Parking in London
Parking in London is not easy, even for local residents, and it’s expensive as well. On top of parking charges you need to pay the Congestion Charge; a fee to drive in central London during weekdays. If you can travel to London without your car then do. It will save a lot of problems.
Very few budget hotels in central London have car parks and even if you do stay outside the centre, don’t assume you’ll be able to park for free. If you need parking, always check your hotel or apartment has a parking space before booking.
On-street parking in London
Many streets in London are Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ); areas reserved for residents who pay an annual fee to park in front of their own homes. Other streets are marked with double yellow lines where you can’t park at all at any time.
Non-residents are able to park in Controlled Parking Zones at certain times of the day, but the timings vary and will rarely be more than 4 hours at a time Monday to Friday during the week (if at all). There are no restrictions in the evening, between 6.30pm and 8.30am. On Saturday some areas allow free parking, in other areas it’s after either 1.30pm or 6.30pm. You can generally park for free all day Sunday. This is a general guide — check the CPZ signs by the side of the road before you park.
Pay-and-display & parking meters
Some parking areas are available to non-residents. You pay at a roadside machine or parking meter. Avoid them if you’re on a budget — they’re expensive. Like the Controlled Parking Zones, it’s free to park in these areas after either 1.30pm or 6.30pm on Saturdays and all day Sunday.
park-up.com gives details of pay-and-display parking.
Top Tip We can’t stress this enough….wherever you park, pay very close attention to the signs indicating when you’re allowed to park. If you’re late returning to your car there’s a £80–£120 fine. Traffic wardens are everywhere. If you park illegally, you risk having your car towed away AND a £250 fee to retrieve it. Call the TRACE service on 0207 747 7474 if your car is missing.
London car parks
During the week, a much easier option is to leave your car in a car park. Prices are generally cheaper outside central London.
Private & council car parks
As a general rule, council run car parks are cheaper than private car parks. Take a look at the central London Councils’ websites for more detailed information.
- Westminster council car parks (for Victoria, Paddington)
- City of London council car parks (for the City of London area)
- Camden council car parks (for Bloomsbury, Kings Cross & Euston)
- Kensington & Chelsea council car parks (for Kensington & Earl’s Court)
- Southwark council car parks (for the South Bank area)
Private run car parks can be found be searching the carparks4u website.
Tube station car parks
A much cheaper option is to park at an underground station car park outside central London (zone 1). The car parks cost less than privately run car parks and it will be easy to continue your journey into central London.
Park in someone’s drive
An even cheaper alternative to a car park is to park your car in someone’s drive or garage – with their permission of course. An innovative website, parkatmyhouse lets homeowners advertise their spare parking spaces. Recommended if you need parking for a few days.