Driving

Our advice for driving within Central London is quite simple - Don't!

Here's why!

London's infamous Congestion Charge came into force in February 2003, and was extended in February 2007. There is now a daily charge of £8 for all vehicles entering the central London Congestion Charging Zone from Monday to Friday between 07:00 and 18:00. The new Zone includes most of the areas covered in this Guide, although the boundaries are clearly marked.

The Congestion Charge can be paid in advance or any time before 22:00 on the day. Payment can be made by post in advance or instantly online, by telephone, at BT Internet kiosks and at selected shops, car parks and petrol stations displaying the 'C' sign.

Drivers will need their vehicle registration number. If registered, it is possible for drivers to pay up to one year in advance and also by SMS/text message. The charge goes up to £10 if paying before midnight on the following day. However, drivers who fail to pay before midnight will be issued with a penalty charge notice of a whopping £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days). Failure to pay within 28 days will see the fine increase to £150.

Off-road parking is available 24 hours a day at NCP garages situated around the city. However, the tariffs vary from garage to garage. The cheapest NCP garage in London can be found at the Brunswick Centre, Marchmont Street, WC1. Street parking in central London can be extremely expensive. It is also not unusual for hotels to charge £15-£20 for overnight parking.

Meters, pay-and-display bays or residents' parking bays operate throughout central London. Visitors should read the signs extremely carefully for the operating hours of the different bays and note that, although a pay space might only operate up to 18:30, the adjacent residents' parking bays could require permits 24 hours a day.

Parking on a single yellow line is prohibited within the hours of operation of the nearest meter or pay-and-display bay.

Parking within any area marked with a zigzag or double yellow line is prohibited. On a red line, or a double red line, even stopping is forbidden. Drivers caught parking illegally will incur a hefty fine.

Once you have have paid for car rental and the pricey petrol, parking and Congestion Charges, unless you have a sizeable family and a lot of patience you will be much better off using the tube or taking taxis. If you are venturing out of London to explore other areas of the UK, then we would recommend you hire a car but only for the days travelling outside the city.