Where to find free car parks for Christmas shopping in the Black Country and Staffordshire

Across the West Midlands, town and city councils have been laying out their plans for festive parking, with many offering free parking at weekends or set times across the Christmas and New Year period.

Free parking will be in place across Wolverhampton, Sandwell, South Staffordshire and Cannock - and Merry Hill in Dudley. 

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for transport and green city, said: “There is plenty going on in our city centre and towns with events to help you get into the seasonal spirit, so I really hope people take advantage of the free parking offer and enjoy a happy Christmas.

“The offer also runs into the early part of January so that people can save a little bit extra when they hit the shops for the New Year sales.”

Dudley Council will not be offering free parking this year due to its recent budget shortfall - but you can get free car parking at Merry Hill in Brierley Hill.

In Wolverhampton city centre, parking will be free on Sundays at some council sites from December 8 to January 5. 

There will also be free city centre parking after 4pm on weekdays from Monday, December 16, up to and including Friday, January 3 - which will coincides with late night shopping centre hours.

Free parking will be available at the following City of Wolverhampton Council car parks on Sundays:

• Bell Street car park

• Temple Street car park

• Snow Hill Market car park

• Tempest Street car park

• Peel Street car park

• Market Street car park

Mander Centre

The Mander Centre car park will be offering free parking on certain days throughout December, starting tomorrow (Saturday).

• Saturday, December 14 - Free parking after 4pm

• Sunday, December 15 - Free parking all day (10.30am - 4.30pm)

• Monday, December 16 to Saturday, December 21 - Free parking after 4pm

• Sunday, December 22 - Free parking all day (10.30am - 4.30pm)

• Thursday, December 26 (bank holiday) - Free parking all day (10am - 5pm)

Wulfrun Centre

The Wulfrun Centre in the city centre will also be offering free parking on its Roof Top car park on certain days this month. 

• Sunday, December 15 - Free parking all day (10.30am - 4.30pm)

• Sunday, December 22 - Free parking all day (10.30am - 4.30pm)

Wednesfield

Free all day parking will be available every day from Sunday, December 8 up to and including Friday, January 3 in Wednesfield town centre.

This applies to the following council car parks in Wednesfield:

• Woodhouse Fold ‘Steph Clark’ car park A 

• Woodhouse Fold ‘Battle of Wodensfield’ car park B 

• Woodhouse Fold ‘William ‘Harry’ Busby’ car park C 

• Alfred Squire Road car park

Shoppers in Sandwell will be able to park for free at a number of council-run town centre car parks every Saturday throughout the month. Time limits on short stay car parks still apply.

Sunday parking is already free in the council’s town centre car parks. Free parking does not include Sandwell Valley car parks, privately-run car parks and on-street parking bays. 

Here are all of the council-run car parks in each area. 

Bearwood

• Adkins Lane (short stay up to 4 hours)

Blackheath

• Park Street, B65 0LU

• Park Street West, B65 0LU

• Short Street, B65 0HJ  

Cradley Heath

• Corngreaves Road, B64 5HP

• Graingers Lane, B64 6AT

• Northgate /Prince Street, B64 6AT

• Northgate/Graingers Lane, B64 6AU 

Oldbury

• Albert Street, B69 4DE 

• Low Town, B69 4DZ

• West Bromwich Street, B69 3AG

Old Hill

•  Highgate Street, B64 5RU 

Smethwick

• St Paul's Road, B66 1HJ

• Stony Lane, B67 7QX

• Gilbert Road East, B66 4RQ

• Gilbert Road West, B66 4NT 

Tipton

• Great Bridge Town Centre, DY4 7EL

• Whitehall Road, Great Bridge, DY4 7EX 

Wednesbury

• Albert Street, WS10 7DF

• High Bullen, WS10 7EY

• Ridding Lane, WS10 9AA

• Spring Head, WS10 9AD

• The Shambles, WS10 7DA

• Upper High Street, WS10 7HJ 

West Bromwich

• Overend Street, B70 6AT

• Providence Place South, B70 8SB

• Carters Green, B70 9LG

• Church Street East, B70 8RT

• Sandwell Road/Temple Street, B70 8TG

• Edward Street, B70 8NL

• Temple Street/Frederick Street, B70 9AB

• Highfields, B70 8TG

• John Street, B70 9LL

Cannock

Cannock Chase Council is offering free parking at their council-run car parks in Cannock and Rugeley on each Saturday leading up to Christmas. 

This includes: 

• Backcrofts - WS11 1LF3   

• Beecroft Road - WS11 1JP4   

• Railway Station, Girton Road - WS11 0EN5  

• Front & Side of Council Civic Offices - WS11 1BG6   

• Rear of Council Civic Offices, Brunswick Road - WS11 1BG7   

• Danilo Road - WS11 1AA 

Hednesford

• Railway Station, Anglesey Street - WS12 1AB2 

• Shoppers Car Park, Anglesey Street - WS12 1AS3 

• Rugeley Road, Rugeley

• Victoria Street (Rear of bus station)

Lichfield

Visitors to Lichfield can benefit from free weekend car parking at the Friary Multi Storey car park.

The offer is available over the next two weekends before Christmas. 

South Staffordshire

South Staffordshire District Council is offering free parking all day, every day over the Christmas period at all of their council-run car parks, except for Baggeridge Country Park.