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View the locations where there are ULEZ cameras in London. Last update on April 2024
The Ultra Low Emission Zone is an area that encompasses the vast majority of central London, where certain vehicles that do not pass specific emission regulations will have to pay a fee to enter. The ULEZ area was first brought into place in 2019, initially covering the same area that also implements the congestion charge.
However, the ULEZ area has now since expanded and covers much more of London, meaning that if you drive a non-compliant vehicle, there’s a more significant opportunity for you to be charged.
The ULEZ is monitored and maintained by a system of cameras that are located at the various entrances and exits of the ULEZ zone. Many are also found within the zone, giving it a great deal of coverage. These cameras record images of your number plate and then search your car’s documentation to see what kind of emissions your vehicle produces. These cameras also check how often you enter the ULEZ and the time you enter so that it can be determined how much you’re charged.
Here at Car Adviser, we’ve put together a practical, interactive map that you can use to see all the known locations of the known ULEZ cameras to understand better how the area is patrolled.
If you want to learn more about ULEZ, we have multiple articles available here on Car Adviser.
As you can see on our map, hundreds of ULEZ cameras can be found across the original perimeter of the ULEZ area. However, now that the ULEZ area has expanded, additional cameras have also been placed along the North and South Circular roads to ensure that cameras cover every entrance and exit to the ULEZ area.
The issue with this is that the locations of these cameras across the new perimeter are not well known and have not been made public knowledge by TFL. This is because the institution believes that allowing the public detailed insight into the camera locations will make it easier for them to avoid them, mitigating the purpose of the cameras.
This map will be updated regularly as information about new camera locations is made public.
That said, the most concentrated area of ULEZ cameras is still the original ULEZ zone that shares the same boundaries of the congestion charge. At the northern part of this original ULEZ zone, you’ll find cameras on most turnings leading to the city’s centre from the A501.
Near the Shoreditch and Spitalfields area to the west, you’ll find many cameras on roads turning off Commercial Street and the A1210.
South of the river, you’ll find many cameras just off Tower Bridge Road and the A201, but only if you’re turning towards the city’s centre. When travelling through Vauxhall and Elephant & Castle, you’ll find a lot of cameras off the A3204 as you drive towards Vauxhall bridge and Vauxhall bridge road.
To the west of the ULEZ zone, you’ll find a lot of cameras off the A4202 near Hyde Park leading into Mayfair.
As well as these more well-known locations, you’ll likely find many cameras across the A406 north of the capital and the A205 towards the south. These roads act as the perimeter of the new ULEZ zone, so expect more cameras to be added here in the near future.
In August 2023, the ULEZ zone will grow to cover all of Greater London. This not only means that more people will be affected by the ULEZ zone but also that we can expect to see many more cameras appearing in these new areas.
Expect to see many more cameras appear off multiple junctions of the M25, especially in the east, and to see ULEZ cameras in many of the suburbs of London. We’ll constantly update our map to reflect the new ULEZ zone and the position of these cameras so that you can be more informed.
There may be many reasons why you would want to avoid ULEZ cameras. You may want to make sure that you don’t accidentally go into the ULEZ area, or you want to enter it and avoid paying the charge. Whatever the reason, the truth is that avoiding ULEZ cameras is hard to do if you intend to enter the ULEZ area.
Although there are a lot of cameras, some exits and entrances to the ULEZ zone may not have a camera. However, information about these locations is confidential and has yet to be published by TFL. This can make navigating a route through the ULEZ area hard without being caught.
However, there is assistance that can be beneficial, such as certain apps and devices that can alert you when you’re approaching a camera and suggest an alternative route. One of the best apps for avoiding ULEZ cameras is Waze. This is basically a GPS app available on your phone that uses real-time data to offer you fast alternative routes to your destination. You can use the app to avoid ULEZ cameras, although it typically takes you on a route that avoids the zone entirely.
Aside from apps, one of the best ways to avoid being caught by ULEZ cameras is to simply avoid the area. If you have a car that isn’t compliant, you can do things such as parking it outside the ULEZ area and walking or cycling to your destination. Alternatively, you could also swap your vehicle to one with the right emission levels to avoid getting a ULEZ charge; just remember that you’ll still have to pay a congestion charge no matter your driving vehicle.
If you want to avoid getting caught by ULEZ cameras, one of the best things you can do is drive your car to the outskirts of the ULEZ area and then take public transport into the key areas within the ULEZ you want to visit.
That said, as the new ULEZ area is so vast, there aren't a lot of mainstream and busy stations outside the ULEZ area that are easy to commute from. In fact, a few of these stations may not even be connected to the London Underground, making it even tougher to commute into the area.
Some of the best stations that you can use include:
If you enter a ULEZ area without the correct emission output, you'll be charged £12.50 a day. If you enter the zone more than once a day, you will still only get charged the £12.50, as it's a fee for the entire 24 hours and not for each journey.
This means that if you're entering the ULEZ area for work five days a week with a car that's not compliant, you could be changed up to £250 a month on top of the unavoidable congestion charge if you enter central London. That can increase your bills by more than £3,000, which can seriously affect your finances.
Because the fees can get so expensive, it's best to know where the ULEZ cameras are so that you can avoid them and ensure you're not entering the area accidentally.
Last updated: April 2024