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Neighbourhood guide

Parking in Mayfield & Blackford: Zone S8

👮 Written by an experienced enforcement officer in Edinburgh· 2026 edition

Mayfield and Blackford — the leafy southern streets below Blackford Hill, near the University's King's Buildings. A weekday‑daytime zone, free in the evenings and at weekends.

📍 The short answer Mayfield and Blackford is Zone S8. Pay & display or permit applies Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:30pm only (about £4.20 an hour or less). It's free every evening after 5:30pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. Residents can hold a Zone S8 residents permit.

Mayfield and Blackford parking rules

Mayfield and Blackford sit in controlled parking Zone S8. During those controlled hours you must either pay at the machine or on the RingGo app, or display a valid Zone S8 residents permit. Like all of Edinburgh's S and peripheral zones, it runs Monday to Friday only and stops at 5:30pm — there's no weekend charging at all. Streets here include Mayfield Road, Mentone Terrace, Mortonhall Road, South Oswald Road, South Lauder Road, Blackford Avenue and St Alban's Road.

When is parking free in Mayfield and Blackford?

Zone S8 sits below Blackford Hill in the south of the city, near the University's King's Buildings campus and the Royal Observatory. Because it's free out of hours, the popular streets fill quickly, so you may need a couple of laps. And free bays never excuse a yellow line — double yellows apply 24/7.

🔭 Blackford Hill & King's BuildingsStudent and campus demand keeps weekday daytimes busy; it's free in the evenings and at weekends, and handy for a Blackford Hill walk.

Free parking near Mayfield and Blackford

Toward Blackford Hill and the Hermitage the streets become uncontrolled (free). Our free parking guide and the map show exactly where the controlled zone ends.

Quick recap

Check your exact street

Zones change street by street. Look up any address in Mayfield and Blackford to see its zone, charges and hours — and whether you can park there right now.

Check your street →

Edinburgh Parking Guide · Written first-hand by an experienced enforcement officer in Edinburgh
Zones, hours and permits can change — always check the sign on the street. Back to the full guide