Planning a Christmas shopping trip? whether you're heading to Bournemouth, Poole, Purbeck or Boscombe, here's our guide to free parking and shop opening times. 

Bournemouth

Free parking is returning to selected Bournemouth council car parks this Christmas.

You'll be able to park for free on Thursdays (from 4pm) on November 24, December 1, 15, and 22. Then on Sundays (all day) on November 27, December 4, 11 and 18.

Participating town centre car parks:

  • Braidley Road Bridge
  • Central 
  • Eden Glen
  • Richmond Gardens multi-storey
  • Richmond Hill
  • St Stephen’s Road
  • Town Hall (Forecourt, Extension and Annexe)
  • West Hill
  • Winter Gardens

Car parks outside the town centre:

  • Boscombe - Hawkwood Road Main*, Hawkwood Road No.1, Hawkwood Road No. 2 and Palmerston Road
  • Southbourne - Woodside Road*
  • Westbourne - Milburn Road*, Landseer Road and Alumhurst Road
  • Winton - Leslie Road* and Cranmer Road*. 

* These car parks are free every evening from 6pm to 8pm.

Poole

From today, residents and visitors shopping in the town will be able to park for free in all of the council’s town centre car parks between 10am and 6pm.

On Thursday nights, there will be free parking between 6pm and 9pm, starting December 1.

People shopping in Broadstone, Ashley Road, Penn Hill, Ashley Cross, and Canford Cliffs can park for free in district car parks from noon until 6pm on the three Saturdays before Christmas, December 3, 10, and 17.

And the Park and Ride service will once again be running from Creekmoor on Saturday, December 3. The service will also be available on Monday 26, Tuesday 27, and Saturday 31, as well as Monday, January 2.

The 10 minute trip to Falkland Square costs £1.50 for an adult return, and accompanied children can travel for 50p return. Holders of an English National bus pass can use the service free of charge.
 

Purbeck

On Saturday, December 3, Purbeck District Council, Wareham Town Council and Dorset County Council will be supporting Small Business Saturday by offering free parking in their Wareham car parks and at West Street car park, Corfe Castle. 

Participating car parks in Wareham are at Bonnets Lane, Connegar Lane, Howards Lane, Streche Road, the Quay and St Johns Hill. 

Closer to Christmas, Purbeck District Council and Wareham Town Council will be waiving charges in their car parks on December 21, 22 and 23.

Free parking will also be available in West Street, Corfe Castle car park on Saturday, December 10, 17 and 24.

Swanage Town Council will be providing free parking in its Broad Road and Main Beach car parks on all Saturdays in December and Saturday, January 7. 
 

Boscombe

The Sovereign Shopping Centre is open late every Thursday evening in the lead up to Christmas.

Shoppers can visit the centre until 8pm on December 1, 8, 15, and 22 as well as on Friday, December 23, with free parking available from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Live in Christchurch? there won't be any free parking this Christmas or next. 
Councillors decided earlier this year to axe the free Christmas parking in the town centre.