Destination Charging UK: Complete Free & Discount Guide 2025

Want to charge your EV while shopping, working, or dining out? Destination charging is one of the smartest ways to reduce your UK charging costs.

This comprehensive guide covers free and discounted charging at 10,000+ UK locations including supermarkets, workplaces, hotels, restaurants, leisure centres, and attractions.

Potential savings: £300-£800/year vs paying for rapid public charging. Let's find your local destination charging opportunities.

What Is Destination Charging?

Definition:

Destination charging is EV charging available at places you're visiting anyway - not dedicated charging stations. You're there for another purpose (shopping, working, leisure), and charging happens while you're busy.

UK Destination Charging Growth:

18,000+ destination chargers (2025 estimate)
Growing 40% year-on-year
35% are free to use (no charging cost)
50% are discounted (below public rapid rates)

Why Destination Charging Makes Sense:

✅ Often free or cheap (supermarkets, workplaces, hotels) ✅ No waiting around (charge while doing other activities) ✅ Predictable locations (routine visits - gym, work, shop) ✅ Slower charging is fine (you're there 1-3 hours anyway) ✅ Reduces home charging needs (especially for renters, flat dwellers)

Average UK Savings:

Home charging: £0.05-0.15/kWh (£250-750/year for 12,000 miles)
Destination charging: £0-0.40/kWh (£0-650/year)
Public rapid charging: £0.69-0.85/kWh (£1,150-1,450/year)

If you can do 50% destination charging: Save £300-£800/year vs rapids

Supermarket Destination Charging

Tesco (2,500+ Stores - FREE First Hour)

The UK's Best Free Charging Network:

Tesco partnered with Volkswagen and Pod Point to install 7kW chargers at 2,500+ UK stores. This is the largest free destination charging network in the UK.

How It Works:

Download Pod Point app (iOS/Android)
Create free account (email + payment card)
Find Tesco with chargers (use app map or Zap-Map)
Park in EV bay (look for green signs)
Scan QR code on charger or use app
First hour is FREE (typically adds 25-30 miles)
After 1 hour: £0.28/kWh (still cheap vs rapids)

Tesco Free Charging Maths:

Power: 7kW
1 hour charging: ~7kWh added
Range added: 25-30 miles (depends on EV efficiency)
Cost: £0 (first hour)
After 1 hour: £0.28/kWh = £1.96/hour

Strategy for Maximum Free Charging:

✅ Weekly shop (1 hour = 25-30 miles free every week) ✅ Split big shops (2 x 1-hour shops vs 1 x 2-hour = more free charging) ✅ Use Clubcard (Tesco rewards customers, show willing) ✅ Peak times have queues (evenings 5-7pm, Saturdays busy - go off-peak)

Coverage:

England: Excellent (1,800+ stores)
Scotland: Good (300+ stores)
Wales: Good (150+ stores)
Northern Ireland: Limited (50 stores)

Annual Saving Potential:

1 hour/week = 1,300+ miles/year charging
At £0/hour = £0 cost
vs home (£0.10/kWh) = Save £36/year
vs rapid (£0.75/kWh) = Save £270/year

Find Tesco Chargers: Pod Point App, Zap-Map

Lidl (500+ Stores - Rapid Charging)

Fast Charging While Shopping:

Lidl installed rapid 50kW+ DC chargers at 500+ UK stores (target: all stores by 2025). Faster than Tesco, but NOT free.

How It Works:

No app needed (contactless payment at charger)
Plug in car (CCS or CHAdeMO)
Tap contactless card on charger screen
Charge while shopping (15-20 mins typical)
Automatically stops when you unplug

Lidl Rapid Charging Costs:

Varies by location (£0.30-0.50/kWh typical)
No membership required
No connection fee
15 minutes = 60-80 miles (40-50 kWh car)

vs Tesco:

Feature	Tesco	Lidl
Speed	7kW (slow)	50kW (rapid)
Cost	Free 1st hour	£0.30-0.50/kWh
Time	1 hour = 25 miles	15 mins = 60 miles
Best For	Long weekly shop	Quick top-up

Strategy:

Use Tesco for weekly shop (slow charging, free)
Use Lidl for quick top-ups (15-20 mins, paid but fast)

Coverage:

England: Excellent (rollout continuing)
Scotland: Growing (100+ stores)
Wales: Growing (40+ stores)
Northern Ireland: Limited (10 stores)

Sainsbury's (800+ Stores)

Pod Point 7-22kW Chargers:

Sainsbury's has Pod Point chargers at 800+ stores. NOT free (unlike Tesco), but convenient.

