Driving central London is a considered choice, not a default. Done in a small EV, on a Sunday morning, with parking booked in advance, it becomes one of the best sightseeing drives in Europe. Plan around the charging zones before you set off.
MINI Electric Cooper SE
Electric, compact and congestion-charge friendly — the only sensible way to drive central London.
Check availabilityThe route, stage by stage
- 01
Tower Bridge & the South Bank
Start east at Tower Bridge, cross the river and run west along the South Bank past Borough Market and the Globe.
- 02
Westminster & the Mall
Over Westminster Bridge for Big Ben and Parliament, then Horse Guards, past Buckingham Palace and up the Mall.
- 03
Hyde Park & Kensington
Park Lane, Kensington Gardens and the museum quarter at South Kensington — the easiest area to park for a few hours.
- 04
The City at dusk
Finish on the empty City streets after the offices close: St Paul's, Bank and the Barbican.
Stops worth making
- Tower Bridge
- Houses of Parliament
- Buckingham Palace
- Victoria & Albert Museum
- St Paul's Cathedral
Driving notes for visitors
- The Congestion Charge applies 7am–6pm weekdays and 12pm–6pm weekends. Check the current rate and pay the same day.
- The MINI Electric is ULEZ compliant, so no emissions charge applies.
- Bus lanes are camera enforced. Read the plate-side signs, not the map.
- Pre-book an off-street car park rather than hunting kerbside bays.
Remember: drive on the left, the national speed limit on single carriageways is 60mph, and roundabouts give priority to traffic from your right.