Let’s first talk about O2 Arena and then, we will explore the best parking spots there, both free and paid.
Elon Musk strapped a Tesla Roadster to a rocket and launched it into space in 2018.
After researching parking prices at the O2 Arena, it’s reasonable to assume he was simply looking for the most convenient and affordable parking on event day.
The O2 Arena is part of a larger entertainment complex known as ‘The O2‘ and is located on the northernmost tip of the Greenwich Peninsula on the southern banks of the River Thames.
It is well-known around the world as a must-see when visiting London, and it offers world-class dining, shopping, and entertainment experiences, in addition to the diverse international events hosted in the O2 Arena. Because of the O2’s popularity on both event and non-event days, as well as its location on some of the most valuable and desirable real estate in the world, parking at the O2 can be expensive.
While The O2 has plenty of parking, there are a few other things to consider when driving there. Have you considered ULEZ and Congestion Zone charges based on your route? Did you remember to reserve your parking ahead of time to save money? Have you considered taking advantage of the excellent public transportation infrastructure to get to The O2?
In this guide, we will go over the parking situation at The O2, as well as other nearby parking options that could save you a few pounds.
Important Note:
While UKFreeParking.com takes every step to ensure that the parking information provided is accurate at the time of writing, local ordinances, parking availability, parking prices, and parking regulations change with time.
UKFreeParking.com accepts no responsibility for any fines or tickets received as a result of using our website.
Please ensure that you park your vehicle safely and responsibly every time, making sure to adhere to local parking rules, signs, and regulations.
O2 Arena Parking
Parking at the O2 Arena
Before you look into parking at The O2, you should check two things that this guide cannot cover for you. When approaching on major thoroughfares such as the A12, A13, A1261, or A102, roadworks or accidents can significantly increase your travel time, especially on event days. Check local sources, such as Twitter threads, for last-minute updates.
If you’re determined to drive to The O2, the remainder of this section will break down their parking options and pricing in an easy-to-understand manner. If you’re coming from the west, make sure you don’t go through the central Congestion Zone, which is roughly bounded by the inner ring road. Depending on the time of day, drivers entering the Congestion Charge zone will end up paying an extra £15 for the privilege of driving to The O2.
Because The O2 is in the ULEZ zone, driving an older vehicle or one that does not meet ULEZ standards will cost an extra £12.50. For more information, please see our Congestion Charge and ULEZ guide.
Event day parking at the O2
UKFreeParking.com recommends pre-booking your parking spot on the official O2 website if you’re attending an event at The O2 or Indigo at The O2, a 2750-capacity live music club. Prices for pre-booked and on-the-day parking at The O2 are available below.
| Pre-booked | On-the-day | Motorcycle | |
| The O2 | £30* | £37 | Free |
| The O2 Valet Parking | £50 | £60 | Not Available |
| Indigo at The O2 | £20 | £20 | Free |
* Pre-booking more than 3 weeks in advance brings the price down to £25
Non-event day parking at The O2
Car parks 2 through 4 are regular-ol’ parking lots with hourly rates. While motorcycles can park for free, car drivers must pay:
| 0-2 hrs | 2-4 hrs | 4-6 hrs | 6-9 hrs | 9-12 hrs | 12-14 hrs | 14-18 hrs | 18-24 hrs |
| £6 | £10 | £14 | £16 | £19 | £19 | £26 | £50 |
Fortunately, some discounts may be available. If you visit Cineworld, you can get 4 hours free parking if you take your unpaid ticket and cinema stub to the parking office opposite car park 2; and if you spend £35 or more at Icon Outlet shopping centre, you can get the same free 4 hours by taking your retail store receipt to The O2 Welcome Desk. This neatly summarizes The O2’s parking situation. As you can see, parking at The O2 is certainly convenient, but it is far from cheap. We’ll look into other options that don’t involve parking in official O2 lots from now on.
Parking within walking distance of The O2
Streetside parking
Of course, ‘walking distance‘ is relative, but it’s reasonable to assume that visitors to The O2 will spend more than a few minutes exploring. Because of this, as well as the high cost of parking, many people are willing to park a little further away, either for less or for free, and then walk to The O2. These solutions are unlikely to work if you’re accompanying a group of small children or intend to make large purchases, but if you’re willing to walk, take a look.