Costs:

7kW AC: £0.35/kWh
22kW AC: £0.45/kWh (three-phase cars only)
50kW DC rapid: £0.55/kWh (select large stores)

How It Works:

Same as Tesco (Pod Point app)
No free period (all charging is paid)
Nectar points NOT earned on charging (unfortunately)

Best Use:

Convenient if Sainsbury's is your local supermarket
Costs more than Tesco free hour
Better than motorway rapids (£0.69-0.85/kWh)

Aldi (200+ Stores - Growing)

Mixed Provision:

Aldi is installing chargers but not consistently across stores. Check Zap-Map for your local store.

Typical Setup:

7kW Pod Point or GeniePoint
£0.35-0.45/kWh
2-4 bays per store

M&S (150+ Stores)

ChargePlace Scotland (Scotland) / Pod Point (England/Wales):

M&S has chargers at larger stores (especially Food Halls at motorway services).

Costs:

7kW: £0.35/kWh (England/Wales)
Free or £0.20/kWh (Scotland via ChargePlace)
22-50kW: £0.49/kWh (select stores)

Bonus: M&S Sparks members get occasional charging discounts (check app)

Asda (100+ Stores)

Limited but Growing:

Asda has chargers at ~100 stores (behind Tesco/Sainsbury's).

Typical:

7-22kW AC charging
£0.35-0.40/kWh
Operated by ASDA Energy Services or Pod Point

Workplace Destination Charging

The Best Destination Charging Option (If Available):

Workplace charging is often free, charges while you work (6-8 hours), and requires no extra journey.

UK Workplace Charging Status (2025)

Current Stats:

22% of UK employers offer EV charging
Growing 8-10% per year
78% of workplace charging is free for employees
Most common in: Tech, finance, public sector, universities

Government Support:

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) provides:

£350 grant per socket (up to 40 sockets)
Available to businesses, charities, public sector
Encourages employers to install chargers

See our full guide: Workplace Charging Scheme Complete Guide

How to Request Workplace Charging

If your employer doesn't have chargers yet:

Step 1: Build Business Case

Gather this data:

Number of employees with EVs (survey team)
Number considering EV purchase in next 12 months
Government grant available (£350/socket)
Tax benefits for employer (100% First Year Allowance)
Recruitment/retention benefit ("green" employer branding)

Step 2: Identify Key Decision Maker

Large companies: Facilities Manager or Fleet Manager
Medium companies: HR Director or Office Manager
Small companies: Director or Business Owner

Step 3: Draft Proposal

Template email:

Subject: Employee Request - Workplace EV Charging Installation

Dear [Name],

I wanted to raise the possibility of installing EV charging facilities in our staff car park.

Background:
- [X] employees currently drive EVs (including myself)
- UK EV sales are now 15%+ of new cars
- Many employees considering EV as next vehicle

Benefits to [Company]:
- Government grant: £350 per socket (up to 40 sockets)
- Tax relief: 100% First Year Allowance on installation cost
- Recruitment: "Green" employer brand (ESG/sustainability)
- Retention: Valued employee benefit
- Preparation for EV transition (government 2030/2035 targets)

Typical Costs (8-bay installation):
- Gross cost: £8,000-12,000
- Less WCS grant: -£2,800
- Net cost: £5,200-9,200
- Tax relief (20% Corp Tax): -£1,040-1,840
- Final cost: ~£4,200-7,400

Next Steps:
- I can arrange quotes from OZEV-approved installers
- Happy to research grant application process
- Survey staff to gauge demand

Would you be open to a brief meeting to discuss?

