Manchester is one of the UK’s busiest cities so finding free parking isn’t the easiest task. If you are visiting for a conference, a night away or just want to sample some of the bars and restaurants, you’ll be pleased to know there are free parking spots available in Manchester without restrictions.
5 places to park for free in Manchester (2026)
You can park for free in Manchester on the following streets:
Cochrane Avenue is within a 20 minute walk of Manchester city centre. You should always check for any newly installed restriction signs before leaving your car.
What to consider when parking free in Manchester
When parking, please be considerate:
- Don’t block driveways when parking on residential streets
- Don’t double park, make sure there’s enough room for other vehicles to pass
- Don’t block any pavements
Remember your route as Manchester is a busy city so finding your way back to your vehicle needs to be as stress free as possible.
Free parking near Manchester Town Hall
You can park for free near Manchester Town Hall on one of the following streets:
- Cochrane Avenue
- Britnall Avenue
- Richmond Grove East
- South Street
- Acomb Street
Free parking near Manchester Arndale
Although parking next door to Manchester Arndale costs just £3.70 per hour (2026 pricing), you may want to save money by parking for free when you visit, especially if you are planning on staying all day..
You can park for free near Manchester Arndale on the following streets:
- Cochrane Avenue
- Britnall Avenue
- Richmond Grove East
- South Street
- Acomb Street
- Acomb Street
Free parking near The Lowry
The Lowry is a centre for the arts located in Salford, just West of Manchester. Parking close to The Lowry can become difficult as its so close to Manchester city centre as well as Old Trafford, however there are still places you can park for free close by.
The following streets offer free parking near The Lowry:
- Liverpool Street (West)
- Milford Street
- White Street
Cheapest all-day parking in Manchester
We found the cheapest car park in Manchester to be Manchester Arena car park, which you can book even if you are not visiting – but it must be pre-booked.
You book this car park all day (9am – 5pm) for just £5.50, so it’s a great option for commuters or those visiting Manchester for the full day.
Cheapest monthly parking in Manchester
We found the cheapest car park in Manchester for monthly parking to be Medlock Street car park, which costs £130 per month, making it ideal for commuters. It’s a 12 minute walk into the city centre.
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 Manchester
Whilst there are no free car parks in Manchester, you can park for free after 8pm at on-street parking locations, but not during the day, so if you are visiting to enjoy a meal or staying in one of the cities hotels, you can park closer to the centre.
- Zone 1
- Queen Street
- Lloyd Street
- Bootle Street
- Southmill Street
- Zone 2
- Port Street
- Spear Street
- Lever Street
- Zone 3
- Slate Wharf
- Hulme Street
- Zone 4
- Chapeltown Street
- Longacre Street
- Heyrod Street
Ensure you collect or move your car by 8am the following morning to avoid a parking fine or additional charges.
Free overnight parking in Manchester
You can park for free overnight in Manchester at on-street parking locations which are free after 8pm. These on-street options are located in Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3 and Zone 4.
- Zone 1
- Queen Street
- Lloyd Street
- Bootle Street
- Southmill Street
- Zone 2
- Port Street
- Spear Street
- Lever Street
- Zone 3
- Slate Wharf
- Hulme Street
- Zone 4
- Chapeltown Street
- Longacre Street
- Heyrod Street
Coach parking in Manchester
If you are travelling to Manchester by coach, you have several options, whether you are looking to drop-off or park up for the day.
Short Stay/ Drop-Off
- Chorlton Street
- Liverpool Road
- Whitworth Street
- Lower Mosley Street
- John Dalton Street
Medium Stay (4 hours)
- Byrom Street
- Charles Street
- Cheetham Hill Road
- Dutton Street
- Corporation Street
Long stay / Overnight
- Etihad Stadium
- Salford Quay
- Imperial War Museum
Residential parking in Manchester
If you live in Manchester and your zone requires you to have a residents parking permit to park outside your home, you can apply for a residents permit.
Depending on the zone you live in, will depend on the price of the permit. They don’t come cheap in Manchester especially if you live in zone 1, where permits start at £195 for a 3 month permit.
About Manchester, Greater Manchester
Manchester has so much going on, it’s hard to decide what to do and when. With an abundance of hotels, shops and restaurants, it’s quite easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle.
There are so many attractions in and around Manchester, making it the perfect family day out, couples haven or hen do destination.
For hen or stag do’s, the Crystal Maze Experience is one that you will truly remember for years to come. For families, we recommend the Legoland Discovery Centre, conveniently located by the Intu Shopping Centre.
If you are looking for something to do in Manchester, you’ve come to the right place, there’s even free parking near Manchester Airport if you are travelling out of the country.
Remember to secure your free parking spot, to make your trip completely stress free and enjoyable.
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 Manchester:
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