Standard tariff on-street parking in Central Milton Keynes – flexible pay & display bays, resident permits, blue-badge spaces & easy access to shops and Grand Union Canal.
🚗 Type: On-Street Pay & Display & Permit Zones
🕒 Open: 7:00 – 18:00 daily (charges apply); free after 18:00, Sundays & bank holidays
🌟 Rating: N/A (council-managed street bays; praised for central location)
💰 Pricing & Permits
Standard Tariff (Purple Bays):
£1.00 per hour for first 2 hours, then £0.50 per hour (minimum stay 2 hours)
Permit-Only Bays: Designated sections reserved for resident and visitor permits (R1-R4 codes)
Car Share Bays: Marked bays reserved 7:00–18:00 for car-share permit holders
Disabled Bays: Free for Blue-Badge holders (display badge + register via council portal)
Payment: Pay-and-display machines (coins, card) or PayByPhone app (location code on signage)
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
Feature | Detail |
---|---|
Total Bays | Approximately 20 standard bays + 10 permit bays |
Surface | Asphalt with painted markings |
Lighting | Street lamps at 25 m intervals |
Security | Occasional CCTV on adjacent streets |
Height Limit | None (standard vehicles only) |
♿ Accessibility
Disabled Access: Two marked bays close to kerb cuts; display badge and register online
Drop-Off Zone: Informal short-stay permitted outside designated bays for up to 10 minutes
Pedestrian Routes: Wide pavements link to N Row shops, cafés and bus stops
🔌 EV Infrastructure
On-Site Charging: None on North Ninth Street
Nearest Chargers:
Grafton Gate Car Park (0.2 mi; 4×7 kW) – 5 min walk
Central Milton Keynes Multi-Storey (0.3 mi; 2×22 kW) – 6 min walk
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
---|---|---|
Weekdays 08:00–10:00 | ~90 % | Commuters & shoppers |
Weekdays 12:00–14:00 | ~75 % | Lunch-time visitors |
Weekdays 16:00–18:00 | ~85 % | Evening shoppers |
Saturdays 10:00–16:00 | ~95 % | Weekend retail crowds |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 08:00 on weekdays or before 10:00 on Saturdays for best chance at a bay.
🚶 Walkability Score
Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
---|---|---|
North Row Shops & Cafés | Immediate | On-your-doorstep retail and dining |
Grand Union Canal Towpath | 2 min | Scenic waterside walking and cycling |
Central Milton Keynes Bus Stops | 3 min | Local and regional bus services |
The Point Theatre | 4 min | Evening entertainment |
Grafton Gate Car Park | 5 min | Larger covered parking & EV charging |
🛒 Nearby Amenities
Essentials
ATM: Santander (North Row, 1 min)
Pharmacy: Boots (Upper Mall, 4 min)
Public Toilets: Midsummer Arcade (5 min)
Food & Drink
Starbucks: North Row (2 min)
Leon: N Row (3 min)
Pret a Manger: Midsummer Place (4 min)
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Grafton Gate Car Park | 0.2 mi | £1.00/hr standard tariff | 24 h | Covered, EV charging |
Sainsbury’s MK Central | 0.3 mi | Free (3 h) | 3 h | Supermarket convenience |
Midsummer Boulevard (on-street) | 0.1 mi | Standard tariff | 4 h | Closest to shopping arcades |
Central Milton Keynes MSCP | 0.3 mi | £10/day long-stay | 24 h | Best for full-day visits |
Campbell Park North (park & ride) | 2 mi | £5/day | 24 h | Bus service into town centre |
⚠️ Important Notices
Enforcement: Civil enforcement officers patrol daily; PCN £70 for non-payment or overstay
Hours: Bays free outside 7:00–18:00, Sundays & bank holidays
Restrictions: Observe bay markings—permit bays enforced 7:00–18:00
📌 Expert Tips
Permit Swap: Visitor permits (scratch-cards) available via online portal for guest parking
App Convenience: Top up via PayByPhone to avoid returning to the machine
Market Days: On Wednesdays & Saturdays, use Grafton Gate MSCP for guaranteed space
Blue-Badge Hack: Register badge number online to park free in any marked bay
🔮 Future Developments
2025 Q4: Council to trial real-time bay-availability signs on North Row
2026: Proposal to convert two standard bays into rapid EV charging points