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Success Rate: 35-40% of UK employers install chargers when professionally requested by employees

Workplace Charging Etiquette (Essential)

If your workplace has chargers, follow these unwritten rules:

✅ DO:

Move car when charging complete (don't block bay all day)
Rotate charging with colleagues (share access)
Plug in lowest battery first (if queueing)
Use charging schedule if available (off-peak overnight)
Thank facilities team (positive reinforcement)

❌ DON'T:

Leave car in bay after 100% charged
Unplug someone else's car (unless emergency)
Hog bay daily (if limited spaces)
Complain if you can't charge every day (be reasonable)
Charge to 100% if only need 80% (slows charging for others)

"EV Charging Rota" Apps:

Monta (workplace charging scheduling)
Ohme (integrates with workplace chargers)
Internal Slack/Teams channel (informal booking)

Hotel Destination Charging

Charging Overnight While You Sleep:

Many UK hotels now offer EV charging, especially:

Premium chains (90% have chargers at large hotels)
Motorway hotels (80% of Travelodge, Premier Inn near motorways)
B&Bs (20-30% have home chargers guests can use)

Major UK Hotel Chains with Charging

Premier Inn (900+ Hotels):

300+ hotels with EV chargers (2025)
Pod Point 7kW (typical)
Costs: £0.35-0.40/kWh (paid via app)
Availability: Check website when booking

Travelodge (600+ Hotels):

200+ hotels with chargers
Pod Point 7kW
Free at some locations (check on booking)
Paid at others: £0.35/kWh

Holiday Inn / IHG (400+ UK Hotels):

ChargePoint or Pod Point
Usually 7-22kW
Costs: £0.30-0.50/kWh
Some hotels free for guests (ask at check-in)

Hilton UK (100+ Hotels):

Tesla Destination Charging (50+ hotels)
ChargePoint 7-22kW (most hotels)
Often free for hotel guests

Marriott UK (100+ Hotels):

ChargePoint network
22kW AC at larger hotels
£0.40-0.50/kWh typical

How to Find Hotels with Charging

Method 1: Hotel Booking Sites

Booking.com:

Search for hotel
Filters > "EV Charging Station"
Shows hotels with chargers

Hotels.com:

Search destination
Amenities > "Electric vehicle charging"

Method 2: Zap-Map Hotel Filter

Open Zap-Map app/website
Filters > "Location Type" > "Hotel"
Shows all hotels with chargers on map

Method 3: Call Hotel Directly

Ask: "Do you have EV charging for guests?"
Confirm: "Is there a charge? What type of charger?"
Request: "Can you reserve an EV bay for my stay?"

Hotel Charging Costs

Free Hotel Charging:

Smaller hotels/B&Bs: Often free (using landlord's home charger)
Premium chains: Sometimes free (Hilton, Marriott occasional perk)
Ask at check-in: "Is EV charging complimentary?"

Paid Hotel Charging:

7kW overnight (8 hours): ~50kWh = £15-20 (at £0.35/kWh)
Adds 180-200 miles range (typical EV)
vs motorway rapid: £35-45 for same range
Saving: £15-25 per charge

Strategy:

Book hotels with free/cheap charging when touring UK
Charge overnight (8 hours = full charge)
Avoid rapid charging on route (save £20-30/charge)

Leisure & Activity Destination Charging

Charge While You're Active:

Gyms & Health Clubs

David Lloyd (100+ UK Clubs):

7kW Pod Point chargers at 70+ clubs
Free for members (2-4 bays per club)
1.5-2 hour gym session = 10-14 kWh (35-50 miles)
£0 cost

PureGym (Select Locations):

Growing rollout (not all clubs yet)
7kW chargers
Free for members where available
Check your local club

Local Authority Leisure Centres:

30-40% have EV chargers (council-owned)
Often free or cheap (£0.20-0.30/kWh)
2-hour swimming/gym = 14 kWh (50 miles)

National Trust (300+ Locations)

Heritage Charging:

National Trust is installing EV chargers at 300+ UK properties.

