Transport for LondonRules and regulations
A number of places including Madame Tussauds, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum and some hotels on Cromwell Road have 20 minute set down/pick up bays outside or nearby.
- Buckingham Palace and changing of the guard
- Congestion Charge Zone
- City of London
- London Eye
- Shaftesbury Avenue
- Theatres
- Tower of London
- Victoria Coach Station
- St Pancras International
- Westminster Abbey
- Whitehall / Parliament Square
- Victoria coach ban
Buckingham Palace and changing of the guard
This area can get quite choked up with coaches so please only stop along Buckingham Gate (south side) in order to set down and pick up your passengers.
North side
No stopping whatsoever
South side
09:30 to 16:30 is set down and pick up only
08:30 to 09:30 and 16:30 to 19:30 there is no stopping (alternative parking at Tothill Street and Park Lane)
By moving on once you have set down or picked up you will allow other coaches to do the same and this will allow a constant flow of traffic. There are coach parking bays in:
- Park Lane - 20 spaces
- Tothill Street - six spaces
- Horseferry Road - one space
- Marsham Street - four spaces
- Victoria Embankment - 25 spaces
Congestion Charge Zone
Only those 9+ seat vehicles registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) as either taxation class 'Buses' or 'Reduced Pollution Buses' are fully exempt from the Congestion Charge.
Those 9+ seat vehicles not registered with the DVLA or not registered in the above tax classes will need to successfully register with TfL to qualify for the 100% discount. This includes all foreign registered coaches. Further details can be obtained from the Congestion Charging website.
City of London
You can't wait between 18:30 and 08:00 except in the on-street coach parking places. Access to the City of London is via police controlled points, where you may be stopped for a short period of time.
London Eye
A 'Free Coach Permit' system works here. There are coach bays in Belvedere Road and permits are issued by Madam Tussauds. Tel: 0870 990 8886.
Shaftesbury Avenue
(Piccadilly to Charing Cross Road) Parking attendants will grant some leeway if you observe the following informal arrangements:
- Set down on the north (eastbound)
- Pick up on the south (westbound) towards Piccadilly with the group ready to board
Theatres
Do not arrive to pick up until at least 10 minutes after the show has finished. If you arrive too early you could stop other drivers picking their passenges up.
Use the interactive coach map to see where you can park near theatres.
Tower of London
There are 15 minute set down or pick up bays in the Coach Park in Lower Thames Street. Limited paid parking in the daytime is available with more spaces over night.
Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station offers convenient short term and overnight parking, toilet drop and maintenance facilities in the heart of London.
Call 020 7824 0015 for further information, or click here to visit the Victoria Coach Station website.
St Pancras International
You can access Coach Road is from Pancras Road. Space is not always available do we recommend you pre-book by contacting station reception on 020 7843 4250. You can only use the bays if setting down and picking up passengers using the station.
Westminster Abbey
You can set down on the Abbey forecourt (The Sanctuary) for a small fee. You will be given a pick up permit for an agreed time on the forecourt.
Nearby coach meter parking bays are available in Marsham Street and Tothill Street.
Whitehall / Parliament Square
No setting down / picking up is allowed. This is a security area and is controlled by the police.
Victoria coach ban
If you're coming into Elizabeth Street from Buckingham Palace Road you can't drive south beyond the access point to the Bulleid Way Green Line terminal. Alternative routes are eastbound along Buckingham Palace Road, Ebury Bridge Road then Chelsea Bridge Road.
Exemptions:
- National Express services that have booked stops at Pimlico Tube station
- Buses and coaches will have access to some buildings in the ban zone such as to hotels, schools etc
- Transport for London bus routes are unaffected by this ban
- The ban will be enforced by Westminster City Council using CCTV cameras.
