Parking Woes Compound Shopping Stress for Brits this Christmas

13th December 2024, London, UK – The stress of festive chores, from buying presents to the often highly-charged Christmas food shop, are being compounded by parking pressures and repeated trips to the shops, according to a survey of over 2,300 UK adults by JustPark. 

The research, from the UK’s leading parking app, found that a staggering one in 10 Brits make 10 or more trips to tick everything off their festive lists, while nearly a quarter (23%) said it takes up to nine trips to get the job done. For most (55%), between two and five trips are needed—adding to already busy festive schedules.

Parking challenges also compound the problem of repeat December visits to the shops: nearly half (44%) reported struggling to park during the Christmas period, while 41% said they actively plan trips around where and when they can park to avoid queues and delays. The top parking frustrations include:

• Not finding a space near their destination (43%).
• High parking fees (35%).
• Time limits on spaces (22%).

Overall, the survey found that nearly three in 10 Brits (29%) strongly dislike Christmas shopping, with nearly half of respondents (47%) agreeing it’s one of the least enjoyable aspects of the holidays. The Christmas food shop in particular proved to be a major source of seasonal stress, with 70% highlighting crowded shops and parking struggles as their biggest festive frustration.

Anthony Eskinazi, Founder of JustPark, commented:  Christmas is a time for joy, but for many, the stress of shopping can overshadow the magic. Our survey shows that crowds, the often highly charged Christmas food shop and multiple trips out are some of the biggest festive frustrations. Which is why JustPark can take one thing off the to-do list by making parking much simpler, so drivers can spend less time circling for spaces and more time enjoying what really matters."

Pre-booking parking has emerged as a practical solution for many shoppers, helping to reduce festive frustrations. Among those familiar with the JustPark app, nearly two-thirds 65% said it’s their go-to option during the Christmas rush, and 53% agreed it would make their shopping experience significantly easier, with 20% saying it could significantly reduce their festive frustrations.

The app also received high marks for its convenience during the holidays, with an average value rating of 3.9 out of 5 among respondents who use it. For more information on how you can pre-book your festive parking this Christmas visit .justpark.com

Notes to editors: 

A total of 2,331 UK adults were surveyed in November 2024 by JustPark.

For more information please contact: 

Sarah Jackson 

M: +44(0) 7306 256 148

E: media@justpark.com

About JustPark

JustPark, established in 2006, is the UK’s most useful parking app, parking a car every 2 seconds. With 13 million drivers and more than 2.5 million spaces – including more than 100,000 residential spaces and some of the UK’s biggest councils and car parking companies – JustPark markets and monetises both unused driveways and car park capacity, benefitting drivers and creating revenue for space owners. www.justpark.com