Advice for drivers

Coach parking in London

• Plan your trip to London in advance, not on the day
• Do not disturb residents and switch off your engine when parked
• Do not obstruct other traffic with your coach
• Do not enter coach ban areas unless access is permitted and you need to serve a property in the area
• Do not park overnight on-street unless it is permitted
• Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) should be paid or disputed according to the instructions on the back of the PCN
• Congestion Charge - Vehicles classed as a bus but not registered with the DVSA (including foreign and Northern Ireland vehicles) need to register with us for a 100% discount. See our page on discounts and exemptions

Picking up and setting down

• When picking up ensure your group is waiting for you
• No boarding or alighting activity means you are liable to a PCN
• Do not wait or park on clearways
• Do not arrive early to load or remain after unloading
• Do not park or wait at bus stops
• Stay in contact with your group to ensure they are ready to be picked up on time. Any instructions from guides, tour operators, etc to arrive early should be refused
• Stay with your vehicle at all times - it is not the driver's job to book passengers into hotels or to carry luggage

Yellow routes

• Set down and pick up are permitted on double and single yellow lines - however, activity must be taking place. Some London boroughs allow an observation time - however, this does not apply when loading restrictions are in force
• Check signs before using bus stops to pick up and set down as most are restricted to 'local' or 'LT/TfL' buses. Parking and waiting is not permitted at any time

Red routes

• Double red lines: no stopping at any time
• Single red lines: no stopping during restricted hours
• Vehicles registered as a bus can use red route bus stops, but must not park or wait, and activity must be taking place
• See our section on red routes

Left-hand drive coaches and off-side parking

Crews of left-hand drive coaches and right-hand coaches using offside bays should take every safety precaution available when passengers are unable to board from or alight directly to the kerbside. These precautions include:

• Ensuring that crews wear hi-visibility clothing
• Making sure that passengers board and alight the coach directly to or from the pavement in a controlled manner
• Briefing passengers of the situation before they board or alight from the coach
• Not allowing passengers to wait in traffic lanes, under any circumstances
• Any loading or unloading of luggage should be to the kerbside only

Off-peak coach parking

Some coach parking locations in London are restricted to off-peak hours due to traffic conditions. Peak hours are usually 07:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00 daily, although this is sometimes relaxed at weekends. Drivers should always check signs for restrictions.

Operating coaches in London leaflet

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