Families wanting to steer clear of summer stress have been offered some handy advice for finding a parking space in busy towns and cities during the hectic school holidays.

The guidance comes from the smarter driving team at LeaseCar.uk who have revealed tips to help save time and effort parking this summer - particularly useful for Bank Holiday weekend.

From heading to the back streets to reaching for the sky, motorists heading into town could remove the pressure and difficulty of parking by following the nifty advice.

Tim Alcock of LeaseCar.uk said: "Parking a car can be a challenge at the best of times, never mind during the school holidays when parents are off work too and trying to keep their kids entertained.

"The last thing families need is to spend ages trying to find a space to park their vehicle before they've even hit the shops, so our researchers have compiled eleven handy hints to help busy parents take the hassle out of parking this summer."

He added that any motorists battling the traffic this weekend could also use the advice to save themselves both time and stress.

11 bank holiday parking tips

Go super early

The most obvious way to secure a parking space in busy town centres and cities is to leave the house as soon as possible.

By reaching car parks or multi-storey facilities before the shops have even opened, you'll have a full choice of parking spaces and be able to stroll around town while others are stuck looking for spaces.

Use a Park & Ride

An Arriva bus at Caernarfon operating a service to Llanberis. The company took over this service following the collapse of Express Motors
The advice recommends using public transport into busy centres, if there's no park and ride service

Many major cities and shopping hotspots offer a park and ride service, where drivers can pay to leave their vehicles in a large space and hop onto a free shuttle service - reducing the stress of parking in busy centres.

Even if your local shopping district doesn't offer such services, you can still enjoy the benefits by parking in the suburbs and utilising public transport to reach crowded areas.

Try back streets

There's often ample parking away from the main shopping centres in the back streets of residential areas.

And parking on the outskirts of towns and cities can often be free, as residents' permits or pay and display typically aren't in place.

Of course, this handy tip means you'll then need to make a short walk to the shops but it's a small price to pay for stress-free parking.

Consider unusual options

Searching for a parking space during the school holidays can be an absolute nightmare - so perhaps consider unusual options.

A place of work, gym, pub or tourist attraction may offer convenient parking for busy families, so don't be afraid to utilise them.

It's important though to remember to obey the rules of any car park you do choose.

Be attentive

Keeping an eye out for signs stating when and where street parking is permitted could save you significant time and effort.

It may not be the quickest method of parking but it's definitely handy advice that many of us could use.

Additionally, large urban centres will often have live digital displays on major routes that detail which car parks are closest to capacity, so make note.

Reach for the sky

St Mark's multi storey car park in Wrexham town centre.
Aiming for the upper levels of multi-storey car parks is your best bet

We've all been guilty of circling back round the ground floor of a multi-storey scouring for the ideal space close to the exit.

In reality though, it only wastes time and causes stress as the best spaces were likely snapped up already.

For quicker and easier parking, motorists should instead head straight for the upper levels - where it's usually quieter.

Do your research

If you're visiting an unfamiliar area for the weekend, doing a little online research or asking more knowledgeable friends could put you a step ahead of the competition in the fight for parking spaces.

Motorists should inquire into which car parks are in popular locations for certain shops - therefore to be avoided - as well as whether there's any particular times to avoid as a result of events or concerts.

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Travel together

If a friend or relative is planning to join you for lunch or do some shopping of their own, considered travelling together.

Not only will you have an extra pair of eyes to help spot a space but you'll also be leaving a slot available for someone else.

And with environmental impact of travel a hot topic this week, why not combine a stress-free trip with an environmentally-friendly choice?

Use technology

Technology has become an almost vital part of 21st century life, but many of us aren't aware of its usefulness with parking.

There's a range of smartphone apps designed to solve tricky problems with driving, including some to help you locate a space.

In fact, some driveways can even be temporarily rented via certain apps, so taking advantage of technology could make travelling much easier.

Shop at night

Car parks, and shops themselves, are likely to be much quieter just before closing

Those who have the luxury of a free evening should consider taking a stroll around their favourite shops after dark.

Heading into centres in the last hour or two before stores shut will mean roads, car parks and retailers are all much quieter!

Of course, the bank holiday means some supermarkets, for example, shut earlier than usual - so make sure you check opening times!

Go out of town

Usually we automatically plan to visit the shops and entertainment facilities of bigger towns and cities - possibly because there are more options.

But seeking stores on industrial estates and retail parks that are out of town should at least be considered.

They can help you avoid the transport chaos of major cities, particularly during busy periods, and ultimately that's why out of town superstores were built!