RealCost Guide
Cost to Drive to Nottingham UK
Driving to Nottingham can be good value if you only count fuel, especially with passengers. But the real cost depends on return mileage, parking, traffic, route choice and whether the train or coach would be easier.
Use this page to estimate your fuel cost, check the extra costs that can apply around Nottingham, and decide whether driving, train, coach or public transport makes more sense for your journey.
The simple answer
The fuel cost of driving to Nottingham depends on your starting distance, fuel price and MPG. As a real example, Birmingham to Nottingham is about 55 miles each way — in a 45 MPG petrol car at £1.60 per litre that is roughly £9 in fuel one-way, or about £18 return.
That is not the full cost. For Nottingham city centre, also think about parking, traffic, return mileage, route delays, passenger splitting and whether a train, tram, coach or park-and-ride-style option would be cheaper or easier.
Quick Nottingham driving cost examples
These examples use £1.60 per litre and 45 MPG. Your actual cost will change with fuel price, MPG, traffic and whether the journey is one-way or return.
50 miles to Nottingham
About £8.08 one-way in fuel.
Return fuel: about £16.16
100 miles to Nottingham
About £16.16 one-way in fuel.
Return fuel: about £32.33
200 miles to Nottingham
About £32.33 one-way in fuel.
Return fuel: about £64.66
City-centre warning
Nottingham has no Clean Air Zone charge for visitors, but city-centre parking can still be scarce at peak times.
Calculate your fuel cost to Nottingham
Enter your distance to Nottingham, fuel price and MPG to estimate the fuel cost. For a return journey, double the distance or run the calculation twice.
This calculator estimates fuel only. It does not automatically include parking, tolls, city-centre delays, public transport connections or vehicle wear.
Cheapest live fuel prices near Nottingham
Live prices for Nottingham forecourts, sourced directly from the UK Government's official Fuel Finder data feed and updated 15 Oct 2026, 12:35am. Showing the 10 cheapest petrol and diesel stations within 5 miles of Nottingham. For results closer to a specific postcode, use the postcode search on our live UK fuel prices page.
RealCost note: For a simple mileage fuel check, use the Fuel Cost Calculator UK. For longer return journeys with traffic and journey type included, use the Trip Fuel Cost Planner UK.
Extra costs of driving to Nottingham
These are the costs that often make the real trip more expensive than the fuel estimate.
Broadmarsh multi-storey and NCP’s central options both serve the city centre — rates vary by time of day and length of stay, so it’s worth comparing current prices for your visit rather than assuming a fixed rate.
The M1 and the Nottingham ring road are the main approach routes, both prone to peak-time delay.
The M1 return leg can be noticeably slower during rush hour — build in extra time if you’re driving straight back.
Nottingham has no Clean Air Zone charge for drivers, but is the only UK city with a Workplace Parking Levy – an annual charge on employers providing 11+ staff parking spaces, not something visitors pay directly.
Nottingham trip checklist before you drive
Check these before deciding that driving is cheaper than the train or coach.
Where will you park?
Broadmarsh multi-storey and NCP’s central options both serve the city centre — rates vary by time of day and length of stay, so it’s worth comparing current prices for your visit rather than assuming a fixed rate.
Confused about Nottingham’s parking levy?
The Workplace Parking Levy is charged to employers, not visitors or day-trippers – if you’re just driving in for a visit, it doesn’t apply to you.
Driving to Nottingham vs train or coach
The cheapest option depends on passenger numbers, parking, journey flexibility and how close your destination is to a station or tram stop.
Train (East Midlands Railway)
~1h31 from London · from £23 average
EMR runs 2 direct trains an hour to London St Pancras – one fast (1h31) and one semi-fast via Leicester and Kettering. Fares average around £23 depending on how far ahead you book.
Driving + parking
Fuel + city-centre parking (rates vary)
Usually wins once you’re splitting fuel across several passengers or heading outside the centre. Visitors aren’t charged Nottingham’s Workplace Parking Levy – that only applies to employers with 11+ staff spaces.
Compare properly: Use Driving vs Train Cost UK and Car vs Public Transport Cost UK when the decision is not just about fuel.
Cost to drive to Nottingham by situation
Whether driving to Nottingham makes sense depends on why you’re going — a city-centre work trip, a Motorpoint Arena event and an East Midlands Airport connection all carry different real costs.
Work meeting
Nottingham city centre parking is affected by the Workplace Parking Levy for some employers — as a visitor this doesn’t apply to you directly, but city-centre spaces can still be scarce at peak times.
Weekend visit
Motorpoint Arena events and Trent Bridge match days can fill nearby car parks fast — check what’s on before driving in.
Family visit
Wollaton Hall’s deer park and grounds are free to walk around, but parking costs £5 on weekdays and £6 at weekends, and going inside the Hall itself (now a Natural History Museum) is a separate paid admission — the grounds alone still make for a genuinely free family day out.
Airport connection
If you’re heading to East Midlands Airport, check fuel, parking, the online-only Rapid Drop-Off charge and the M1 route separately.
How to reduce the cost of driving to Nottingham
Small planning decisions can make a big difference to the total cost.
Driving to Nottingham is not just fuel cost
Use these tools and guides to compare the whole journey cost properly.
Open calculator →
Open planner →
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Related Nottingham and travel cost guides
Use these pages to compare driving with other travel options before you commit.
Car vs Public Transport Cost UK
Check when driving is cheaper and when public transport wins.