Motorbike parking in Westminster: costs, bays and how to pay

Westminster is one of the few London boroughs that charges for motorcycle parking, so the rules are most worth understanding before you ride in. 

 

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Where can you park a motorbike in Westminster?

You can park a motorbike in any "Solo Motorcycle Only" bay across Westminster. The bays are dashed white rectangles, usually with a motorcycle silhouette painted inside, or the words 'Motorcycle Only' painted on the road.

Motorcycle bays are for motorcycles only during the hours of control, outside of this other vehicles can use the bays:

• In parking zones A, B, C and D motorcycle bays are for motorcycles only at all times.

• In parking zones E, F and G motorcycle bays are for motorcycles only between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday; other vehicles can use the bays outside these hours.   

You can also park in a mixed use bay, but this usually is the most expensive option.

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How much does motorbike parking cost in Westminster?

Parking is paid through the RingGo, PaybyPhone or JustPark app at £1 a day. Most areas have free motorcycle bay parking after 6.30pm and Sundays, but some even have Saturdays free too.

Weekly passes are available for £3.5 and the annual permit is £100. Electric motorbikes are exempt from charges in Solo bays, as long as they are FULLY electric.

For regular commuters, the annual permit is almost always the cheapest option. At £1 a day, you'd hit the annual permit price after about 6 months if you commute 4 days a week.

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Westminster resident permits for motorcycles

If you're a resident of Westminster, you have the option to apply for a permit for your motorcycle, which means you can park without further charge in any motorcycle bay city wide.

Within your zone, you can also park in: 

• resident bays
• shared-use bays
• pay to park bays (without further charge during the first and last hour of controls)

The Westminster resident motorbike permit costs around £62 a year.

 

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Where are the motorbike bays in Westminster?

Solo Motorcycle Only bays in Westminster cluster heavily around the borough's main employment, shopping and tourist districts:

• Soho: along Wardour, Dean, Frith and Greek Streets, and around Soho Square. Fill quickly on weekday afternoons.
• Mayfair: around Berkeley Square, Curzon Street, Hill Street, South Audley Street.
• Marylebone: around the High Street and Baker Street tube.
• St James's: around Jermyn Street, Pall Mall, and the streets behind the National Gallery.
• Pimlico and Westminster south: easier to find a free bay here, demand is lower.
• Westminster Bridge strip: along the river by Big Ben, useful for parliament-adjacent offices.

The Westminster Council motorbike parking page has a full map of parking zones and motorcycle bays.

 

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How to pay: RingGo, PaybyPhone and JustPark

Westminster motorbike parking is paid through one of three apps: RingGo, PaybyPhone, or JustPark. All three accept the same Westminster bay numbers, which are printed on the sign next to each bay. You pick the bay number, enter your registration, choose your duration, pay. Nothing needs to be displayed on the bike. Wardens check by registration plate.

If you ride into Westminster regularly, you might want to install multiple. There are occasional outages where one app's payment system fails and another works fine!

 

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Are electric motorcycles free to park in Westminster?

Electric motorbikes don't pay to park in Westminster's Solo Motorcycle Only bays. You can park free in any Solo bay across the borough as long as your bike is fully electric. The exemption applies to all-electric motorbikes only, not hybrids or fossil-fuel bikes with low emissions ratings.

The EV exemption only covers Motorcycle Only bays. If you park an electric motorbike in a standard pay-and-display bay, the zonal motorcycle charge still applies, so you'd pay the same as a petrol bike in that bay. Park in a Solo bay if you want the EV exemption to save you money.

At £1 per day in a Solo bay, the exemption is worth roughly £200-£250 a year for a four-day-a-week rider. It's also one of the few practical financial advantages of going electric on two wheels in London, alongside the ULEZ exemption (covered separately in our guide to motorbikes, ULEZ and the London congestion charge).

 

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Motorbike parking in Westminster: FAQ

How much is motorbike parking in Westminster?

Around £1 per day in any Solo Motorcycle Only bay, paid through RingGo, PaybyPhone or JustPark. Weekly and annual passes are available. Residents with a borough motorcycle permit don't pay. Electric motorbikes are exempt from charges in Solo bays. [VERIFY current rates]

What about parking in other London boroughs?

Each boroughs has its own rules. A few London boroughs now charge for motorcycle parking (such as Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Lewisham), but the most still offer free motorcycle bays. See our London motorbike parking guide for a breakdown.

How do you pay for motorbike parking in Westminster?

Through one of three apps: RingGo, PaybyPhone, or JustPark. You enter the bay number from the sign, your registration, and the duration you're staying. Nothing needs to be displayed on the bike. Wardens check by registration plate.

Are electric motorbikes free to park in Westminster?

Yes, electric motorbikes park free in Solo Motorcycle Only bays across Westminster. The exemption only covers Solo bays. Electric motorbikes still pay the zonal motorcycle charge in standard pay-and-display bays.

What's the fine for not paying motorbike parking in Westminster?

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), typically around £80, reduced to around £40 if paid within 14 days. The same fine applies to expired bay time, parking outside the marked bay, or parking in a car bay without paying.