Driving in London — ULEZ, the Congestion Charge and Driving on the Left
London, United Kingdom · ULEZ
London charges drivers twice over: the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) costs GBP 12.50 a day for non-compliant cars across almost all of Greater London, and the separate Congestion Charge adds around GBP 15 a day for the central zone on top. You also drive on the left. With the Tube, buses and rail being so comprehensive, driving in London rarely makes sense — park at a station on the edge and take public transport.
Can your car enter London?
London charges drivers twice: the ULEZ costs GBP 12.50/day for non-compliant cars across almost all of Greater London, and the separate Congestion Charge adds around GBP 15/day for the central zone on top. You also drive on the left. With the Tube so comprehensive, driving rarely makes sense.
This page covers driving around London. For the ULEZ standards and boundary, see the London ULEZ details.
Two charges, plus left-hand driving
Check your car meets the ULEZ standard (Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol) or pay GBP 12.50/day; the central Congestion Charge is separate (~GBP 15/day). Both can apply, plus a penalty if unpaid. Drive on the left, roundabouts clockwise. UK urban limit 30 mph (48 km/h), alcohol 0.08% (England).
Park on the edge, take the Tube
It’s rarely worth driving in. Use a park-and-ride or station car park on the edge and ride the Tube, buses and rail — faster, cheaper and far less stressful.
When the car helps
Keep it for trips out — Windsor, Oxford, the countryside — collected from outside the ULEZ.
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Frequently Asked Questions
They're two separate daily charges that can both apply. The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) covers almost all of Greater London and charges GBP 12.50 a day for cars that don't meet the emission standards (broadly Euro 6 diesel, Euro 4 petrol), camera-enforced. The Congestion Charge is a separate fee of around GBP 15 a day to drive in the central zone during charging hours, regardless of emissions. In central London a non-compliant car can owe both, plus a hefty penalty if you don't pay.
On the left, as throughout the UK. For visitors from mainland Europe or North America this is the main adjustment — take roundabouts clockwise and be careful at junctions. Rental cars are right-hand drive. Combined with the ULEZ, the Congestion Charge, heavy traffic and scarce, expensive parking, it's why most visitors don't drive in London at all and use the Underground instead.
Rarely. Between the two daily charges, the congestion, the left-hand driving and the cost and scarcity of parking, driving in central London is more trouble than it's worth for almost every visitor. The Tube, buses, Overground and rail cover the city comprehensively and are far quicker for getting around. Most people park outside and use public transport, or skip the car in London entirely.
Use a park-and-ride or a station car park on the edge of the city or in the suburbs and take the train or Tube in. Driving into the centre means paying the ULEZ and Congestion Charge and then struggling to park at high cost. If you're touring the UK by car, it's often easiest to drop or collect the car outside London and explore the city itself entirely by public transport.
No — London has one of the world's most comprehensive public transport networks, and a car is a liability in the centre. Keep a car only for trips out of the city — Windsor, Oxford, the countryside — ideally collected from outside the ULEZ. Within London, the Tube, buses and your feet are faster, cheaper and far less stressful.
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