Driving into central London and finding somewhere safe to leave the car is its own small ordeal, which is why parking places in London get reviewed as heavily as restaurants. Between them, the operators on this page have collected 2,335 reviews, but the ratings spread further than you'd expect: 3.7 up to 4.8, a full 1.1 stars apart. That gap tracks almost exactly with how often each one comes up in complaints about break-ins or billing.
Short answer: Urban Parking Shelton Street in Covent Garden leads with 4.8 stars across 916 reviews, the most of any parking option on this page, and includes valet service and 24-hour security. Waterloo Carpark matches the 4.8 rating with 341 reviews and is regularly praised for value near the London Eye and Waterloo Station. Expect prices to run higher for valet and central locations versus self-park garages further out.
How we score
Rating is the live Google average for each car park at the time of our review. Review volume measures how many people actually left feedback, since a facility with hundreds of reviews has a more reliable score than one with a handful. Confidence blends rating and volume together. Recency checks whether reviews are still coming in regularly rather than sitting stale. No operator can pay to change any of these numbers.
How much does parking cost in London? (2026)
Prices vary sharply by location, duration, and whether you choose valet or self-park. Reviewers across these car parks cite real figures from their own experience: one reported around 12 pounds for all-day parking at a South Bank car park, another paid 35 pounds for just under four hours in Covent Garden, and a third paid 15 pounds for roughly eight hours near the London Eye. Booking in advance through JustPark or a similar platform tends to secure the lower end of these ranges.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|
| All-day parking, outer central location | around £12 |
| Under 4 hours, valet, West End theatre district | around £35 |
| Around 8 hours, South Bank area | around £15 |
Figures cited directly by reviewers on this page as of their visits in 2026, not published rate cards, so treat them as reference points and confirm current pricing with each operator before booking.
Serving central London
These car parks cluster around the West End, Covent Garden, Chinatown, Waterloo, and the South Bank, covering most of the venues, theatres, and attractions visitors and commuters need parking near me for in central London.
What to ask before you book a car park
- Is the vehicle height and length within the car park’s stated clearance limits?
- Is the space manned or unmanned, and what security measures are in place?
- Does the price include valet, or is it self-park only?
- What’s the cancellation and refund policy if plans change?
- Is EV charging available, and what does it cost per session?
- What happens if you overstay your booked window?
Frequently asked questions
Are these rankings paid?
No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.
How did you choose these parking places?
We pulled real Google Business data for parking facilities across central London and ranked them by a blend of rating, review volume, and how recently customers were still reviewing them.
How often is this updated?
This page reflects data verified in July 2026 and gets refreshed periodically as ratings and review counts change.
Is it worth pre-booking parking in central London?
Reviewers across this page consistently mention pre-booking through platforms like JustPark as both cheaper and faster than arriving without a reservation.
Which of these car parks has EV charging?
Urban Parking Shelton Street and Q-Park Chinatown both list electric vehicle charging points on-site.
The bottom line
Urban Parking Shelton Street is the safe default for valet convenience and security in the West End, and Waterloo Carpark is the pick if value near the South Bank matters more to you. Whichever you choose, book ahead through the operator’s own platform rather than turning up unannounced.
