made busier by the university that is located in the centre of the town.
The town itself is packed with heritage and history, with heavy focus on the engineering industry which can be explored further at the Charnwood Museum and John Taylor Bellfoundry Museum.
Loughborough also offers a fantastic shopping experience, with plenty of independent boutique style shops as well as well known high street stores.
If you’d rather get out and take in the green spaces, you can visit Queen’s Park which has some beautiful flowers, landscapes and fountains to enjoy.
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 Loughborough:
About the Author
Hi, my name is Amber and I’m here to help find you suitable free parking in towns and cities across the UK.
When I visit new towns and cities, I always take note of where you can (legally) park for free, whether this be on-street parking bays or council run car parks, which offer free parking during certain hours of the day.
Although I take every effort to ensure this information is up to date and correct, if you notice an issue, please get in touch so I can rectify it for everyone.
Amber
Information was last updated on January 10th, 2024