🚗 Baker Street Car Park – Leighton Buzzard Central Free 2-Hour Parking & EV Charging Guide
Convenient 2-hour free parking on Baker Street, Leighton Buzzard with 10 EV charging bays – steps from the Market, Station & High Street shops in LU7.
🚗 Type: On-Street Limited Waiting (Central Bedfordshire Council)
🕒 Open: 24/7 (chargeable 8 am–6 pm Mon–Sat; free Sundays & bank holidays)
🌟 Rating: Not rated (council-operated)
💰 Pricing & Permits
| Cost | Payment | Restrictions & Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Free (2 hr max stay) | Not required | No return within 1 hr; permit holders exempt from stay limits |
| — | Resident permit: £30.10 / yr; Business permit: £56.60 / mo or £420.10 / yr (from Jan 2025) |
2-Hour Limited Waiting: Ideal for shoppers and short visits.
Permit Options: Available for local residents and businesses, though no bays are exclusively reserved.
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | 41 marked bays |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Lighting | Street lighting |
| Security | No dedicated CCTV |
| Height Restriction | None (suitable for all vehicles) |
| Motorcycle Parking | Not available |
♿ Accessibility
Disabled Bays: 2 marked bays on Baker Street.
Nearest Adapted Parking: West Street Multi-Storey Car Park (14 bays) – 0.3 mi, 6 min walk.
Drop-Off Zone: Short-stay lay-bys adjacent to the car park.
🔌 EV Infrastructure
On-Site Charging: 10 EV bays with council-managed charging points (slow/residential grade).
Nearest Rapid Chargers:
Leighton Buzzard Station Pod Point – 2×22 kW Type 2 (0.4 mi)
Tesco Superstore Barn Road – 1×50 kW rapid (0.6 mi)
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 8–10 AM | 80 % | Commuters to Station |
| Weekdays 12–2 PM | 60 % | Shoppers & visitors |
| Saturdays 10 AM–2 PM | 90 % | Weekend market goers |
| Sundays all day | 40 % | Leisure visitors |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 9 AM on market days (Tue & Sat) to secure a spot.
🚶 Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Leighton Buzzard Station | 8 min | Direct trains to London in ~35 min |
| Market Place | 3 min | Twice-weekly market & public toilets |
| High Street Shops & Cafés | 2 min | Boutique stores, banks & eateries |
| Library Theatre | 5 min | Films & live performances |
🛒 Nearby Amenities
Essentials
Public toilets: Market Place (3 min)
ATM: Lloyds Bank (High Street, 2 min)
Pharmacy: Boots (High Street, 2 min)
Food & Drink
The Old Courthouse Café (4 min): Breakfast & light lunches
The Library Theatre Bar (5 min): Drinks & snacks
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Street Multi-Storey | 0.3 mi | £1 / hr; all day £8.20 | Unlimited | Covered, CCTV & lift access |
| Duncombe Drive Car Park | 0.5 mi | Free after 6 pm | Unlimited | 24 hr open; free evenings & weekends |
| Leighton Buzzard Station (Saba) | 0.4 mi | From £1.50 / hr | 24 hr | Secure, pre-bookable |
⚠️ Important Notices
Enforcement: Strictly 8 am–6 pm Mon–Sat; free outside those hours but observe the 2 hr limit when charges apply.
Event Days: Market days (Tue & Sat) see very high demand—plan accordingly.
Maintenance: Pay & display signs and line markings reviewed quarterly (next: Aug 2025).
📌 Expert Tips
Permit Hack: If you need longer stays, secure a resident or business permit to bypass time limits.
EV Charging: Bring your charging cable—slow bays may fill up quickly on weekdays.
Return Restriction Workaround: If you hit your 2-hr limit, consider a quick swap to Duncombe Drive or West Street for extended parking.
🔮 Future Developments
2025: Permit fee adjustments implemented in January; new wayfinding signage planned.
2026: Council review may introduce dedicated rapid EV chargers and revised stay limits in town-centre bays.
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