How It Works:

7-22kW AC chargers
£0.35-0.40/kWh (members and non-members)
2-3 hour visit = 14-20 kWh (50-70 miles)
Pod Point or ChargePoint

Popular NT Sites with Charging:

Fountains Abbey (Yorkshire)
Stourhead (Wiltshire)
Cliveden (Berkshire)
Castle Ward (Northern Ireland)
200+ more

Find NT Chargers: National Trust website (search property, check "Facilities")

Restaurants & Pubs

Pub Chains with Charging:

Beefeater (150+ Pubs):

7kW Pod Point at 40+ locations
Free or £0.30/kWh
2-hour meal = 14 kWh (50 miles)

Brewers Fayre (100+ Pubs):

Pod Point chargers at select sites
Often free for diners

Independent Pubs:

Growing trend (especially rural tourist areas)
Check Zap-Map for "Pub/Restaurant" filter
Often free (landlord's goodwill)

Strategy:

Sunday lunch at pub with charger (2 hours = 50 miles free)
Combine leisure with charging

Shopping Centre Destination Charging

Large UK Shopping Centres:

Most major shopping centres now have 50-100+ EV bays.

Westfield London & Stratford City

Massive Provision:

200+ EV bays combined (both Westfield sites)
7kW AC: £0.35/kWh (ChargePoint)
50kW DC rapids: £0.55/kWh
3-hour shopping = 21 kWh (75 miles) for £7.35

Bluewater (Kent)

100+ EV Bays:

Pod Point 7kW: £0.35/kWh
Tesla Superchargers: 12 stalls (£0.42-0.67/kWh)
Free parking (charging is separate cost)

Trafford Centre (Manchester)

80+ EV Bays:

ChargePoint 7-22kW: £0.35-0.45/kWh
Rapid chargers: £0.55/kWh
Usually available (less queues than London)

Meadowhall (Sheffield)

60+ EV Bays:

Pod Point & InstaVolt
7kW: £0.35/kWh
50kW: £0.60/kWh

Strategy for Shopping Centre Charging:

Arrive early (10am) when bays empty
Plug in, shop 2-3 hours
Collect car with 70-100 miles added
Cost: £7-15 (vs £25-35 at motorway rapid)

Airport Destination Charging

Charge While You Fly:

Many UK airports offer long-stay EV parking with charging.

Heathrow

EV Parking:

Long Stay: £18-25/day (includes charging)
Pod Point 7kW
Pre-book online (EV spaces limited)
7 days = full charge even from 0%

vs Regular Parking:

Regular: £15-20/day (no charging)
EV parking: +£3-5/day extra
But save £40-60 on charging before/after flight

Gatwick

EV Parking:

Long Stay North: £16-22/day (7kW charging)
Long Stay South: £16-22/day (7kW charging)
100+ EV bays combined
Pre-book essential (sells out busy periods)

Manchester Airport

EV Parking:

JetParks 1: £12-18/day (includes 7kW charging)
Official Long Stay: £15-22/day (22kW available)
Pre-book for guaranteed EV bay

Other UK Airports with EV Parking:

Birmingham: £14-20/day
Edinburgh: £15-23/day
Glasgow: £12-18/day
Bristol: £13-19/day
Leeds Bradford: £11-16/day

Membership Perks & Discount Schemes

Electroverse (Octopus Energy)

One App, 800+ UK Networks:

How It Works:

Download Electroverse app (free)
Link payment card (no subscription)
Access 800+ networks with one app (Pod Point, ChargePoint, InstaVolt, more)
Track spending in one place

Discount:

5-15% off at participating networks
No roaming fees (vs using each network's app)
Cashback offers (occasional promotions)

Best For: Frequent destination charging users

Bonnet

Subscription Charging:

Plans:

Bonnet Free: Access multiple networks, no discount
Bonnet Plus (£2/month): 10% off all charging
Bonnet Turbo (£8/month): 15% off all charging

Example Savings (Turbo):

Charge 500 kWh/month (£175 at £0.35/kWh)
15% off = £26.25 saved
Less £8 subscription = £18.25 net saving/month
Annual: £219 saved

Best For: High-mileage drivers doing lots of public charging

Shell Recharge Membership

Shell Stations + Partners:

Free Membership:

No subscription
Access Shell Recharge network (1,200+ UK locations)
Link to Tesco, Sainsbury's, others

