How to Hire a Coach in London: What You Need to Know First

London coach hire has specific rules that do not apply elsewhere in the UK. The Congestion Charge Zone affects cost. Coach access restrictions affect where you can go. Each of the six airports has its own pick-up area. This guide covers what to know before you book.

The Congestion Charge

The Congestion Charge Zone covers roughly the area inside the Inner Ring Road, including the West End, the City, Southwark, and most tourist areas in zones 1 and 2. The daily charge for coaches is 15 pounds. ULEZ covers a larger area and applies to vehicles not meeting Euro 6 diesel standards. All operators in our London network run Euro 6 vehicles, so ULEZ does not add a surcharge on bookings made through us.

Where Coaches Can Stop in London

South Bank (Tate Modern, Globe Theatre): Park Street has coach bays for both attractions.

Westminster (Big Ben, Houses of Parliament): Victoria Embankment has designated coach bays.

The City (St Paul's, Tower of London): Peter's Hill is the standard approach for St Paul's. Tower Hill has a coach bay near the Tower entrance.

West End (Covent Garden, British Museum): Aldwych is the designated coach drop for Covent Garden. Montague Street for the British Museum.

Wembley and Twickenham: Both have purpose-built coach parking. Wembley's Olympic Way car parks are well-signed from the A4089.

Airport Transfers

Heathrow Terminal 5 coach bay is on Level 2 of the main car park. Terminals 2 and 3 share a central bus station loop. Gatwick uses dedicated North and South terminal coach bays. Stansted is 56 km from central London via the M11.

See our London bus hire page for operators covering all six airports.

When to Book

• Wembley concert season (summer): 8 to 10 weeks minimum.
• Christmas party season (November to December): book in October.
• Chelsea Flower Show (May): consistently one of the busier coach hire periods.

For full operator options, see our UK coach hire page.