News that car park prices are on the up again has been greeted with dismay by some in York.
As we reported earlier today, City of York Council is planning to increase charges at its main car parks from April.
If voted through, it would cost at least £5 for an hour’s parking in Castle, Bootham Row, Coppergate, Esplanade, Foss Bank, Marygate, Monk Bar, Nunnery Lane, St George’s Field and Union Terrace car parks.
York car park price rises April 2026
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| Length of stay | Sun-Thurs now | Sun-Thurs proposed | Fri, Sat & events now | Fri, Sat & events now | Minster Badge Sun-Thurs now | Minster Badge Sun-Thurs proposed | Minster Badge Fri, Sat, events now | Minster Badge Fri, Sat, events now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hr | £4.85 | £5.00 | £5.30 | £5.50 | £3.40 | £3.50 | £3.70 | £3.90 |
| 2 hr | £9.70 | £10.00 | £10.60 | £10.90 | £6.80 | £7.00 | £7.40 | £7.60 |
| 3 hr | £11.20 | £11.50 | £13.50 | £13.90 | £7.80 | £8.10 | £9.50 | £9.70 |
| 4 hr | £14.90 | £15.30 | £17.50 | £18.00 | £10.40 | £10.70 | £12.30 | £12.60 |
| 5 hr | £18.60 | £19.20 | £21.50 | £22.10 | £13.00 | £13.40 | £15.10 | £15.50 |
| All day | £22.50 | £25.00 | £15.80 | £17.50 | ||||
| Additional hour | £3.80 | £4.10 | £2.70 | £2.90 | ||||
| Evening* | £4.00 | £4.80 | £2.00 | £2.00 |
Prices would stay the same at suburban car parks – like Bishopthorpe Road and East Parade – and for on-street parking at Micklegate, Priory Street or Lawrence Street.
Higher parking charges were brought in last year as an anti-congestion measure. The Labour controlled council wants to dissuade visitors from using their car, and get them onto buses or bikes.
But many are concerned that it is damaging trade.
Phil Pinder, of the York High Street Forum, told YorkMix: “The number of people visiting in York is in freefall.
“Month by month the occupancy data for car parks is in decline. The council are slapping themselves on the back however, as by doubling and more the cost to park in York, you only need to lose less than half the visitors and you still take more money!
“So their solution to the continuing falls is ‘let’s increase the charges again’. York is now the most expensive place to park in the UK – even central London has free periods.
“Our council is determined to see businesses close it seems.”
But this view was challenged by the executive member for the economy, Cllr Pete Kilbane.
“These comments are not supported by the evidence,” he said. “Nor by recent comments from York High Street Forum that state York is a great place to do business, is a place with a very high, healthy visitor economy, with a great high street.
“That is absolutely true and backed up by the data, which show York sales figures outperforming national trends.
“Since parking charges were increase in April 2025, we’ve seen sales hold up despite a national fall in consumer confidence, demonstrating York’s economic resilience.
“York’s empty retail units have dropped in the last 12 months to 5.6%, compared with a national figure of 13.7%.
“And pleasingly, we are seeing more people come into York by bus and spend money in the city, including a record 429,000 in December alone. We need to be honest with people and not talk York down when it is performing well.”
But others also have concerns. Andrew Lowson, executive director of the York BID (Business Improvement District) said: “Another potential rise in car parking prices is not going to be well received by many businesses, especially when the consultation on the previous price rises is ongoing.
“The BID is bringing together a number of businesses next week to meet with councillors and council officers, so the businesses have the opportunity to explain how they believe consistently high parking charges are effecting their customers and revenues.
“We are hopeful these views will be digested before any firm budget setting for the coming year.”
Cllr Ashley Mason of the York Liberal Democrats said: “Labour are once again choosing to hike car parking charges, despite the very real damage last year’s massive increases have already done to York’s economy.
“That decision became a major scandal, hitting footfall, undermining city-centre trade, and it left many local businesses deeply worried about their future.
“Since those increases, we have seen lower footfall and growing concern from shops, cafés and hospitality venues and that’s before businesses are hit with further pressure from rising business rates.
“The fact that Labour have now decided to freeze charges in non-city centre car parks is a tacit admission that they got it wrong last year.
“Liberal Democrat councillors are now carefully examining what options are available to put in our alternative budget to reverse the very worst of these increases and to properly support York’s businesses and high streets.”
Leader of the York Conservative Group Chris Steward said: “We condemn yet another increase in car parking fees by Labour.
“The trend of more spend per user but fewer car park users is the starkest it has ever been, meaning Labour is not just at war with the motorist, they are most at war with those with the lowest incomes.
“Whilst Labour would love to think people are switching to the likes of Park & Ride and cycling, which we also hope will happen, the evidence does not show this – instead it shows more people shopping out of town where parking is free or in other towns where parking is much cheaper.”
