Best sharpen your elbows folks, Christmas shopping season is well and truly under way.

Choosing what to buy and then battling your way through the crowds is stressful enough, so we could all do without the headache of a fraught journey to do said shopping.

To make your trip into Chester this festive season as stress-free as possible, we've rounded up all you need to know about the city's car parks so you can make an informed decision on where to leave your car before you head out.

Market Car Park

This pay on foot multi-storey is one of the biggest and is in a great central location.

Where? Princess Street, Chester, CH1 2BB

How many spaces? 625 – 8 disabled

How much?

  • £3.70 – up to two hours
  • £4.60 – two to four hours

  • £5.60 – four to six hours

  • £8.80 – over six hours

* It's one of three Chester car parks which is free after 3pm

When is it open? 6.30am – 11.30pm

Delamere Street Car Park

Another multi-storey, this relatively new facility boasts a Park Mark Safer Parking Award.

Where? Victoria Road, Chester, CH2 2AY

How many spaces? 351 – 12 disabled

How much?

  • £4 – up to two hours
  • £4.90 – two to four hours
  • £5.90 – four to six hours
  • £7.80 – over six hours
  • Medical Centre users – £1 – up to two hours, normal fees apply for over two hours

* It's one of three Chester car parks which is free after 3pm

When is it open? 6.30am – 9pm, but vehicles may still exit after 9pm

Chester Racecourse

It's a flat rate to park here and there are plenty of spaces to choose from, but it's not covered which could be an issue if it's raining.

Where? New Crane Street, Chester, CH1 4JH

How many spaces? 500 – disabled spaces available

How much? £4.50 all day Monday to Friday, and £5.50 all day Saturday to Sunday

* Free parking on the last Sunday of every month starting from November 2016

When is it open? All day

Brook Street Car Park

Twenty-four hour car park a little off the beaten track so there may be more chance of finding a spot. Although this one isn't covered either.

Where? St Anne Street, Chester, CH1 3HU

How many spaces? 137 – 6 disabled

How much?

  • £1.80 – up to one hour
  • £3 –one to two hours
  • £4 – two to three hours
  • £5 – three to six hours
  • £5.80 – over six hours

* It's one of three Chester car parks which is free after 3pm

When is it open? 24 hours

Watergate Car Park

An outdoors pay and display set-up, all on one level.

Where? New Crane Street, Chester, CH1 4JE

How many spaces? 128 – 0 disabled

How much?

  • £4 – up to three hours
  • £5 – three to six hours
  • £5.80 – over six hours
  • £1.50 after 5pm

When is it open? 24 hours

Grosvenor Shopping Centre Car Park

A vast multi-storey car park slap bang in the city centre which has a lift, but it is on the more expensive side.

Where? New Crane Street, Chester, CH1 4JE

How many spaces? 410 – disabled spaces available

How much?

  • Up to 1 hour £2.80
  • 1 – 2 hours £5.20
  • 2 – 3 hours £7.80
  • Beyond 3 hours, up to 24 hours – £10
  • Special night rate after 6pm until 2am – £4

When is it open? 24 hours

Pepper Street Car Park

An NCP-operated facility, it's manned, has CCTV and boasts a Park Mark Safer Parking Award. Drivers can pay on foot by cash or card.

Where? Pepper Street, Chester, CH1 1DF

How many spaces? 287 – disabled spaces available

How much?

  • 1 hour – £3
  • 2 hours – £6
  • 4 hours – £9
  • 6 hours – £12
  • 24 hours – £15
  • Early bird – £6.50

When is it open? 7am – 11pm

Trinity Street Car Park

Conveniently located and accessible for 24 hours a day.

Where? Trinity Street, Chester, CH1 2BD

How many spaces? 145 – 4 disabled

How much?

  • £2 – up to one and a half hours
  • £4.90 – up to two hours
  • £7.40 up to three hours
  • £11.70 over three hours
  • £2 after 5pm

When is it open? 24 hours

Garden Lane Car Park

A partially covered pay and display.

Where? Garden Lane, Chester, CH1 4EN

How many spaces? 120 – 0 disabled

How much?

  • £1.20 – up to one hour
  • £3.90 – one to two hours
  • £4 – two to three hours
  • £5 – three to six hours
  • £5.80 – over six hours
  • £1.50 after 5pm

When is it open? 24 hours

Little Roodee Car Park

A large uncovered car park near the crown court which offers extra large spaces.

Where? Little Roodee, Chester, CH1 1SL

How many spaces? 452 – 9 disabled

How much?

  • £4 - up to three hours
    £5 - three to six hours
  • £5.80 - over six hours
  • £1.50 - after 5pm

When is it open? 24 hours

Or why not consider a park and ride?

Boughton Heath

Postcode: CH3 5QD (Whitchurch Road)

How many spaces? 750 – 11 disabled

How much? £2 for ride, free to park

When is it open? 7am-7pm

Sealand Road

Postcode: CH1 4LD

How many spaces? 760 – 11 disabled

How much? £2 for ride, free to park

When is it open? 7am-7pm

Wrexham Road

Postcode: CH4 9DE

How many spaces? 1,200 – 26 disabled

How much? £2 for ride, free to park

When is it open? 7am-7pm

Upton

Postcode: CH2 4BA (Moston Road)

How many spaces? 460 – 10 disabled

How much? £2 for ride, free to park

When is it open? 7am-7pm