Christmas lovers hit with massive £33 fee to park to visit festive markets – check how much it’ll cost you

SHOPPERS in the UK are set to be slapped with huge fees of up to £33 to park at Christmas markets this year.

With families rushing around to take in the sights and get into the festive spirit, here's how much your parking might cost.

Automotive experts at Leasing Options revealed just how much it might cost you to park at 14 of the UK's biggest Christmas markets this year.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is one of the most popular Christmas markets in the UK, as thousands flock to Central London to enjoy the festivities.

But parking within walking distance of the event for just three hours will set you back nearly a whopping £33.

This is by far the most expensive out of the 14, and it'll cost a mega £44.37 if you want to extend your stay for 24 hours.

The South Bank Winter Market is 62 per cent cheaper to park closer to, costing on average £19.82 for three hours or £36.67 for 24 hours - over £7 cheaper than the other London market. 

Outside of London, the next most expensive market to park close to is another famous one, Edinburgh market.

While it’ll cost you 3p more than the South Bank market for three hours, it’s £1.75 cheaper for a 24-hour parking space, if you're planning an overnight stay.

Nottingham Winter Wonderland is the next most expensive, as three hours of parking will require a £13 fee.

Again, if you're planning on spending the night, a 24-hour ticket carries a £20 price tag.

Coming in at around £10 for a three-hour span are Bath, Newcastle, and York, but Newcastle's parking was the cheapest overall for a 24-hour stay at £14.83.

If you're planning on visiting festive markets in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, or Leeds, you can expect to pay slightly less for your parking.

The average three-hour parking fees are set at around £8, and between £16 to £18 if you're staying for the entire day.

Chester and Sheffield had the lowest parking cost on offer at an average of £7 per three hours spent parked up.

The Cardiff Christmas market is already open and now welcoming visitors until December 23. 

Parking for a few hours here would cost you on average £6.69, with the cheapest parking in walking distance coming in at £4.05.

That’s 380 per cent cheaper than the most expensive parking - Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

You could also park for three hours in Sheffield for just 30p more than in Cardiff.

The Sheffield Christmas market, featuring 80 per cent of local traders, opened on November 16.

Parking nearby can cost you £6.99 if you want to visit.

The car experts from Leasing Operatives also told how drivers can save money while travelling long-distance.

They advise motorists not to speed, as it could decrease fuel economy by up to 30 per cent - therefore allowing you to save money on petrol.

Removing unnecessary loads was the second handy tip as added weight in your vehicle could cause you to use up more petrol.

And they urged drivers to shop around for the best petrol prices available.