Edinburgh Park & Ride 2026 | All 7 Sites, Costs & How They Work

The single best way to avoid a parking ticket in Edinburgh is to not park in the centre at all. Park & Ride lets you leave the car on the edge of the city — almost always for free — and take a bus, tram or train in. Here's every site, what it connects to, and which one to pick.

💷 The short version There are 7 Park & Ride sites around Edinburgh. Parking is free at every one except Newcraighall, which charges just 50p for 24 hours. For one or two people, it's nearly always cheaper than parking in town.

The sites are spread around the city's edge, so the right one depends on which direction you're coming from. They're grouped below by compass point.

Coming from the west (M8 / M9 / Airport)

Ingliston — Tram

Just off the A8 at the Airport junction (postcode EH28 8LS). This is the big one — around 1,085 free spaces, EV charging, and it's the western end of the tram line that runs all the way through the centre to Newhaven. Open 04:00–02:00. Skylink buses (200, 300, 400) also stop here.

Hermiston — Bus

Off the A71, just west of the City Bypass (A720). Free, open 24 hours, with frequent buses into town. Parking up to 3 consecutive nights.

Coming from the north (Fife / Forth bridges)

Ferrytoll — Bus

Just north of the Forth Road Bridge at the A90 Ferrytoll interchange. Free, secure, with disabled parking. Express buses cross the bridge straight into the centre — handy if you're driving down from Fife.

Coming from the east (A1 / East Lothian)

Newcraighall — Rail

A rail-based site to the east. ScotRail trains run straight to Waverley in the heart of the city. This is the only site that charges — and it's just 50p for 24 hours.

Wallyford — Rail

Off the A1 to the east, with ScotRail trains into Waverley. Free, secure, open 24 hours.

Coming from the south (A7 / A701 / Midlothian)

Straiton — Bus

Off the A701, just south of the City Bypass towards Penicuik. Free, open 24 hours, high-frequency buses into the centre. Crucially, Straiton allows parking for up to 7 days — making it the best choice for a longer stay.

Sheriffhall — Bus

At the Sheriffhall roundabout on the City Bypass (A720) to the south-east. Free, secure, frequent buses into town.

"If you want the tram, Ingliston is the one to aim for — but it's a day-trip site. Overnight parking isn't allowed there outside August weekends and Hogmanay. For anything multi-day, go to Straiton."

Which site should I pick?

Want the tram? Ingliston.
Staying overnight or longer? Straiton (up to 7 days) or Hermiston (up to 3 nights).
Coming from Fife? Ferrytoll, before you even pay a bridge crossing in traffic.
Prefer the train? Newcraighall or Wallyford, straight into Waverley.

🎭 During the Festival or a match day Park & Ride comes into its own when the city's rammed. Central car parks fill and on-street spaces vanish — leaving the car on the edge and riding in removes the entire problem.

Driving in anyway? Check your street first

If you do park in town, our main guide covers 2,686 streets with their exact zone, tariff and rules.

Open the full parking guide →

Edinburgh Park & Ride: skip the city centre entirely