With around six million visitors a year, and a population of 222,600, Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) had to be introduced to manage the traffic on Greenwich streets.
Clearly signed
Parking places in Controlled Parking Zones are marked out as boxes with broken parallel white lines. Signs, like the one above, are in view at every entry point into the Zone and display the hours when parking control is in force. The places may be free, reserved for permit holders, Pay and Display, meter parking or a combination.
Locations of Controlled Parking Zones in the borough of GreenwichAny yellow line separating these boxes is a loading gap where you can load and unload - unless the kerb markings indicate otherwise.
Pay and Display/meters
You will find parking meters or Pay and Display machines in some CPZs. This means parking is permitted during the times indicated on the signs if a valid ticket is displayed on the windscreen or the right money has been put in the right meter.
You must pay for the full time you expect to stay as it is illegal to return and buy further time in the same parking place. Some places have a maximum time to stay, and this is shown on the meter. You must not return and park in the same place within the time stated on the sign or one hour, which ever is the shorter period.
Parking bays for permit holders
Those permit holders allowed to park here will be specified on the signs. You may find bays for motorcycles, loading (lorries only), taxi-ranks, doctors (doctors must apply to the Council for these) and Blue Badge holders only.
More about parking for the disabled
Limited waiting areas
Drivers can park for 30 minutes, one hour or two hours, but no longer than the maximum time or outside the hours specified. To extend your stay you cannot just park a little further down the street, you must move your vehicle to the other side of the road or a different road.
Motorcycles
Motorcycles can be parked in any resident or business permit bay if they are parked perpendicular to the kerb. They cannot park in pedal cycle racks.
Free parking during winter holidays
Street parking is free on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January in most areas throughout the borough.
On those days, parking controls in the Controlled Parking Zones do not apply. Pay-and-display bays and metered bays are unenforced and the bays can be used freely with no charge.
Any exceptions, where controls still apply, are clearly signed on-street. For single yellow lines outside Controlled Parking Zones, the normal 'day-of-week' restrictions will apply and motorists should consult signs on the street in the usual way.