There are, believe it or not, a few places in Greenwich where you can find free and unrestricted streetside parking. When using these, please keep valuables out of sight and park in a way that does not impede traffic flow. You can look for free parking spots at any time of day or year by visiting:
- Lombard Wall SE7 7SW – 1.4 miles
- Vanbrugh Park Road SE3 7NJ – 2 miles
Parking is free on the following streets from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the following morning. Outside of those hours, these streets are pay-and-display only.
- Hoskins Street SE10 9LU – 1.6 miles
- Chevening Road SE10 0LB – 1.5 miles
- Pelton Road SE10 0AA – 1.6 miles
Car parks
If you don’t want to park on the street but don’t mind the walk, consider one of the other car parks within walking distance of the O2. Please keep in mind any maximum stay times or customer-only designations. It’s up to you whether you want to take a chance and park at Millennium Leisure Park and walk to The O2. If you buy anything, keep your receipt as proof of purchase in case it is required.
- Park Row Car Park SE10 9NL // £3.60/h // Free after 6:30pm – 1.8 miles
- The Royal Standard SE3 7JQ // £1/h // 3h Max Stay – 2.3 miles
- Millennium Leisure Park // 5h Free // Max 5h // Customers Only – 1.3 miles
Parking near metro stations
When trying to save money on parking, look for convenient and affordable parking options near public transportation hubs like metro, rail, or bus stations. Even with the cost of a ticket, you’re likely to save money on parking when traveling to places like The O2, or airports. This method not only saves money but also time. Imagine avoiding the traffic outside The O2 after a big event, hopping on, and getting to your car and on your way home in less than 10 or 15 minutes, all while paying less for parking. This alone is reason enough to consider it, even if the savings aren’t significant.
Canary Wharf is the nearest metro station with convenient and inexpensive parking. It has approximately 2500 public parking spaces divided among a few underground car parks. This isn’t much considering you won’t be the only ones thinking of parking here and taking the metro to The O2 on a busy event day, so come early or look at other metro stops with more parking available. North Greenwich Metro takes you three minutes to Canary Wharf. If you’re coming from the west and want to park in Canary Wharf, consider the following options:
- Canada Square Car Park E14 5EW
- Jubilee Place Car Park E14 5NY
| 0-2 hrs | 2-3 hrs | 3-4 hrs | 4-5 hrs | 5-6 hrs | 6-24 hrs |
| £4.80 | £6.50 | £9.00 | £13.00 | £14 | £24 |
- Westferry Circus Car Park E14 4HD
| 0-2 hrs | 2-3 hrs | 3-4 hrs | 4-5 hrs | 5-24 hrs |
| £4.80 | £6.50 | £9.00 | £13.00 | £18 |
While other Jubilee Line metro stops are currently operational, both Canning Town and West Ham are experiencing significant construction near their metro stations at the time of writing. This makes it difficult to provide reliable information about parking near these stops. The same is true for Canada Water.
Stratford Metro is another viable option, particularly if approaching from the north on the A12. It takes about 14 minutes to get from Stratford to North Greenwich, and there are plenty of parking options within a 5-minute walk of the metro. Here are some good parking options:
- Stratford multi-storey car park E15 1BB
| 0-2 hrs | 2-3 hrs | 3-4 hrs | 4-6 hrs | 6-10 hrs | 10-24 hrs |
| £4.60 | £5.80 | £9.20 | £17.30 | £23 | £28.80 |
- Stratford International Car Park E20 1YY
| 0-4 hrs | 4-24 hrs |
| £7 | £8.45 |
Woolwich Arsenal is the final option we’re considering today. The nearby APCOA station provides very affordable parking, with a daily rate of only £6.40, dropping to £3.50 on Sundays. If you use your GPS, the address is SE18 8EU. Similar parking options may be available at other London stations. It may even be worthwhile to investigate options along the Thames Clippers route.
JustPark on the Isle of Dogs
Another option is to search JustPark for privately rented parking spaces, such as driveways. While Canary Wharf Metro is a short walk away, there are plenty of options available, starting at around £6.00 for a 4-hour stay. There are other options in Greenwich closer to The O2, but their prices skyrocket, leaving no room for savings. This method can save you a lot of money if you’re willing to walk to Canary Wharf and take a 2-minute metro.
This brings us to the end of our guide to finding cheaper and alternative parking options when driving to The O2. Remember to look at the companion map to this article to help you quickly locate all of the options discussed above, as well as our map of Greenwich’s Free and Paid parking options.