Newcastle has been revealed as Britain’s parking hotspot following a study of UK cities conducted by GAP insurance providers, InsuretheGap.com.

The study assessed locations based on the number of parking spaces available per resident, average walking distance from parking to central shopping locations, and average price for two hours’ parking.

Newcastle tops the league table thanks to its high number of parking spaces, with 0.027 spaces per resident, teamed with short average walking distances of just 17 minutes, and low prices.

Two hours parking in the city will set you back an average of £3.20. Sunderland has the lowest average price for parking in the UK, with two hours costing an average of only £1.73.

Belfast rated highest for most parking spaces per resident with 0.038 available per person, and Bradford is strongest when it comes to proximity of spaces to the city centre, with an average walk of just 14 minutes from parking to central shopping locations.

Northern cities dominate the list of top ten cities to park in the UK. Five of the top ten cities are in this region.

London brings up the tail end of the rankings, sitting in last place. The capital ranks so low due to the poor proximity of parking to major central locations, and the steep cost of parking.

Two hours will cost an average of £11.25, almost four times the amount paid in Newcastle, and the most expensive in the UK. Liverpool ranks just above London for parking, with low scores across all factors.

Ben Wooltorton, chief operating officer of InsuretheGap.com, said: “Trying to find a parking space, especially one in a good location and at a reasonable rate, seems to be getting more difficult.

“This data highlights areas that are doing well in providing adequate parking for residents and visitors. The other end of the scale indicates where drivers might need to put in a little more research and planning to find the space they want”.

The full list of top ten cities for parking is:

  1. Newcastle
  2. Leicester
  3. Belfast
  4. Bradford
  5. Nottingham
  6. Hull
  7. Birmingham
  8. Sheffield
  9. Sunderland
  10. Cardiff

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