
Standard tariff on-street parking in Central Milton Keynes โ flexible pay & display bays, resident permits, blue-badge spaces & easy access to shops and Grand Union Canal.
๐ Type: On-Street Pay & Display & Permit Zones
๐ Open: 7:00 โ 18:00 daily (charges apply); free after 18:00, Sundays & bank holidays
๐ Rating: N/A (council-managed street bays; praised for central location)
๐ฐ Pricing & Permits
Standard Tariff (Purple Bays):
ยฃ1.00 per hour for first 2 hours, then ยฃ0.50 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 7:00โ18:00 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)
๐ 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) |
โฟ 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, cafรฉs and bus stops
๐ EV Infrastructure
On-Site Charging: None on North Ninth Street
Nearest Chargers:
Grafton Gate Car Park (0.2 mi; 4ร7 kW) โ 5 min walk
Central Milton Keynes Multi-Storey (0.3 mi; 2ร22 kW) โ 6 min walk
๐ Peak Times & Occupancy
| Timeframe | Occupancy | Typical Users |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 08:00โ10:00 | ~90 % | Commuters & shoppers |
| Weekdays 12:00โ14:00 | ~75 % | Lunch-time visitors |
| Weekdays 16:00โ18:00 | ~85 % | Evening shoppers |
| Saturdays 10:00โ16:00 | ~95 % | Weekend retail crowds |
Pro Tip: Arrive before 08:00 on weekdays or before 10:00 on Saturdays for best chance at a bay.
๐ถ Walkability Score
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| North Row Shops & Cafรฉs | 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 |
๐ 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)
๐ ฟ๏ธ Alternative Parking Comparison
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton Gate Car Park | 0.2 mi | ยฃ1.00/hr standard tariff | 24 h | Covered, EV charging |
| Sainsburyโs 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 | ยฃ10/day long-stay | 24 h | Best for full-day visits |
| Campbell Park North (park & ride) | 2 mi | ยฃ5/day | 24 h | Bus service into town centre |
โ ๏ธ Important Notices
Enforcement: Civil enforcement officers patrol daily; PCN ยฃ70 for non-payment or overstay
Hours: Bays free outside 7:00โ18:00, Sundays & bank holidays
Restrictions: Observe bay markingsโpermit bays enforced 7:00โ18:00
๐ 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
๐ฎ 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