Shoppers and visitors to Royal Sutton Coldfield are set for a major festive boost, as a popular scheme offering free parking, discounted bus travel, and free cycle hire returns this November..
While the scheme will be welcome, residents are reminded that free parking only applies to council-run car parks at certain times and not private car parks in the town.
The travel initiative, which comes through a £52,000 investment from Sutton Coldfield Town Council, is supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
It is designed to support both local residents and the town’s businesses during the crucial festive trading period, making it cheaper and easier to enjoy everything the town centre has to offer.
Free parking details
In a significant move, free parking will be available in key Birmingham City Council-owned town centre car parks from Thursday, 13 November 2025, until Sunday, 4 January 2026.
The free parking schedule is as follows:
The offer applies on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm onwards and all day Saturdays and Sundays at the following car parks in the town.
- Station Street
- Upper Reddicroft
- Lower Reddicroft
- Mill Street
- Anchorage Road
- South Parade
- Duke Street
Expanded travel options
Building on the success of last year’s scheme, the offer extends beyond just parking. Residents have a choice of sustainable and cost-effective ways to get into town:
- Free and discounted travel: Individuals* can sign up for two weeks of free bus travel followed by ongoing discounted fares through the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) scheme.
- Free cycle hire: Residents can also cycle into the town centre for free using the West Midlands Combined Authority’s public bike hire scheme, which the Town Council helps to fund.
How to acces the bus travel offer
To take advantage of the free and discounted bus travel, residents must sign up for the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council mailing list by 10am on Monday, 10th November 2025. Further details and a unique access code will be sent via an e-newsletter after this date.
You can sign up using the form here: http://eepurl.com/di-Cwr
*Please note: If you have applied for this specific bus transport offer in a previous year, you will not be eligible for the new free and discounted bus tickets.
Supporting Sutton’s town centre
Councillor Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, emphasised the scheme’s importance: “Whilst it’s great to see new investment with work starting on new stores and the Gateway Scheme, we fully recognise the need to support the town centre’s diverse range of businesses through the crucial festive period.”
He added, “Subsidising free car parking and promoting free bus and cycle hire will make it cheaper and easier for people to travel into the town centre and make the most of our fantastic festive offer. We also want to give visitors a choice of different ways to travel, including opportunities to try more sustainable options.”
Sutton Coldfield Life 