
Affordable town-centre Pay & Display at Cowgate โ flexible short-stay bays, Blue-Badge exemptions & steps from Cathedral Square, museums & restaurants.
๐ Type: Pay & Display Surface Car Park (Peterborough City Council)
๐ Open: 08:00โ18:00 MonโSat (charges apply); free outside these hours, Sundays & bank holidays
๐ Rating: 4.1โ/โ5 (users cite convenient access to central attractions)
๐ฐ Pricing & Permits
| Duration | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | ยฃ1.00 |
| Up to 2 hours | ยฃ1.80 |
| Up to 4 hours | ยฃ3.60 |
| All day (08โ18) | ยฃ4.00 |
Payment Methods: Pay & Display machines (coins, card) or PayByPhone app (zone code on signage)
Blue-Badge Holders: Free in marked bays (display badge and register via council)
Resident Permits: Not valid in Cowgate; see on-street permit zones for long-term parking
๐ Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | Approximately 60 marked bays |
| Disabled Bays | 4 marked bays close to exit gate |
| Surface | Tarmac with painted bay markings |
| Lighting | LED street lamps throughout |
| Security | CCTV covering pay machines & exit points |
โฟ Accessibility
Kerb Access: Dropped kerbs at bay ends and nearby pedestrian crossings
Drop-Off Zone: Informal stopping permitted outside bays for quick unloading
Pedestrian Routes: Wide pavements link directly to Cathedral Square, museums & cafรฉs
๐ EV Infrastructure
On-Site Charging: None
Nearest Public Chargers:
Peterborough Station Car Park (0.4 mi; 4ร7 kW) โ 6 min walk
Broad Street Multi-Storey (0.5 mi; 2ร22 kW) โ 8 min walk
๐ Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 08โ10 | ~85 % | Commuters & shoppers |
| Weekdays 12โ14 | ~70 % | Lunch-hour visitors |
| Weekdays 16โ18 | ~80 % | Evening diners & theatre goers |
| Saturdays 10โ16 | ~90 % | Weekend shoppers & tourists |
Pro Tip: Arrive just after 10 AM on weekdays or before 10 AM on Saturdays to beat the peak.
๐ถ Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral Square | 2 min | Historic centre & public events |
| Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery | 4 min | Cultural exhibits & workshops |
| Queensgate Shopping Centre | 5 min | Retail arcades & food court |
| Town Bridge | 3 min | Riverside walks & cafรฉs |
| Bus Station (Westgate) | 6 min | Local & regional bus services |
๐ Nearby Amenities
Essentials
ATM: HSBC (Cathedral precinct, 2 min)
Pharmacy: Boots (Broad St, 5 min)
Public Toilets: Town Hall Arcade (4 min)
Food & Drink
The Refectory Cafรฉ: Museum cafรฉ (4 min)
Nene Whitewater Centre Bar: Riverside views (6 min)
Cafรฉ Italia: Broad St (5 min)
๐ ฟ๏ธ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensgate MSCP | 0.2 mi | ยฃ1.20/hr | 16 h max | Covered & EV charging |
| Town Bridge Surface Bays | 0.1 mi | ยฃ1.00/hr | 4 h max | Riverside location |
| Railway Station Car Park | 0.4 mi | ยฃ6/day | 24 h | Rapid chargers & rail access |
| On-Street Crescent Road Bays | 0.3 mi | Free (2 h) | 2 h max | Free short-stay |
โ ๏ธ Important Notices
Enforcement: Civil Enforcement Officers patrol daily during charge hours; PCN for non-payment or overstay
Time Limits: Strict 4-hour max per stay; no return within 1 hour
Machine Downtime: Use PayByPhone if machine out of service (zone code displayed)
๐ Expert Tips
App Top-Up: Register PayByPhone ahead to extend remotely
Blue-Badge Hack: Display badge and register online to park free without time limits
Evening Visits: Free after 18:00โideal for evening theatre or riverside dining
Market Days: On Wednesdays & Saturdays, consider Queensgate MSCP for guaranteed covered bays
This guide ensures you have everything you need for a smooth, convenient visit to Cowgate Car Park in Peterborough.
๐ Tesco Express Car Park โ 13 Leith Cl, Slough SL1 1US
โจ SEO Tagline: Complimentary customer parking at Tesco Express Slough โ free 1 hour bays & seamless grocery runs on Leith Close.
๐ Type: Private Retail Customer Car Park (Tesco Express)
๐ Open: 24/7 (unrestricted access)
๐ Rating: 4.0โ/โ5 (customers value ease of use and proximity to store)
๐ฐ Pricing & Permits
Cost: Free for Tesco Express customers (display store receipt or obtain validation ticket)
Max Stay: 1 hour free; penalty charge applies beyond this without validation
Validation: Scan validation code on till receipt or ask staff for a parking ticket
๐ Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | Approximately 15 bays |
| Disabled Bays | 2 marked bays |
| Surface | Tarmac |
| Lighting | Overhead street lights |
| Security | Occasional CCTV; private enforcement patrols |
โฟ Accessibility
Disabled Access: Two marked bays at store entrance; level access to shop
Drop-Off Zone: Informal short-stay stops tolerated outside entrance for quick unloading
๐ Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 16โ18 PM | ~90 % | After-work grocery shoppers |
| Saturdays 11โ14 PM | ~85 % | Weekend top-up runs |
| All Other Times | ~50 % | Convenience visits |
๐ถ Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco Express Entrance | Immediate | Quick access to groceries |
| Leith Close Bus Stop | 2 min | Local bus services |
| Upton Court Park | 5 min | Nearby green space |
โ ๏ธ Important Notices
Enforcement: Private enforcement may issue PCN if stay exceeds 1 hour without validation
Overstay Penalty: Typically ~ยฃ70 PCN for non-validated overstay
๐ Expert Tips
Receipt Hack: Keep your receipt displayed on the dash to avoid enforcement
Quick Top-Up: Aim to finish shopping within 30 min to allow time for parking validation