Alexandra Palace is increasing its parking fees to balance its budget, effective 1 April 2025. The Alexandra Palace and Park Board approved the increase at its meeting on Monday, 14 July 2025, as part of a broader effort to ensure the financial sustainability of the charitable trust.
According to the report pack from the meeting, the Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust (APPCT) is currently on track to meet the target of achieving a sustainable budget position for the 2024/25 financial year, following multiple years of operating at a deficit. To further bolster its financial position, the board agreed to increase parking charges to a flat rate of £2 per hour, except for the first 30 minutes which will remain free. Previously, tariffs ranged from free parking for up to 30 minutes to £1.75 per hour, up to £8 for a full day. The car parking uplift of 18% is expected to generate £132,089, increasing revenue from £728,169 to £860,258.
A flat rate of £15 was also approved for event parking in the Paddocks car park during Great Hall events, to be applied at the discretion of the Alexandra Palace team from 17:30 onwards during Great Hall concerts.
The decision to raise parking fees comes as the APPCT faces economic uncertainty, rising operational costs, and increasing pressures within the labour market. According to the meeting's public reports pack, the APPCT, like many charities operating in the cultural, heritage, and hospitality sectors, is encountering several significant challenges. The report pack also stated that all of the sectors that APPCT operates in are vulnerable to external shocks, such as war impacting utilities and supply chains, and climate change. Specific operational cost increases include insurance premiums (budget assumptions include a 6% increase), increased national insurance contributions (recent increases of employers NI from 13.8% to 15%), increased estate guarding costs (compliance with new legislation necessitates enhanced site security measures, leading to increased expenditure), and general cost inflation (rising construction and wage costs continue to affect the Trust's repairs and maintenance budgets).
To mitigate a worsening deficit position, the Trust is implementing several strategies, including recognising the restoration levy collected on behalf of the Trust in year rather than in arrears, increased fundraising targets, and new leases and tenants. Increased fundraising targets will be achieved through the introduction of a Patron Scheme, installation of Tap to Donate terminals, and the launch of a significant capital campaign targeting trusts and foundations. The goal was to raise £750,000 through grants, fundraisers, and legacy gifts.
According to the public reports pack, the APP team conducted a benchmarking analysis of these charges against car parking fees in the surrounding area and at comparable venues. Based on this assessment, the charges are considered to meet the reasonable
test as referenced in the Charity Commission Order Appendix One. Benchmarking is set out in Appendix Two.
