The Best Parking Options for Tourists Visiting London

Navigating the streets of the UK capital city can sometimes be a challenge, even for local Londoners. If you are a tourist visiting London you’ll probably need a bit of help when it comes to making your travel arrangements around the city, whether you’re travelling from nearby towns and cities, or from further afield.

When it comes to travel, London has many options to choose from including rail, underground, bus, and taxis. Plus, if you’re in the driver’s seat you probably want to find out more about parking. We’re here to help with a list of the best parking options available, and if you’re looking to save money on parking, check out this Looking4Parking discount code for a special deal.

Parking in the City Centre

Although there are some driving and parking restrictions within the city, it is also possible to find great parking solutions in Zones 1 and 2. Depending on which area you are interested in visiting you can find many safe and secure car parks to leave your vehicle. Some of the most popular locations where parking is available are:

• Knightsbridge
• Canary Wharf
• Oxford Street
• Covent Garden

Parking outside the Congestion Zone

Like any busy city, parking away from the busiest zones can often save you both time and money. There are many “park and ride” style services available that give you the option to drive to a secure car park and catch a tube to your final destination. Many of these car parks are conveniently located near popular tube stations to make your journey easier, such as Park Lane, Tower Bridge and Queensway. Choosing one of these options is usually cheaper than more centrally located car parks, and will also save you the stress and hassle of navigating through the traffic, especially during certain times of the day such as the morning and evening rush hours. 

Parking for Specific Venues

If you’re attending an event such as a concert, theatre show, sports match, or any other kind of performance, you’ll be pleased to know that most of the major venues in London have dedicated parking solutions. Some of the most popular venues that offer their own parking include:

• The O2 Arena
• Wembley Stadium
• Barbican Centre
• Royal Albert Hall
• Twickenham Stadium

Check the website of the venue that you are planning to visit, and you should be able to easily find out what options are available and choose the right one for you. 

Parking for Scheduled Events

As well as many tourist attractions and entertainment events, London also hosts a range of special events and festivals throughout the year where you may find parking limitations or changes to regular parking facilities. If you’re hoping to attend a special event such as The London Marathon or London Pride, book your parking in advance to make sure you can get to the event in time without any problems.

Airport Parking

There are a total of 6 main airports in the city of London, as well as several others in the nearby surrounding area, and each one has a variety of parking facilities to choose from. These usually include long and short-term parking, meet-and-greet services, and park-and-ride services. If you are heading to a London airport, it’s a good idea to choose and pre-book the parking service that’s right for you so that you can save money and have a smooth journey. 

As you can see, there are lots of parking options available, depending on where and when you want to travel in and around the city. London is also famous for its unique underground system and many people, especially tourists, prefer to use the London Tube instead of driving. If you want to find out more, you can visit the official Transport for London website.