A new report from Parkopedia has put Brighton right at the top of the seaside parking price charts, with the East Sussex destination charging almost double that of its main rival to the seaside parking price scam title.

Analysing data from 30 of Britain’s seaside resorts, the study looked at average charges for eight hours’ parking within half an hour’s stroll of each town centre. The results reveal a sharp divide between the southern hotspots and their northern counterparts.

Brighton leads the pack with an eye-watering £24.21 for an eight-hour stay – almost double the price of the runner-up, Newquay. The Cornish surf haven follows at £12.32, with nearby Falmouth close behind at £12.12. Rounding out the southern high-flyers, Southend-on-Sea lands fourth at £11.50, while Bournemouth takes fifth with £10.42.

But head north, and the tide turns in favour of the wallet. St Andrews, Fife, emerges as the UK’s cheapest seaside spot to park, averaging just £1.90 for eight hours – 12 times less than Brighton. Hornsea, East Yorkshire, follows at £1.98, while Northern Ireland’s Portrush offers parking for £3.47 – three times less than Falmouth. Morecambe and Bridlington complete the cheapest five, coming in at £4.33 and £4.60 respectively.  

For the businesses in the seaside sector, affordable parking for customers is a key ingredient in offering great value for money. Higher parking fees would only drive visitors away, cutting revenue across the community and costing the council more in lost income than the price hikes could ever recover.