Parking near the Novello Theatre

Question

Planning to drive to see a show at the Novello Theatre. What are the parking options nearby? Is it expensive? Is pre-booking recommended?

Answer

Hi there!

As a long-time West End local I’ve found that the Novello doesn’t have its own car park, so you’ll need to use nearby parking or take public transport. The theatre participates in the Q Park Theatreland scheme – the nearest participating car park is Q Park Chinatown on Newport Place (about an 8–10 minute walk). It costs around £18 for up to three hours or £24 for four hours, but if you get your ticket validated at the Novello box office you get a 50% discount. Q Park Trafalgar Square and Q Park Covent Garden are also close if Chinatown is full.

NCP’s Covent Garden (Upper St Martin’s Lane) and Drury Lane car parks are alternatives and are often slightly cheaper, and there’s limited on‑street metered parking in the Aldwych area after 6.30 pm. For the best rates it’s worth pre‑booking online or using an app like JustPark or ParkWhiz – you can often save 10‑20% and guarantee a space.

Remember the Novello sits inside the Central London congestion zone, so if you drive into the area before 6 pm on a weekday there’s an £11.50 charge. To avoid the hassle altogether, many theatregoers park at outer Zone 2/3 stations such as Wembley Park, Stanmore or Mill Hill East (where parking is often free) and take the tube into the West End – it’s usually cheaper and much less stressful.

Hope that helps – enjoy the show!

Answer

Great advice from Suzzannah and the other user! As someone who's navigated West End parking for years, let me add some additional insights and alternatives for theatre parking in 2025:

**Q-Park Theatreland Scheme - The Best Option:**
Suzzannah's absolutely right about Q-Park being the gold standard. The Theatreland discount is fantastic - you get 50% off when you validate your ticket at participating theatres. For the Novello Theatre specifically:

**Closest Q-Park Locations:**
* **Q-Park Chinatown** (20 Newport Place) - 8-10 minute walk
* **Q-Park Trafalgar** (Spring Gardens) - 12-15 minute walk
* **Q-Park Cavendish Square** - 15-20 minute walk but often less busy

**Alternative Parking Options:**

**NCP Car Parks:**
* **NCP Covent Garden** (Upper St Martin's Lane) - 10 minutes walk, often cheaper than Q-Park
* **NCP Drury Lane** - Very close to several theatres, including Novello

**On-Street Parking:**
* **Evening/Weekend meters** - Some streets have free parking after 6:30pm and weekends
* **Check Aldwych area** - Sometimes has spaces but limited time
* **Avoid central Covent Garden** - Mostly resident permits only

**Money-Saving Tips:**

**Pre-booking Discounts:**
* Book online 24+ hours ahead for 10-20% savings
* Use apps like JustPark or ParkWhiz for private spaces
* Some hotels offer parking deals if you're dining there pre-theatre

**Timing Strategy:**
* Arrive 45-60 minutes early to secure parking and avoid stress
* Weekend matinees often have better parking availability
* Avoid Friday/Saturday evenings when possible - most expensive

**Budget-Friendly Alternatives:**

**Park & Ride:**
* **Wembley Park** - Free parking, tube to central London (£5-7)
* **Stanmore** - Free parking, direct tube to West End
* **Mill Hill East** - Free parking, good tube connections

**Outer Zone Parking:**
* Park at Zone 2/3 stations with free parking
* Take tube to Leicester Square/Covent Garden
* Total cost often under £10 vs £20+ for central parking

**2025 Pricing Guide:**
* **Q-Park with discount:** £9-12 for 4 hours
* **Q-Park without discount:** £18-24 for 4 hours
* **NCP:** £15-20 for 4 hours
* **Private spaces (JustPark):** £8-15 for evening

**Pro Tips:**
1. **Download parking apps** before you travel - Q-Park, NCP, JustPark
2. **Check theatre websites** - some have specific parking partnerships
3. **Consider dining packages** - some restaurants include parking validation
4. **Have a backup plan** - know 2-3 parking options in case your first choice is full

**For Regular Theatre-Goers:**
Consider the **Q-Park Season Pass** if you visit frequently - can save 30-40% on regular parking costs.

The key is planning ahead - central London parking fills up quickly, especially for popular shows!

hjj · Answer

The Novello Theatre itself doesn’t have its own parking facilities, which is pretty standard for most central London theatres.

However, there are definitely options nearby, and yes, pre-booking is highly, highly recommended, especially for evening shows. It saves you a lot of stress and often a bit of money too!

Your best bet for secure, nearby parking is usually one of the Q-Park car parks. They have several locations in the West End, and many offer a special Theatreland Parking Scheme. This is fantastic because you can often get 50% off your parking charge for up to 4 hours if you validate your ticket at the theatre. It’s a real lifesaver!

For the Novello, the closest Q-Park car parks would be Q-Park Chinatown (20 Newport Place, WC2H 7PR) or Q-Park Trafalgar (Spring Gardens, SW1A 2TS). While the user mentioned Covent Garden car parks, which are indeed close, Q-Park is often specifically set up for theatre-goers.

Cost-wise, without the Theatreland discount, you’re looking at around £18 for up to 3 hours and £24 for 4 hours. With the discount, it becomes much more reasonable. Always check the Q-Park website (q-park.co.uk) for the most up-to-date prices and to pre-book your spot. It’s super easy to do online.

And yes, the walk from these car parks to the Novello is pretty manageable, usually around 10-15 minutes, which is a lovely stroll through the heart of Theatreland. Just remember to get your parking ticket validated at the theatre before you leave to get that discount!

user · Answer

Park near Covent Garden car parks. It'll cost you around £10–£16 for 2 hours. Some even allow pre-booking and it's a 15 minutes walk from Novello Theatre.