Parking in the City - Minories car park?

[CT25]

I’m looking for a bit of advice from the commuters making their way into the City on motorbike/scooter:

I have just taken a job in the City (EC3A) and will be commuting by maxi scooter 3 days per week. Where is best (safest) to park?

Generally, I would assume a multi-story carpark is better than an on-street bay as it is out of sight. However, if someone fancies a new bike and looks in a carpark, then they are out of sight too so perhaps feel more able to cut locks etc. Thoughts/experience with this are welcomed.

From searching the forums I have found Smithfield to be recommended, but this is a bit far (25mins walk). Is Minories car park by tower bridge any good? It’s only 10 mins walk to the office from there.

Cheers!

[dibblecorse]

How far is Finsbury Sq NCP from your office, I used to use that regularly

[Sebastian Tombs]

I've parked in Minories before. It was several years ago, but my bike was fine there at the end of the day.

[mikey_b]

I've parked in Minories car park most office-based working days since about 2015, so many hundreds of times. Use the *left* lane to enter the car park, the barrier is cut short to allow bikes through. Exiting, use the right lane (other end of the car park) for the same reason. Go up to the first floor and the bike area is on your left as you turn in from the top of the ramp. There's plenty of space in a dedicated area behind fencing. Free to use, and has CCTV and permanent staffing. It's as good as these places get - even the staff are friendly and I always get a nod and a smile when walking past their office on the way out. I don't suppose it would really make any difference - but I like to think that being by pleasant to them too, maybe they pay a little more attention to the bike parking CCTV.

[CT25]

mikey_b said:

I've parked in Minories car park most office-based working days since about 2015, so many hundreds of times. Use the *left* lane to enter the car park, the barrier is cut short to allow bikes through. Exiting, use the right lane (other end of the car park) for the same reason. Go up to the first floor and the bike area is on your left as you turn in from the top of the ramp. There's plenty of space in a dedicated area behind fencing. Free to use, and has CCTV and permanent staffing. It's as good as these places get - even the staff are friendly and I always get a nod and a smile when walking past their office on the way out. I don't suppose it would really make any difference - but I like to think that being by pleasant to them too, maybe they pay a little more attention to the bike parking CCTV.

Sebastian Tombs said:

I've parked in Minories before. It was several years ago, but my bike was fine there at the end of the day.

Thanks guys - this does seem like the best option as it is reasonably close, and the CCTV/staffing can only help.

dibblecorse said:

How far is Finsbury Sq NCP from your office, I used to use that regularly

It's not too far, maybe 15 mins walk so is a good backup for Minories I think.

Thanks everyone!