Costs:

Shell rapid: £0.69-0.79/kWh (no discount, just access)
Better to use for convenience than savings

Destination Charging Etiquette

Follow these rules to keep destination charging available for everyone:

The Golden Rules

✅ DO:

Move car when charging complete (don't overstay)
Only use EV bays if charging (not regular parking)
Return within stated time limit (e.g., Tesco 2-hour limit)
Leave cable tidy (hang properly, don't leave on ground)
Report broken chargers (use app, help next user)

❌ DON'T:

ICE (petrol/diesel cars in EV bays) - Report to store/security
Leave car overnight (unless specifically allowed, e.g., hotels)
Unplug someone else (unless emergency)
Charge to 100% at busy location (stop at 80%, let others charge)
Block bays without charging (even if you have EV)

Dealing with ICEing (Petrol Cars in EV Bays)

If you find a petrol/diesel car in EV charging bay:

Check if hybrid (some PHEVs allowed, check signage)
Report to store (customer services or security)
Don't confront driver (can escalate)
Use Zap-Map "Report" feature (warns other EV drivers)
Take photo and share in EV community groups (public shaming works)

UK Law: No specific penalty for ICEing (yet). Store policy only.

Destination Charging ROI: Real UK Example

Case Study: Sarah, London Commuter

Profile:

Car: Nissan Leaf (40kWh)
Annual Mileage: 10,000 miles
Energy Consumption: 3.5 miles/kWh
Annual Energy Needed: 2,857 kWh

Charging Mix (Sarah's Strategy):

Without Destination Charging (Home + Public Rapids):

Home (70%): 2,000 kWh at £0.10/kWh = £200
Public rapids (30%): 857 kWh at £0.75/kWh = £643
Annual Cost: £843

With Destination Charging (Home + Destination + Public):

Home (50%): 1,429 kWh at £0.10/kWh = £143
Destination (35%): 1,000 kWh at £0.15/kWh average* = £150
Public rapids (15%): 429 kWh at £0.75/kWh = £322
Annual Cost: £615

Annual Saving: £228

*Sarah's destination charging mix:

Tesco weekly (1 hour free): 250 kWh/year = £0
Workplace (free): 500 kWh/year = £0
Gym (David Lloyd, free): 100 kWh/year = £0
Hotel charging (£0.35/kWh): 150 kWh/year = £53
Average: £53 for 1,000 kWh = £0.05/kWh (but calculated conservatively as £0.15 for planning)

Sarah's Time Investment:

Already shopping at Tesco (no extra time)
Already at work 5 days/week (no extra time)
Already gym member (no extra time)
Extra time: 0 hours/week

Conclusion: Destination charging saved Sarah £228/year with zero extra time investment.

Summary: Your Destination Charging Strategy

To maximize free/cheap destination charging in the UK:

Step 1: Map Your Regular Destinations

Work: Do you have workplace charging? Request installation if not.
Shopping: Tesco nearby? Use for weekly shop (1 hour free).
Leisure: Gym, pool, National Trust membership? Check for chargers.
Overnight: Book hotels with charging when travelling.

Step 2: Download Essential Apps

Zap-Map: Find all destination chargers
Pod Point: Access Tesco, Sainsbury's, hotels
Electroverse: 800+ networks, 5-15% discount
Bonnet: Subscription option for high-mileage

Step 3: Build Charging Routine

Weekly: Tesco shop (1 hour = 25 miles free)
Daily: Workplace (if available, 7-8 hours = 50-60 miles free)
3x/week: Gym/leisure (1.5 hours = 10 miles free per session)
Ad-hoc: Restaurants, pubs, shopping centres

Step 4: Track Savings

Use Electroverse or Bonnet app (tracks all spending)
Compare monthly cost vs home/rapid charging
Adjust strategy to maximize free charging

Realistic UK Goals:

30-50% of charging via free/cheap destinations
£300-£800/year savings vs rapid charging
Zero extra time (charge while doing planned activities)

Related Guides:

Last Updated: February 2025 | Pricing and availability subject to change. Check individual networks for current rates.