Parking in Barnes
Parking in Barnes is managed by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames through a system of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), pay-and-display bays and a small number of off-street car parks. The closure of Hammersmith Bridge to motor traffic since 2019 has increased pressure on local roads and parking, particularly in the northern part of the village near the bridge.
Controlled Parking Zones
Barnes is covered by several CPZs, each with its own operational hours. A valid resident permit, visitor permit or pay-by-phone session is required to park in a CPZ during its operational times. Outside these hours, and on bank holidays, parking in CPZ bays is free.
Zone B1 – North Barnes
Zone B1 covers the area near Hammersmith Bridge, including streets around Castelnau and the northern approach to the bridge. It operates Monday to Friday, 10 am to noon (as of 2025). This zone has been subject to consultations about extending its operational hours, driven partly by increased parking pressure following the Hammersmith Bridge closure.
Zone B2 – White Hart Lane
Zone B2 covers the White Hart Lane area, including streets around Barnes village centre. It operates Monday to Friday, 10 am to noon (as of 2025). The council has reviewed the zone’s boundaries and considered extending it to additional nearby roads.
Station Road
Parking on Station Road, near Barnes Station, is controlled between 8 am and 6.30 pm, Monday to Saturday. Drivers must either pay by phone via RingGo or display a valid Zone B1 permit.
Resident Permits
Resident parking permits for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames are charged at a flat rate that varies by zone and permit duration. The borough scrapped emissions-based pricing in 2011. Permits can be applied for and renewed online through the council’s website. Each household may apply for permits for vehicles registered at their address within a CPZ.
Pay and Display
On-street pay-and-display bays operate on Church Road and along parts of Barnes High Street, typically Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm. Payment is made via the RingGo app or by phone; coin-operated meters have largely been phased out across the borough.
Off-Street Parking
The council operates one public car park in Barnes:
Rocks Lane Car Park (SW13 0DG) has 23 bays and operates Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Maximum stay is four hours during operational hours, with no return within one hour. The car park is free outside operational hours.
Private car parks are available at the Olympic Cinema complex on Church Road, though these are intended for cinema patrons.
Station Parking
Neither Barnes Station nor Barnes Bridge Station has a dedicated car park. On-street parking near both stations falls within CPZ zones and is subject to the relevant restrictions. For commuters arriving by car, the controlled hours and maximum-stay limits make all-day parking impractical without a resident permit.
Boat Race Day
On Boat Race day, typically held in late March or early April, additional parking restrictions come into force along the riverside. Putney Embankment and surrounding roads are closed to traffic to create a pedestrianised spectator area. Hammersmith Bridge and Barnes Bridge close to all traffic from approximately 10 am to 5 pm (times subject to confirmation each year). Residents are advised to use public transport on race day.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Barnes has a growing network of electric vehicle charging points, installed on residential streets as part of the borough’s sustainability programme. Locations include (as of 2025):
- Station Road (SW13 0LF) – 3 devices, TotalEnergies network
- Elm Bank Gardens (SW13 0NU) – 3 devices, TotalEnergies network
- Boileau Road (SW13 9BW) – 3 devices, TotalEnergies network
- Nassau Road (SW13 9QD) – 2 devices, Source London network
- Westwood Road (SW13 0LA) – 2 devices, Source London network
Additional lamp-post chargers operated by Shell Recharge (Ubitricity) are installed on Ullswater Road, Melville Road and Rectory Road. Up-to-date availability can be checked via the Zap-Map website or app.
Impact of the Hammersmith Bridge Closure
The closure of Hammersmith Bridge in 2019 redirected thousands of daily vehicle journeys onto alternative routes through Barnes, increasing traffic on Castelnau, Church Road and the streets around Barnes Pond. Parking demand in the northern part of the village rose as commuters who formerly crossed the bridge began driving further into Barnes to find spaces. This pressure was a factor in the council’s consultations on extending CPZ hours in Zone B1 and introducing controlled parking on Station Road.
For broader information on getting to and around Barnes, see the transport article.
Sources
- Controlled Parking Zones – London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- Resident parking permits – London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- Barnes area car parks – London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- North Barnes parking consultation – London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- Electric vehicle charging points in Barnes – Zap-Map