Hermiston Gait is the big retail park on Edinburgh’s western edge, right where the M8 comes in. Parking is free — but it’s a private, camera-watched car park with a time limit, and that catches people out. Here’s how long you can stay, what’s there, and how to get in and out.
⏳ 14 days Got a ticket? It’s £100 — or £50 if you act within 14 days. My pay-or-appeal guide, incl. a free personal verdict on whether yours is worth fighting →Hermiston Gait at a glance
| Postcode | EH11 4DF (Cultins Road, Hermiston Gait) |
|---|---|
| Getting there | The Hermiston Gait roundabout, where the M8 meets the A720 City Bypass |
| Parking | Free for customers, around 1,200 spaces |
| Maximum stay | 3.5 hours, and no return within 2 hours |
| Enforced by | A private operator using cameras — not the council |
| Blue Badge | Bays outside each store, including 10 at Tesco |
| Parent & child | Marked bays outside Tesco |
| By train or tram | Edinburgh Park station and tram stop are next to the park |
| By bus | Lothian 2 and 63; First 20 and 63 (stops on Hermiston Gait) |
Parking terms from the Tesco Hermiston Gait access guide and Parkopedia, checked November 2026. Private car park rules can change — the signs at the entrance are what count.
Parking at Hermiston Gait: the rules
The car park is shared by all the stores and is free for customers. The catch is the clock: 3.5 hours maximum, then you must leave and not come back for 2 hours. Cameras at the entrance log your number plate on the way in and out, and the time between the two is what counts — including the time spent queuing to get out on a Saturday.
Because it’s private land, an overstay brings a parking charge notice from a private company, not a council PCN. It works differently: it’s a civil invoice, it arrives by post, and the appeal route is through the operator and then an independent appeals service. What to do if you get one →
Shops at Hermiston Gait Retail Park
The park is anchored by a large Tesco and B&Q. The other retailers include TK Maxx, Decathlon, Home Bargains, Wren Kitchens, Aldi, Halfords, KFC and Costa. Units change hands from time to time, so check a store is still there before making a special trip.
Opening hours
| Store | Mon–Sat | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco | 6am–10pm | Check store |
| B&Q | 7am–8pm | 9am–6pm |
| Home Bargains | 8am–8pm | Check store |
| Decathlon | 9am–8pm | Check store |
Typical hours from store listings, November 2026. Bank holidays and Christmas differ — check with the store.
How to get there
By car: head for the Hermiston Gait roundabout, where the M8 from Glasgow meets the A720 City Bypass, and follow the signs. Put EH11 4DF in the sat nav. On busy Saturdays the roundabout queues back — allow for it in your 3.5 hours.
By train or tram: Edinburgh Park station and the Edinburgh Park tram stop are right next to the park, a short walk from the stores.
By bus: Lothian buses 2 and 63 and First buses 20 and 63 stop on Hermiston Gait by the retail park.
Not to be confused with…
- Hermiston Park & Ride — the free council car park off the A71 near Heriot-Watt, about two miles south. That’s the one for leaving the car and getting a bus into town.
- The Gyle Shopping Centre — a separate shopping centre a short drive north, with its own car park and time limits. All Edinburgh retail parks compared →
Driving in anyway? Check your street first
If you do park in town, our main guide covers 2,600+ streets with their exact zone, tariff and rules.
Open the full parking guide →