ParkingUnited Kingdom
Traffic rules
United Kingdom
48. Parking
Parking means leaving a vehicle stationary at a place for a period of time rather than stopping only briefly because of traffic conditions or another immediate necessity. Many countries distinguish parking from a short stop made to pick up or drop off passengers or to load or unload goods, although the exact legal definition varies.
Parking may be permitted, restricted, reserved, time-limited or prohibited by traffic signs, road markings, parking zones and local regulations. Drivers must park without creating a danger or unnecessary obstruction and must comply with any conditions concerning payment, permits, vehicle categories or maximum parking duration.
Wikimedia.org • Ardfern • CC BY-SA
Is pavement parking allowed everywhere in the United Kingdom?
No. Parking wholly or partly on the pavement is generally prohibited in London and Scotland, subject to limited exceptions. In the rest of Great Britain, the Highway Code advises against it unless signs permit. Local restrictions and obstruction rules still apply.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain, Highway Code, waiting and parking; 🔗 transport.gov.scot • Transport Scotland, pavement-parking ban and exceptions
How should drivers recognise UK controlled parking zones?
A Controlled Parking Zone entrance sign sets the times of the zone-wide waiting restriction. Separately signed bays may have different rules, such as residents-only or paid parking. Read both the entry sign and bay sign.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain, official parking-control signs and road markings
Parking allowed.
English • GB diagram 801 • Parking place. A parking place is available. Observe any conditions, charges, time limits and vehicle restrictions shown on accompanying signs.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Government of the United Kingdom – Department for Transport • Crown copyright • OGL v1.0)
🔗 Legislation.gov.uk • Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions • Great Britain
🔗 Gov.uk • Department for Transport • Know your traffic signs
SVG source: Government of the United Kingdom – Department for Transport • OGL v1.0 • Original revision 2026-06-06. Wikimedia original unmodified. © Crown copyright. Traffic signs are Crown copyright. You may reproduce traffic signs free of charge and without having to seek permission, but you must reproduce them accurately and not in a misleading context (e.g. not on roadside billboards where they could mislead drivers). (ref [1])
Artwork verified against Gov.uk • official published diagram 801.
Current design and permitted variants verified against Legislation.gov.uk • TSRGD, current text.
May you park facing against the traffic flow at night in Great Britain?
No, unless you are in a recognised parking space. The Highway Code expressly prohibits parking against the traffic flow on a road at night.
🔗 gov.uk • Great Britain Highway Code, waiting and parking, Rule 248
