Parking Meters
Most streets
in central London have parking meters, with the parking bay marked
out. Some only permit you to use them for a designated amount of
time (eg 2 hours) the details will be marked on the meter. In addition,
they indicate the times that you need to pay to use them and when
you can park free, usually after 18.30.
If you find
a clear spot on a single yellow line during the evening, check a
nearby sign before you leave your car: this sign should tell you
at which times parking is legal on this particular yellow line,
as times vary from council to council and even from street to street.
It's a similar story with meters, which become free after a certain
time in the evening and at various times on weekends: check before
paying, as it could save you several quid. Parking on double yellow
lines and red routes is, by and large, illegal at all times.
Clamping
The immobilising
of illegally parked vehicles by attaching a clamp to one wheel is
commonplace in London. There will be a label attached to the car
telling you which payment centre to phone or visit. Some boroughs
let you pay over the phone with a credit card, while others insist
you go in person. Either way, you'll have to stump up a £45
clamp release fee and pay a parking fine of £40-£80
(there's a 50% discount on the fine if you pay within two weeks).
Car Parks
There are many
car parks in London. Their locations are indicated on street signs
which have a white "P" on a blue background; often there
is an arrow indicating which direction you need to go to find the
car park. There are often car parks close to or are part of British
Rail train stations.
In addition,
a company called National Car Parks (NCP) operates very many car
parks in London. Often the blue parking sign will lead you to an
NCP, alternatively, look out for a yellow sign with black NCP lettering
to find one. NCP will send to you a free copy of their booklet which
lists all their car parks. You can contact them on:
NCP - Sales
& Marketing Department
19-27 Young Street, W8 5EH.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 7050
Fax: +44 (0)20 7376 0527
London
car parks by area
If you would
like to know if there is a car park close to where you are visiting
and it is not listed in this section call NCP.
City
of London
Aldergate
EC1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7600 4402
Ave Marie
Lane EC1, off Newgate Street
Phone: +44 (0)20 7248 7527
Hillgate
Hse, Seacole Lane EC1, near Ludgate Circus
Phone: +44 (0)20 7248 7575
Rodwell House,
Brune Street E1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7247 7923
Shoreditch
High Street E1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7247 7923
Covent
Garden
Parker Street
WC2, off Drury Lane
Phone: +44 (0)20 7242 7577
Upper Saint
Martins Lane, WC2
Phone: +44 (0)20 7379 7645
Holborn
Brunswick
Centre, Marchmont Street WC1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7278 5113
Museum Street
WC1, off High Holborn
Phone: +44 (0)20 7242 7577
Russell Court,
Coram Street WC1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7323 1052
Islington
Bowling Green
Lane EC1, off Farringdon Road
Phone: +44 (0)20 7278 1745
Finsbury
Square EC2, Mon-Fri only.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7588 5545
London
Zoo, Regents Park
Rossmore
Court, Park Road NW1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7723 9897
Kensington
Olympia Hilton
Hotel, Kensington High Street W14
Phone: +44 (0)20 7938 1101
Royal Garden
Hotel, Kensington High Street W8
Phone: +44 (0)20 7938 1101
Young Street
W8
Phone: +44 (0)20 7938 1101
Knightsbridge
Cadogan Place
SW1, near Carlton Tower Hotel
Phone: +44 (0)20 7584 5667
Hans Place
SW3, near Basil Street and Pavilion Road
Phone: +44 (0)20 7584 5667
Lowndes Square
SW1, near Sheraton Park Tower Hotel
Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 7757
London
Bridge
Montague
Close SE1, near London Bridge Station
Phone: +44 (0)20 7407 9779
Tooley Street
SE1, near London Bridge Station
Phone: +44 (0)20 7407 9779
Marylebone
Arthur Court,
Queensway W2, off Westbourne Grove
Phone: +44 ((0)20 7221 2906
Bilton Towers,
off Gt. Cumberland Place W1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7935 5310
Bryanston
Street W1, near Mount Royal Hotel
Phone: +44 (0)20 7499 7050 extn 2313
Burwood Place
W2, off Edgware Road
Phone: +44 (0)20 7289 7729
Chilton Street
W1, near Paddington Street
Phone: +44 (0)20 7935 0232
Churchill
Inter-Continental Hotel, Portman Square W1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7935 5310
Gloucester
Place W1, near Churchill Inter-Continental Hotel
Phone: +44 (0)20 7935 5310
Kendal Street
W2, off Edgware Road
Phone: +44 (0)20 7289 7729
Marylebone
Road NW1, near Baker Street
Phone: +44 (0)20 7724 7612
Mayfair
Adams Row
W1, near Britannia Inter-Continental Hotel
Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 7489
Audley Square
W1, near The Dorchester Hotel
Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 1749
Carrington
Street W1. off Herford Strett
Phone: +44 (0)20 7491 4661
Hilton Hotel,
Hertford St W1, off Park Lane
Phone: +44 (0)20 7409 1749
Park Lane
W1, near Marble Arch
Phone: +44 (0)20 7262 1814
Soho
Bolsover
Street W1, near Gt. Portland St. Station
Phone: +44 (0)20 7580 6254
Brewer Street
W1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7287 9024
Denman Street
W1. near Piccadilly Circus
Phone: +44 (0)20 7287 9024
Great Russell
Street W1, YMCA, near Dominion Theatre
Phone: +44 (0)20 7323 1052
Wardour Street
W1
Phone: +44 (0)20 7287 8622
Victoria
Semley Street
SW1, near Victoria Coach Station
Phone: +44 (0)20 7730 7757
Westminster
Abingdon
Street SW1, near Houses of Parliament
Phone: +44 (0)20 7834 1077
