Fort Kinnaird, the Gyle, Hermiston Gait, Straiton — Edinburgh's retail parks are popular for one reason: free parking. But "free" comes with a catch that catches plenty of people out, and the ticket you can get there works completely differently from a council one. Here's what you need to know before you leave the car.
Edinburgh's main retail parks at a glance
| Retail park | Postcode | Free stay* |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Kinnaird | EH15 3RD | ~3 hours |
| The Gyle | EH12 9JY | ~3 hours |
| Hermiston Gait | EH11 4DF | ~3.5 hours |
| Straiton | EH20 9PW | ~3 hours |
| Craigleith | EH4 area | ~3 hours |
*A guide only. Always read the sign on arrival — limits differ by park, can change at busy times, and are occasionally extended for peak shopping.
How retail‑park parking actually works
These car parks are private land, provided free for people using the shops. To stop them filling up with commuters and Park & Ride dodgers, they run ANPR (number‑plate) cameras at the entrances that log when every car arrives and leaves. The usual conditions are:
- Free, but time‑limited — typically around 3 hours; the limit is on the signs.
- Marked bays only — park anywhere else (verges, ends of rows) and you can be charged.
- Don't leave the site — you can't park up and walk off to catch a bus or visit somewhere else; it's for shoppers on site.
- No overnight parking, and car parks usually close shortly after the shops.
The big difference: it's a private charge, not a council fine
This is the bit that matters most, and it's where the confusion lives. On a public street, the council issues a Penalty Charge Notice. On private land like a retail park, the council has no power to ticket you — instead a private parking company issues what it also calls a "Parking Charge Notice" (annoyingly, also "PCN"). It looks official, but it's really an invoice, governed by different rules:
- It's usually £60–£100, reduced (often to around £60 or less) if you pay within 14 days.
- It's sent to the registered keeper by post, using DVLA data — not stuck on your windscreen and chased by the council.
- It's appealed to the operator, and then to an independent service (usually POPLA) — not the Scottish parking tribunal that handles council tickets.
If you want the full breakdown of how the council's tickets and codes work (the genuinely official ones), see our guide to what your parking code means.
How to avoid a charge
- Read the sign when you arrive and note your time limit — don't assume it's the same as the last park you visited.
- Park fully inside a marked bay.
- Stay on site and leave before your time's up — keep a little buffer, as the cameras are precise.
- Keep your receipts. If you genuinely shopped there, they're your best evidence if a charge ever turns up wrongly.
- Got genuine extended business (a long appointment, a big shop, a meal)? Some parks will note your plate if you ask a retailer — worth a try.
Got a charge you think is unfair?
Don't ignore it — private operators can and do pursue these — but don't panic either, because it isn't a council fine. Appeal to the operator first, in writing, with your evidence (shop receipts, photos of unclear signs, anything showing you were a genuine customer). If they reject it, you can escalate free to the independent appeals service — usually POPLA — whose decision is binding on the operator. Plenty of charges are overturned when the signage was poor or the stay was genuine.
Parking on the street instead?
Heading into town rather than a retail park? Check any Edinburgh street's zone, charges and hours — and whether you can park there right now.
Check your street →