Ingliston Park and Ride is Edinburgh’s tram park and ride: a free council car park with 1,085 spaces just off the A8 near Edinburgh Airport, with its own stop on the Edinburgh Trams line into the city centre. Trams run from every seven minutes, and an adult city-zone single costs £2.40. It’s the only one of Edinburgh’s seven park and ride sites on the tram line. The key rule to know: the car park closes between 02:00 and 04:00, and overnight parking isn’t allowed, so it doesn’t work for airport parking or overnight stays.

Ingliston Park and Ride at a Glance

Address	2 Eastfield Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LS (just off the A8/Airport junction)
Parking cost	Free
Spaces	1,085, including 46 disabled spaces; EV charging points available
Opening hours	04:00 to 02:00, seven days a week; no parking 02:00 to 04:00
Overnight parking	Not permitted; vehicles left overnight will be towed
Tram frequency	From every 7 minutes
Tram fare to city centre	£2.40 adult single; £4.60 adult day return
Kiosk and toilets	07:30 to 15:30 daily
Managed by	City of Edinburgh Council

History of Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh’s First Trams, 1871–1956

Edinburgh Trams are the second tram network the city has had. The first began with horse-drawn trams in 1871, moved on to cable haulage, which suited Edinburgh’s steep streets, and then to electric trams, before the last of the original network closed in 1956 as buses took over.

The Modern Tram Line, 2014

Edinburgh Trams returned in May 2014, when the modern line opened between Edinburgh Airport and York Place after years of delays and cost overruns that later became the subject of a public inquiry. The Ingliston Park and Ride tram stop opened with the line, serving a car park that had already been running since 2006. An extension from York Place to Newhaven, by way of Leith Walk, opened in 2023, giving the line its current route from the airport to Newhaven.

Using Ingliston Park and Ride: Practical Information

Getting There by Car

Location: Just off the A8 at the Airport junction, on Eastfield Road, the road to the airport. It’s the natural choice if you’re driving in from the west, such as from Glasgow on the M8, from Stirling and the north on the M9, or over the Queensferry Crossing from Fife.

Sat nav: EH28 8LS.

Motorhomes: According to the council, there is no parking available for motorhomes.

Event days: The council warns that the site fills up early in the day during major events at Murrayfield, and points drivers to Hermiston Park and Ride as the alternative. It’s also the stop for the Royal Highland Centre, so expect it to be busy during the Royal Highland Show and other large events there.

The Tram Journey into Edinburgh

Direction: Take the tram towards Newhaven, not the airport.

Frequency: Trams run from every seven minutes.

Journey time: Allow roughly 25 to 30 minutes to Princes Street, and check Edinburgh Trams’ journey planner for your exact stop.

Useful stops on the way: Murrayfield Stadium, Haymarket (for rail connections west), West End, Princes Street (for the castle and the Old Town), St Andrew Square (the closest stop to Edinburgh Waverley station) and Picardy Place, before the line continues down Leith Walk to Leith and Newhaven.

Also serving the site: Lothian Buses services 17 and 18, plus some long-distance coach services.

Tram Fares from Ingliston Park and Ride

Ingliston Park and Ride is in the tram’s City fare zone, which covers every stop except Edinburgh Airport itself. Fares published by Edinburgh Trams:

Ticket (city zone)	Adult	Child (5–15)
Single	£2.40	£1.20
Day Return	£4.60	£2.30
City Day (unlimited trams and Lothian Buses; buy before 6pm)	£6.00	£3.00
Family City Day (2 adults, 3 children)	£13.00
Contactless daily cap (Tap On, Tap Off)	£5.70	—

Buy before you board: Edinburgh Trams has a pre-purchase policy. Use the platform ticket machines, the app, or tap your contactless card on the platform validator before boarding; anyone without a valid ticket pays a £10 on-board fare.

Under-5s: Up to three infants travel free with each fare-paying passenger.

Two adults for the day? Two Day Returns cost £9.20, which is usually far cheaper than a day’s parking in central Edinburgh.

Overnight Parking and the Airport

No overnight parking: The City of Edinburgh Council states that overnight parking at Ingliston is strictly not permitted and that vehicles left overnight will be towed. Edinburgh Trams notes one exception: when trams run later on August weekends and at Hogmanay, the site stays open through the night.

Not for flights: Despite being next to the airport, Ingliston isn’t a free airport car park. You can’t leave the car while you fly, and the tram to the airport needs a more expensive Airport zone ticket.

Staying overnight in Edinburgh? The council directs overnight parkers to Hermiston Park and Ride, a few minutes away, where overnight parking is allowed for up to three nights. Hermiston is served by buses, not the tram, and its main building and toilets are closed.

Edinburgh’s Other Park and Ride Sites

The City of Edinburgh Council lists seven park and ride sites around the city. Ingliston is the only one on the tram line.

Site	Side of the city	Connection
Ingliston	West	Tram and bus
Hermiston	West	Bus; overnight up to 3 nights
Newcraighall	East	ScotRail trains
Wallyford	East	Various operators
Sheriffhall	South	Bus; free overnight parking
Straiton	South	Various operators
Ferrytoll	North (Fife)	Various operators

Prices last checked: September 2026.
Opening hours last checked: September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ingliston Park and Ride free?

Yes. Parking at Ingliston Park and Ride is free. You only pay for the tram or bus into the city, from £2.40 for an adult tram single.

Which Edinburgh park and ride connects to the tram?

Only Ingliston. It is the one park and ride site with its own stop on the Edinburgh Trams line, with trams from every seven minutes into the city centre.

Can you park overnight at Ingliston Park and Ride?

No. The car park closes between 02:00 and 04:00, and the council says vehicles left overnight will be towed. For overnight stays, use Hermiston Park and Ride, where you can park for up to three nights.

Can I use Ingliston Park and Ride to park for Edinburgh Airport?

No, despite being next to the airport. Overnight parking isn’t allowed, so it can’t be used while you’re away, and the one-stop tram ride to the terminal needs an Airport zone ticket rather than a city fare.

How much is the tram from Ingliston Park and Ride to Edinburgh city centre?

An adult single is £2.40 and an adult day return is £4.60. A child single is £1.20, and a Family City Day ticket for two adults and three children is £13.00.

How long does the tram take from Ingliston to Princes Street?

Allow roughly 25 to 30 minutes. Trams run from every seven minutes towards Newhaven, stopping at Murrayfield, Haymarket and the West End before reaching Princes Street.

Heading to the city? Our guides to Edinburgh Waverley station, Princes Street Gardens and Free Things to Do in Edinburgh pick up where the tram leaves off. Browse more practical guides in Plan Your Trip, or visit the Scotland hub.