Trying to Understand the Congestion Charge

The Tube is cheaper and easier. https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

But here is:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge

I take it you mean the London congestion charge. there is also one in Durham.

• "So how does this work?" - The Congestion Charge is an £11.50 daily charge for driving a vehicle within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday.
• "I can pay online before I go?" - Yes, but if you have a hire car, you may not know the plate number in advance.
• "Also it says I can pay after I go?" - You can pay in advance, on the day of travel or by midnight the following charging day. The daily charge is £11.50 if you pay in advance or on the same day, or £14 if paid the following charging day.
• "Are there cameras that watch the plates entering the zone?" - Yes, at every entry point and some other places as well. That is the prime method of enforcement
• "I see the rates and the phone number, do I give them my plate number?" - Yes, they need the car number, so they can "tick you off the list" as paid. You can also pay online. It was initially possible to pay in some shops and fuel stations, but no longer.

Official website with rules and how to pay: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge

P.S. You said in your previous post you were staying in Ilford, that is outside the congestion zone. When travelling from Heathrow to Ilford, you go around the centre, not through the congestion zone. The map of the zone is here: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge-zone-map.pdf

If you do drive into central London, a bigger problem, and a bigger expense, would be finding parking. he Congestion Zone charge is to deter people driving through central London if they don't have to.

The zone is well signposted, see here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/congestion-charge-zone/road-signs

Yes I'm staying in Ilford, but just feeling this out before I go in case I decide to drive into London or anywhere in the zones. I know for sure we're going to take the tube in one day. Thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure how it exactly worked.

Don't drive into London. It'll take WAY longer than the train or tube.

Why are you even thinking about this? Driving into London is insane.

Public transport will get you to and from London and it will be easier and quicker ( although still lengthy) than trying to drive into London and find parking.

Might you also consider going into London, staying the two nights at a Premiere Inn, say the one directly across the Thames from Westminster.

Then return to Heathrow, get your vehicle and then to your place in Ilford.

Just a thought.

Rental car companies charge at least $35 to process traffic tickets and other government charges received after you return the car ... Plus the fine or charge.

I like Claudia's plan. A variation on her suggestion: Maybe take the tube/train into London when you arrive at Heathrow. No car. Spend your two days in Ilford and London. Tube out to Heathrow, pick up the car then and continue out to the countryside. Get clear of the London area. Don't drive into any part of London. Saves you the hassle of the congestion zone and traffic in the outer fringes of the city. You could just tell the car rental people you will pick the car up two days later than you originally thought.

You can also take the train out of London to any major town or city and pick up a car. You can take the train south out of London and pick up a car at Gatwick Airport. This is out of the London traffic, and in the south of England. Maybe you'd get a better start from Gatwick. You would be much closer to the southern coast of England.

You wrote on one of your other threads,
"We're going all over......Bath, Stratford upon Avon, Bristol, Canterbury, seriously all over. I'm going to somewhat map it out, but just going to drive and take our time."

Know that all of your named destinations are easily reached by train. Just in case you become frustrated trying to plan your trip by car.
Not trying to throw a wrench into the works. Most first-time travelers to London and England do not realize what a great train system they have and how easy it is to use. Takes the stress out of the trip for most people. Just get on the train, relax, soon you're arriving at your destination. My husband and I traveled around England by train for a month last spring, and loved it. We had thought of renting a car, but wanted to take the hassle out of our trip. The train was great. Didn't get lost one time the way we would have in a car. Highly recommend the train.

Either way you go, have a great trip!

DO NOT EVER drive a car into central London. You'll spend a lot of money on congestion charge and car parking, and sit in traffic for ages. Take the train from Ilford into Liverpool Street, and tube or bus wherever you want to go. (Quick hint - if you get the train from Ilford and get off at Stratford, the Central Line tube is right across the platform with no stairs or escalators to climb, much easier than at Liverpool Street.)

It's not just the Congestion Charge that you need to consider - there is no free parking in London. I have just looked at car parks near Oxford Street - they charge between £34 and £65 for 4 hours parking. Take the tube instead. It will be much quicker, less stress and MUCH cheaper!

Drivers will not give way for you and if you don't know which lane you need to be in, you will get lost very soon. Please don't do it.

Why are you even thinking about this? Driving into London is insane.

This is true, although it can make sense if returning a car to a central location which I have been a part of. Anyway, driving laws are very different, there are 5 cycles to a London traffic light: steady green, red/yellow simultaneous (or was it green/yellow?), flashing yellow, steady yellow, and steady red (I think). I'm pretty sure that flashing yellow means "rev your engines" or something similar, anyway, some of the differences are NOT straightforward. Also there are zigzag lines all over the street, not at all sure what those mean. And many other things like that. And no real straight through streets to keep a sense of direction.

British traffic light signals are red (stop), brief red/amber (be ready to start but don't move), green (go if safe), and brief amber (stop unless you have already crossed the stop line).

Flashing amber is used instead of red/amber at pedestrian crossings on straight roads - it means "wait for people crossing to finish but you can go if there is no longer anyone using the crossing".