Minibus Hire Chelsea

All you need to know about hiring an MPV or minibus in Chelsea

Chelsea is one of London's most iconic neighbourhoods. Its numerous cafes, fashionable boutiques, beautiful streets, and soaring house prices make it a desirable destination for shoppers, tourists and residents alike.

Situated in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, this affluent area of West London with a SW postcode has long been recognised as one of London's wealthier and more exclusive areas. The reality show Made in Chelsea also reinforced it as one of the most desirable places for the fashionable to reside. Sloane Square, Kings Road and the Chelsea Embankment are, and always have been, places to see and be seen.

Aside from its reality tv fame, Chelsea has a reputation for art and culture, with places such as The Chelsea Arts Club, The Saatchi Gallery and the Chelsea Physic Garden. The most notable event, though, is The Chelsea Flower Show, one of Britain's Largest and well know annual occasions in the calendar. People travel from all over to see various exhibitors' incredible displays and beautiful flowers. During this time, the local shops also participate in Chelsea in Bloom. Every year, there is a new theme, and the shop fronts are beautifully decorated.

Chelsea is awash with things to see even when the flower show isn't on. The West London streets have many beautiful cherry blossoms and wisteria, all stunning at the right time of year. Chelsea is also known for its colourful houses and streets, and it's well worth exploring to take it all in. You'll also spot a lot of Blue Plaques on the buildings, as many notable artists and writers lived in the area. Chelsea's blue plaques include the home of Oscar Wilde, Marc Twain, George Elliot, and Bram Stoker.

Whilst Chelsea is a fantastic place to visit, there may be times you need to travel out of the area. If you plan on hiring a minibus or MPV for any reason, it's worth getting to know your route. To help you out, we've pulled together a few pieces of information that may make it easier.

Driving zones

Like much of Central London, all Kensington and Chelsea roads have a speed limit of 20mph to promote safer travel, so be aware of your speed at all times. Chelsea is also in the Congestion Charge Zone and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, so remember to pay the charge if travelling into or out of Chelsea.

Road links and things to know

The main Kings Road is known for its busy two-way traffic, so beware of hold-ups if taking this as part of your route. If you're heading south across the river, the Albert, Chelsea and Battersea bridges are also busy, especially during peak times. Watch out for closures, as this can knock on routes in and out of central London via the Chelsea area.

Heading to an event or attraction

If you plan to hire a minibus or MPV for a day out, gig or show with friends and family, we recommend scoping out the route and parking beforehand. Venues like Wembley Stadium and The O2 have parking available that you can book in advance to ensure no problems on the day. Parking on surrounding streets is generally not recommended when visiting venues like these. Theme park attractions such as Thorpe Park, Legoland, and Chessington World of Adventures also have plenty of parking on-site. Always check with the venue for specific MPV parking requirements.

Airport drop off and pick up

Whether you're travelling for pleasure or business, if you or people you're transporting are flying out from one of the city's six major airports – London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted and London Southend – and you're travelling in a minibus or MPV to the airport, you'll want to make sure that your vehicle is parked safely and legally.

You can find multiple parking options at each airport for short and long stays. Check out the individual travel pages of the airport you're heading to for more information. And if you are considering leaving a vehicle there, double-check any height restrictions at the available car parks. All major airports also have zones and lanes allocated specifically for dropping off and picking up passengers. Some of these zones have associated costs.

Forget the change

If your route takes you out of central London and around the M25, be aware of a toll charge to use the Dartford Crossing between 6 am and 10 pm. Dart charges vary depending on the type of vehicle you are driving and if you have an account. Unfortunately, you can't pay at a pay station as you cross anymore. Payments are online only; you can make them from 6 am the previous day up to 12 months in advance. Opening an account also gives you a discount on the standard cost, which may be worth doing. You can pay for The Dart at a designated Payzone store if you can't go online.

Tune in locally

If driving in and around Chelsea, keep up to date with the latest travel news by tuning in to a local radio station. The best local radio stations for travel reports in the Chelsea area are BBC London 94.9 and Capital FM London 95.8.

Chelsea Minibus & MPV Hire

Minibus & MPV Hire Chelsea

All you need to know about hiring an MPV or minibus in Chelsea