London has consistently been ranked the busiest city in Europe and the third busiest city in the world. With more than 9.7 million people occupying a space of 607 square miles, this is no surprise.
One of the primary difficulties the city has faced in recent years is the ability to house the 2.56 million licensed cars driven by commuters. For these drivers, finding a parking spot is a never-ending nightmare that sometimes results in more time spent looking for a parking spot than being in the busy city for business or pleasure.
However, the rise in parking-centered technology has helped alleviate the frustration of drivers and parking bay managers. If you’re a London driver who often wants to pull your hair out, the following tech will allow you to navigate the city’s complex parking.
Parking in London
Before we get to the tech, let’s look at the current state of parking in the city. Millions of cars battle to get the best spot each day, particularly in Central London. For this reason, parking bays in the city require payment for use.
The idea to charge commuters for parking first emerged in 1958, long before the modern-day parking problems hit the city. This idea led to the first parking meter, which was installed in Mayfair.
Since then, parking in the city has become more complex, with various spots owned and charged by different companies, not just the city. The parking fees are estimated to raise up to £1.5 billion in revenue annually, meaning that paid parking bays are unlikely to disappear.
However, the web of different parking vendors has led to a more pressing need for a simple way to navigate these parking bays (and know who to pay). This has mostly been done through the introduction of mobile parking apps.
Parking Apps
The saying ‘there’s an app for every occasion’ is not wrong. From apps that allow you to access slots that pay out big wins to those that help you manage your money, everyday life has been transformed by this modern technology. Among parking apps, however, these four stand out.
RingGo
As the official parking app for many council-operated areas, RingGo is one of the most popular parking options available. The app covers a massive area and has access to an extensive network of parking bays in various city sections.
Allowing cashless payments, including pay by phone, RingGo also provides reminders when your parking limit is about to be exceeded and lets you extend your session remotely. It can also help you find nearby spaces when you don’t feel like driving around aimlessly searching.
PayByPhone
Like RingGo, PayByPhone is widely accepted and provides access to bays across Greater London. It also offers parking reminders, mobile payments, and the ability to extend parking if running longer than expected.
A unique feature of PayByPhone is integration with modern cars through platforms like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This allows the app to be opened on your car’s dashboard, making booking your parking space or finding an available one easier.
JustPark
JustPark is one of the premier apps that provides access to council parking and private off-street spaces rented out by individuals. These private spaces often feature better pricing for longer stays, making them more economical.
JustPark provides access to more than 45,000 bays across the city and some other notable features, including pre-booking, real-time space availability updates, and even user reviews that can highlight any positives (or negatives) about parking in a particular location.
Parkopedia
Used as the Wikipedia of parking, Parkopedia has an extensive database of parking bays, ranging from street parking to multi-level structures and privately rented spaces. This extensive collection of available spaces makes finding a bay simple.
The app also provides real-time availability (in selected parts of the city), information on what restrictions apply to a space, and pricing options. The app, which also provides parking spots outside of London, shows information on which spots offer EV charging and allows you to book a space in advance.
Other Tech
Aside from dedicated parking applications, many other forms of technology have been employed to make parking in the city a smoother experience. Each has unique benefits and can, in some instances, be accessed through the apps mentioned above.
GPS Apps
While dedicated parking apps commonly show available spaces, GPS applications such as Google Maps and Waze have also adapted to the parking madness of London. As such, they can direct you to available parking spaces near the destination you’re travelling to.
Beyond finding you a space, Google Maps and Waze also provide information on restrictions and pricing. Unfortunately, these apps aren’t best used for making payments, so you will need to download a different app to do so.
ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)
Also hardly used in city streets, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have become an increasingly popular fixture in parking structures. These cameras read a car’s registration number upon entry and exit, making billing more seamless.
These systems require prior registration and automatically detect when a car enters and exits a parking structure. The cost is then automatically billed using saved payment information, reducing the hassle of dealing with parking tickets or app payments.
Pre-Booking
As mentioned, many parking apps allow you to pre-book parking bays, marking them unavailable during the times you’ve specified. For those travelling into the city, this technology means the comfort of knowing that your parking spot is waiting for you.
Another benefit of reserving parking spaces is that many vendors offer discounts to those who pre-book.