City of Wolverhampton has a festive free parking offer for visitors and shoppers to take advantage of.

It starts from the night of the Christmas lights switch on, on Wednesday 22 November, when there is also the chance to grab some fabulous Christmas gifts and goodies at the festive market taking place on Dudley Street from 10am to 8pm.

And you can meet Father Christmas in his Winter Wonderland, in the Mander Centre lower mall, between 4pm and 8pm - everyone who meets him will get a present.

The city council is providing free and reduced car parking on the School Street car park and Market car park (accessed from Peel Street) in the run up to Christmas.

Free parking is available on the above car parks from 2pm on the following Wednesdays (22 and 29 November, and  6, 13 and 20 December); on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 December; and from 2pm, from Monday 18 to Friday 22 December.

Visitors can also park on the School Street and Market car parks for £2 all day on the following Sundays (3, 10, 17 and 24 December).

In addition to the council offer, the Mander Centre car park will be offering free parking from 4pm on 22 November, and also when late night shopping begins at the centre.

The Mander Centre has free parking available from 4pm on the following Wednesdays - 6, 13 and 20 December; from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 December; and on Tuesday 26 December (9am to 6pm) and  Monday 1 January (10am to 4pm). 

In addition to this, NCP is providing free parking at the Wulfrun Centre car park on the 4 Sundays in December leading up to Christmas Day (3, 10, 17 and 24) - brought to you by Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID).

City of Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: "The council and city partners are providing plenty of free parking for shoppers at Christmas time.

"I would urge people from far and wide to come and take advantage of the free parking and enjoy what the city has to offer during the festive period.

"The Mander Centre's ongoing £35 million refurbishment is already making a difference to the city centre and this is the perfect opportunity to come and sample its new flagship Debenhams store, alongside the other outlets in the city."

The huge city centre lights switch on and firework display in Queen Square on 22 November starts at 5pm, with entertainment from the Free Radio roadshow, a mini funfair, real reindeer located in Lichfield Street and traditional Christmas music from the Wulfruna vintage steam organ.

Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Elias Mattu, stars from this year's Grand Theatre pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, children's picture book character, The Gruffalo, and British Citizen Youth Award winner, Louis Johnson, will join Father Christmas to switch on the lights at 6.30pm, which will be followed by a spectacular firework display.

For more information on parking and late night shopping, visit Type=links;Linkid=6522;Title=Enjoy Wolverhampton;Target=_blank;.

  • released: Monday 13 November, 2017