Have you considered other ways to travel?
Before choosing to drive to the hospital, please consider whether you could use public transport, walk or cycle instead. Our hospital sites can become very busy, and choosing sustainable travel options can help reduce traffic and improve access for those who need to travel by car. For information about other public transport options, visit the How to get to page.
Alternative options include:
- Park and Ride options: Park and Ride does not go directly to General Hospital, but you can change to a bus service, for example, Hopper or First 16, to travel to the General Hospital. You can find more information and timetables on the Park and Ride website. For information about other public transport options, visit the How to get to page.
- Hospital Hopper: the Hospital Hopper is a fully electric shuttle service running every 30 minutes. You can find more information on the bus route and timetables on the Centrebus website.
- Train: the Hospital Hopper links the station with the hospitals and departs from outside the train station.
- Cycle: parking exists for cycles and motorbikes at the main entrance of each hospital.
The Choose How You Move journey planner can help you find alternative travel options for your journey.
Car parking
The patient and visitor car parks at the Leicester General Hospital operate on a pay and display basis. When you arrive you need to purchase the appropriately timed ticket and display this in the front window of your vehicle. This includes displaying a ticket for the free 30 minute parking. All pay and display machines require a vehicle registration to be entered when producing a ticket. The car parks are accessible from Coleman Road and Wakerley Road.
Cycle and motorbike parking
Parking exists for cycles and motorbikes at the main entrance to each of the hospitals, for more detailed locations see the hospital site maps. Parking is free for cycles and motorbikes.
Charges
Daily charge for patients and prime carers
The daily ticket is available to patients and prime carers. It costs £8.00 and is available from the car park office onsite. The daily ticket expires at the end of the day it is purchased on.
Standard charges
| Duration | Tariff |
| Up to 30 mins | Free |
| Up to 1 hour | £2.20 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £3.80 |
| 2 to 3 hours | £4.40 |
| 3 to 4 hours | £5.90 |
| 4 to 8 hours | £8.70 |
| 8 to 12 hours | £11.30 |
| 12 to 24 hours | £13.30 |
| Night tariff 8pm to 6am | £3.00 |
| Motorbikes | Free |
Patient and carer saver tickets (not valid for staff)
| Daily | £8.00 |
| Weekly | £22.00 |
| Monthly | £73.30 |
| Saver | £25.00 (but you will receive £50.00 of parking credit) |
| Inpatient for over 6 weeks | Free parking (for prime carer with proof of car park usage) |
Reducing your charge
If you are delayed through no fault of your own or have extended treatment that lasts longer than four hours, you or your carer can apply for a discount to reduce your car park fee to the daily rate of £8.00. Only one person may claim the discount for each patient.
To claim the £8.00 maximum charge you must:
- Ask a member of staff on the ward or department to sign, date and write the time you leave on your appointment card, letter or a compliments slip
- Take the signed, dated and time stamped appointment card, letter or compliments slip to the car park office for your discount. The time on your card must be within a reasonable period of the time you show it to the car park office.
Exemptions
- Free for stays under 30 minutes
- Drop-off points: Max 20 minute stay near main hospital entrances
- Restricted areas: Avoid red-marked zones; non-compliance will be enforced
Free parking eligibility
- Primary carers: Free parking is available from week seven if a patient has stayed over six weeks. One exemption per patient, transferable between carers (proof of use required). To obtain this, the carer must visit the car park office with the patient number and explain they are the carer of a patient that has been in hospital for more than six weeks. This information will be verified against the patient database and a free pass produced if eligible. If a second person requests a pass for the same patient they will be declined.
- Transferable weekly/monthly passes across all three acute sites.
- Patients on benefits: Parking charges can be reimbursed (hospital and public car parks). If you need to claim for your healthcare travel cost expenses, you can apply online orcomplete a HC5(T) Form and make a claim by post. The HC5(T) Forms can be found at the Car Parks Office.
- Frequent users: Attending 3+ times per month for 3+ months may claim reimbursement.
- Keep receipts and appointment letters
- If you need help, contact the team on 0116 502 742
- Parents of overnight children (17 years and under): Free parking from 7:30pm to 8am.
- One car per visit
- Present ticket and child’s ‘S number’ at car park office
Blue badge holders
Blue badge holders park for free when they visit any of our hospital sites for their appointment. To claim free parking, please keep your blue badge on display in your vehicle throughout your stay.
This system is for blue badge holders only. Misuse of the system could lead to a fine of £80, reduced to £45 if paid within 14 days.
Support is available. If you are on site, visit the car parking office from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, or call 0116 258 8559. For any queries in advance of your visit, you can also email [email protected]. We aim to respond to all emails within two working days.
Unauthorised parking
Vehicles parked in unauthorised areas will be recorded and dealt with appropriate to the disruption caused. Unauthorised parking may result in one of the following options:
- Notification of inappropriate parking
- Parking charge notice
The penalty charge will be set at £80 with a payment period of 28 days, but reduced to £45 if payment is made within 14 days. These charges follow guidance from the British Parking Association.
Car park office location
The car park office is next to the main restaurant. The office is open 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.