Parking in Petersfield: Car Parks, Charges and Free Sunday Parking
Petersfield's public car parks are run by East Hampshire District Council. Here is what each one costs, how long you can stay, and where parking is free on a Sunday.
Petersfield's council car parks charge Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. From 1 April 2026, one hour costs £1.60 at Castle Yard, Festival Hall and Swan Street; Central is short stay at £2.10 for two hours or £2.90 for three. Castle Yard and Festival Hall are free on Sundays. Always check the board in the car park. Checked 5 October 2026.
Who runs the car parks
The public car parks in Petersfield town centre belong to East Hampshire District Council (EHDC). Petersfield Town Council states that it is not responsible for parking. EHDC's advice on its car parking and charges page is to always check the notice board in the car park for the current tariff, chargeable days and conditions.
The figures in this guide come from two council documents checked on 5 October 2026: the council's list of car parks and bays dated August 2026, and its variation order setting the charges that came into force on 1 April 2026.
The car parks at a glance
Central is the biggest, with 418 spaces including 18 disabled bays, and is the council's short-stay car park for the town centre.
Festival Hall, on Heath Road, has 212 spaces including 3 disabled bays. It is long stay and the cheapest for a full day.
Swan Street has 157 spaces including 6 disabled bays and is long stay.
Castle Yard has 57 spaces including 2 disabled bays and is long stay.
The Causeway appears in the council's charges order as a short-stay car park with the same tariff as Central, although it is not in the council's August 2026 list of car parks and bays, so check the signs on site.
The full tariff for each is in the table at the bottom of this page.
Monday to Saturday charges
Charges apply Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm.
At Castle Yard and Swan Street the tariff from 1 April 2026 is £1.60 for one hour, £2.10 for two hours, £2.90 for three hours, £4.90 for four hours, £5.70 for five hours, £9.00 for nine hours and £10.20 for all day.
At Festival Hall it is £1.60 for one hour, £2.10 for two hours, £2.90 for three hours, £3.80 for four hours, £4.70 for five hours, £5.80 for nine hours and £9.00 for all day.
At Central and The Causeway the order lists only two tariffs: £2.10 for two hours and £2.90 for three hours. These are the short-stay car parks, so they are not the place to leave a car for the day.
Sunday parking
Sunday is where the car parks differ. Castle Yard and Festival Hall are free on Sundays. At Swan Street, Central and The Causeway, charges apply on Sundays between 10am and 4pm at the same rates as the rest of the week.
Blue Badge holders and motorcycles
EHDC says disabled parking spaces are reserved for badge holders 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that there is no charge for disabled drivers displaying an official badge. Motorcycles can park free of charge but must use a designated motorcycle bay.
Season tickets and permits
If you park in town regularly, EHDC sells permits for 3, 6 or 12 months. In Petersfield the council lists them for Castle Yard, Swan Street and Festival Hall; its list of car parks shows no permits for Central. Lower rates are listed for residents, low-emission vehicles and electric or hybrid vehicles. The request form and the current price list are on the council's parking permits page, and applications go to parking.office@easthants.gov.uk. A permit is tied to one car park and one vehicle, is non-refundable, and does not guarantee a space.
Paying by phone
The council's 2026 season ticket conditions list RingGo location numbers for the three long-stay car parks: 39571 for Castle Yard, 39572 for Swan Street and 39573 for Festival Hall. The pay and display machines and the notice board in each car park show the payment options available on the day.
Parking at Petersfield station
The station car park is run by South Western Railway, not the council, and has its own prices. SWR's Petersfield station page lists 154 spaces. On 5 October 2026 it showed a peak day ticket at £9.70 and an off-peak ticket at £4.90, with off-peak starting at 12:00 Monday to Friday. Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday tickets were £4.90. An hourly rate of £1.60 is available from 12:00 through RingGo only. Weekly, monthly and annual tickets are also sold. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders who register with SWR in advance.
Electric vehicle charging
EHDC's electric vehicles page lists two council charge point locations in the district, both in Petersfield: Festival Hall car park, Heath Road, GU31 4DZ, and Central car park, GU32 3DG. The page does not give charger speeds, connector types or prices, and points drivers to Zap-Map for live details, so check before you rely on one being free.
Fines
A parking fine from the council is a penalty charge notice. EHDC says you can challenge one in writing within 14 days if you think it was issued incorrectly. Start from the council's parking and traffic management page.
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