City driving can become more of a pleasure and less of a chore with our help: we don't believe that a car should be a burden, and when you know where to park, vainly circling the streets of London in search of that all-elusive spot will be but a distant memory.
Here are some tips on parking in London. Call us to book spaces in advance, find out about season tickets, or for more information about where to safely leave your car.
Congestion charging
The congestion charge is levied at most kinds of vehicles that pass through central London between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. It doesn't apply on weekends, and environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric cars or hybrids, may be eligible for a discount or an exemption.
If you're driving into the City, the West End or the major shopping areas, it's likely you'll have to pay the fee (which starts at £9). The charge can be paid by phone, text message, online and at shops throughout London. Call your lifestyle manager to find out about car parks outside the charge zone that are near tube stations, ‘charge-free' routes through central London and how to qualify for discounts.
Shopping
Taking the car into London's shopping hot spots is often the only option when buying larger items. Only a few stores, such as Selfridges and Harrods, have their own car parking facilities, so shoppers usually have to find somewhere to leave the motor.
Shopping on a Sunday is a good idea because single yellow lines and metered spaces are available for free parking throughout central London, though we recommend getting in early to beat the afternoon rush (and always double check the meter to make sure it's free).
Call us wherever you're going and we'll send over details of the best places to leave the car, or ask for our selection of car parks for shopping areas in London, from Oxford Street to King's Road.
West End theatres
Pure Parking car parks allow drivers to reserve a spot in advance, so theatregoers need never miss the opening number of a musical. What's more, Q-Park and NCP operate Theatreland parking schemes that knock 50 per cent off the car parking charge when the ticket's been validated at the theatre, while Pure Parking has free breathalysers installed so drivers can make sure their interval drinks haven't tipped them over the limit.
Call us and we can advise where to park, as well as booking theatre tickets and recommending the best place for a pre-show meal or post-theatre drink.
Meeting in the City
London's rush hour is the bane of many a commuter, but nowhere is this daily stampede more frenzied than in the Square Mile. If you have to meet that client at 9am and want to avoid pressing up against fellow commuters on public transport, then don't worry: parking in the City is surprisingly cheap, and there are a number of car parks to choose from.
Call us and we'll send details of the most convenient City car parks.
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