Morning all, following on from the successful chippy post, I have another query that I hope the fountain of knowledge that is UTC can help.

I need to travel over to Leeds General Infirmary from Barnoldswick for the next couple of weeks.

I drove on Friday and parked in the multi storey by the Jubilee wing. This took almost 2 hours due to traffic, and the car park is ridiculously tight, so I'm looking for other options.

Does anyone have any knowledge of other car parks that are in a reasonable distance? I don't mind a walk if needed.

Or am I better off driving to Skipton and getting the train over?

Both seem similar in terms of time, however would be good if anyone has previous experience and can recommend the best option?

Thank you in advance!

Drive to Skipton - you can park on streets nearby for nothing or use the pay car park at train station.
Train to Leeds is cheap and takes just over half an hour. It’s a nice journey too.

It's about 40 minutes on the train from Skipton, pretty sure there is a bus that goes past the train station that takes you to LGI. Or a 10 minuit walk. I'd take the train any time over driving in to Leeds.

Rose Bowl or Woodhouse Car Park.

Both reasonably priced and just off the inner ring road.

Best bet is the train from Skipton. LGI only a short walk from station.

If you do want to drive then park for free near Leeds Grand Mosque - it's about 20mins walk to the hospital from there

As already been posted, defo train from Skipton and a short walk to LGI

If you’re going to be in and out in under two hours, park on Park Place (or surrounding streets). Short walk to LGI, not too far from the M621 and avoid the inner ring road nonsense.

Hope everything's well.

If you do end up driving, on a Friday I'd say that doing the route from Keighley/Shipley/Rodley/Kirkstall shouldn't be a problem, and then with the unis having finished I'd be having a look at on-street parking round Hyde Terrace off Clarendon Rd.

But other than that the train and then a 10 minute walk is a great option.

Thanks everyone for the input, much appreciated!

I'm taking my mother over today, so will probably drive and use the Woodhouse car park as suggested, then when I'm visiting and travelling alone, train from Skipton looks like best bet.

If you take the car a bit further, to Steeton & Silsden you are in the West Yorks Metro area. Used to make quite a difference in ticket prices, but not sure if that is still the case. Probably worth checking.

ChrisG wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 11:24 am

Thanks everyone for the input, much appreciated!

I'm taking my mother over today, so will probably drive and use the Woodhouse car park as suggested, then when I'm visiting and travelling alone, train from Skipton looks like best bet.

If you don't mind country roads, turn off at Elslack and go over to Cononley. You can park closer to the station and lot less traffic. I work with a few people in Leeds from West Craven/Colne area and we all use Cononley.

ChorltonCharlie wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 1:07 pm

If you don't mind country roads, turn off at Elslack and go over to Cononley. You can park closer to the station and lot less traffic. I work with a few people in Leeds from West Craven/Colne area and we all use Cononley.

That's an excellent shout, thanks CC.

It's a separate topic, but it would be ace if they reopened the Colne to Skipton line

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:50 pm

If you take the car a bit further, to Steeton & Silsden you are in the West Yorks Metro area. Used to make quite a difference in ticket prices, but not sure if that is still the case. Probably worth checking.

Big new car park at Steeton too, was much needed.

Watch the angles on the ramps if you've got a big car though, think they designed it with go karts in mind

ChrisG wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 1:14 pm

That's an excellent shout, thanks CC.

It's a separate topic, but it would be ace if they reopened the Colne to Skipton line

Might not be as easy for you, as when I go in I'm on the 5:50am train, but I always park in the village. There's usually plenty of places for me at that time where I'm not being inconsiderate to villagers. The crossing can be a pain. If you're early enough, you can avoid the barriers coming down by walking along Moorfoot Lane over the railway, then taking a sharp right immediately after bridge through the new estate. Only takes a couple of minutes more and no chance of the barriers making you miss your train.

I work in Leeds, they seriously don't want anyone to take a car into the city centre.

Got to say the free parking nearby Skipton Station isn't so easy, I have at times gone online and paid to use Morrisons (which is next door). Station car park is full before 8.

Steeton a good shout, there are reasons why my car has to be in Skipton.

A word about Cononley,- don't get parked on the wrong side of the crossing, you could really have a bad day. If you hit the trains at certain times the gates are shut for up to 20 minutes.

If you go from Skipton there's always plenty of street parking round the corner near Sandylands.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:50 pm

If you take the car a bit further, to Steeton & Silsden you are in the West Yorks Metro area. Used to make quite a difference in ticket prices, but not sure if that is still the case. Probably worth checking.

You will need to be parked up in Steeton & Silden station car park very early in the morning, otherwise it's risky parking up in Steeton (Had my car "keyed" down the panels despite being parked legally). S&S is very popular as its the first station inside Leeds Metro concessions.

As well as Skipton, there is also the option of travelling in from Gargrave, which is on the Carlisle line. Trains aren't as frequent, but parking at Gargrave is both safe and free.

Edin_Clouds wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:46 pm

You will need to be parked up in Steeton & Silden station car park very early in the morning, otherwise it's risky parking up in Steeton (Had my car "keyed" down the panels despite being parked legally). S&S is very popular as its the first station inside Leeds Metro concessions.

As well as Skipton, there is also the option of travelling in from Gargrave, which is on the Carlisle line. Trains aren't as frequent, but parking at Gargrave is both safe and free.

Interesting that the Carlisle trains are diesels, and seem to cope with bad weather better than the electrics- better traction, for one.

Are you guys not all overthinking it? Is it not just simpler and quicker to drive into Leeds and park near the hospital. Some people have already suggested car parks close to the hospital, and you’re unlikely to encounter any significant traffic. Until you get to the outskirts of the city when driving in from the north.

I drove in this morning to take her for her operation, as we needed to be there for 07:00. Set off at 05:35, and parked in Woodhouse Lane. By time we got to the ward it was bang on 07:00, which was perfect.

Thanks again for all the recommendations

ChrisG wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:57 pm

I drove in this morning to take her for her operation, as we needed to be there for 07:00. Set off at 05:35, and parked in Woodhouse Lane. By time we got to the ward it was bang on 07:00, which was perfect.

Thanks again for all the recommendations

Hope all went well!

It’s a shame you’re not a few weeks later as the traffic is significantly better around Leeds during the school holidays.

ChrisG wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 02, 2025 7:57 pm

I drove in this morning to take her for her operation, as we needed to be there for 07:00. Set off at 05:35, and parked in Woodhouse Lane. By time we got to the ward it was bang on 07:00, which was perfect.

Thanks again for all the recommendations

You’ll never struggle at that time of the morning. I leave for work at 6:45am and drive across the City from near Elland Rd all the way to the A64 junction of the M1 without any issues.

I generally drive home the same route at rush hour without any major problems.

Now that the Armley gyratory is fully open, the traffic in Leeds is far better than it’s been for years.