THERE are plenty of places to park in the North-East if you are heading into town for some Christmas shopping, but where will you get the best deal?

Parking is a nightmare around Christmas every year nevermind in one defined by a pandemic. Shoppers who normally don't mind a little walk from the car may want to be closer to city and town centres to make up for extra waiting time in socially distanced queues.

And if you are spending more time waiting to get into shops, your car is also spending more time in the car park meaning more money is being spent on parking charges.

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Here are key car parks in Durham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle with hourly cost and how far away they are from each high street.

  • Durham

Prince Bishops multi-storey, DH1 3UJ

Distance from high street - 2 mins(0.1miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2.10 (0-2 hours)

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £11.50 (Over 6 hours) but £1.50  Night Own Tariff for those arriving after 6pm 

Providence Row (The Sands), ​DH1 1LH

Distance from high street - 6mins (0.3miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - 30p per half hour

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - same as weekday

Sidegate, DH1 5SY

Distance from high street - 9min (0.5miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.60 up to two hours, 80p per hour thereafter

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) -  same as weekday

Walkergate Car Park, DH1 1SW

Distance from high street - 5mins (0.3miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.80 (up to 2 hours)

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) -  same as weekday

The Riverwalk multi-storey, DH1 4SL

Distance from high street - 7mins (0.3 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.50 up to two hours

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £1.50 up to two hours

Parking at Crook Hall Durham, DH1 5SZ

Distance from high street - 9min (0.5miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - 60p

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - 60p

Durham Railway Station, DH1 4RB​

Distance from high street - 11mins (0.4miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2.50

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £5.00

Durham also has park and ride services operating from Belmont, Howlands and Sniperley.

  • Middlesbrough

Zetland Multi-Storey Car Park, TS1 1SR

Distance from Borough Road - 17 mins (0.8 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2 for up to 10 hours

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - same as weekdays

Amber Street car park, TS1 4DT

Distance from Borough Road - 9 mins (0.5miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.30 per hour 

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - Saturday is the same as weekdays

Captain Cook Square car park 

Distance from Borough Road - 14min (0.7mile)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - Free for 2 hours, £1.30 per hour after that

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - Saturday is the same as weekdays, Sundays free for 2 hours, £1.60 per hour after that

Buxton Street and mima car parks

Distance from Borough Road - 13min (0.6 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.30 per hour 

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - Saturday same as weekday, 

Sunday £1.60 for all day

Gurney Street car park

Distance from Borough Road - 9 mins (0.5)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.30 for 2 hours

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £1.30 for 2 hours, Saturday the same as weekdays but Sunday is 80p all day

France Street car park

Distance from Borough Road - (7 mins) 0.4 miles

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.30 for 2 hours

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - Free

Transporter Bridge (Ferry Road)

Distance from Borough Road - 7 miles (0.4 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - Free for 2 hours but you need to display a free ticket still. £1.90 for up to 4 hours

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - Saturday is the same as weekdays, Sunday is free

  • Newcastle

Eldon Square Multi-Story, NE1 7RZ

Distance from high street - 5 mins (0.3miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2.10pm

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - same as weekday Saturday, £3 all day Sunday

Eldon Garden, NE17RQ

Distance from high street - 5 mins (0.2 miles)

Cost to park week day (for 1 hour) - £2

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - same as weekday Saturday, £3 all day Sunday

Dean Street, NE1 1PG

Distance from high street - 8 mins (0.4 miles)

Cost to park week day (for 1 hour) - £1.60

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - Same as weekday, free Sunday

Oxford Car Park, NE1 8QH

Distance from high street - 7 mins (0.3 miles)

Cost to park week day (for 1 hour) - £1.40

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - same as weekday Saturday, £3 all day Sunday

Quayside Multi Storey Car Park, NE12HJ

Distance from high street - 11 mins (0.5 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - same as weekday, £3 Sunday

NCP Newbridge, NE1 8HL

Distance from high street - 3 mins (0.1 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £5.50

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £5.5

Dex Multistori, NE18AB

Distance from high street - 3 mins (0.2 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £2

NCP Newcastle St John Street, NE1 5JG

Distance from high street - 7 mins (0.4 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £1.50

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £1.5

Newcastle Carliol Square, NE1 6UQ

Distance from high street - 9 mins (0.4 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2.70

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £3.7

Q-Park Stowell Street, NE14YB

Distance from high street - 10 min (0.5 miles)

Cost to park weekday (for 1 hour) - £2.60

Cost to park weekend and Sunday day (per hour) - £2.6 (£5 all day Sunday)