A Local's Guide to Driving Around Bluewater & Greenhithe

Bluewater is one of the most-visited places in the South East and Greenhithe is the village that sits beneath it. The driving around here is its own little world: a network of car parks, a busy A2 junction, a railway station and one of the more spectacular shopping-centre approaches in Europe. Here's what a local actually does.

Approaching Bluewater

From the M25 take J1b and follow the signs — straightforward. From the A2 eastbound, exit at the Bluewater junction; westbound, use the A226 turn-off and approach from Greenhithe. Sat-nav often takes you the longer way round; the A226 approach from Greenhithe is faster on Saturdays.

Which car park?

• Rose: closest to Marks & Spencer and the Plaza restaurants.
• Thames: closest to John Lewis and House of Fraser end.
• Wisteria: closest to the cinema and the food court.
• Guildford & Reading: multi-storey decks for busy days — quieter and quicker to get out of.

Greenhithe's hidden side roads

Locals will quietly use Empire Walk and Charles Park Road to slip around Bluewater traffic. London Road through Greenhithe village is slower than it looks — pretty but full of speed bumps.

The A2 'pinch point'

Eastbound A2 between Bean and Pepperhill backs up most weekday afternoons. If you're heading to Gravesend or beyond, the A226 via Northfleet is often quicker after 4pm.

Where tyres get damaged

Bluewater's car park kerbs are not gentle on low-profile alloys. We see a lot of buckled rims and pinched tyres from the Rose multi-storey ramps in particular. Take the corners wide.

Parking at Ebbsfleet International

Five minutes from Bluewater — the Blue car park (long stay) is the cheapest, the Pink (short stay) the fastest. If you're flying through London, parking at Ebbsfleet and taking the train into St Pancras is often easier than driving in.

We come to all of it

If you pick up a flat on the A2, a screw at Bluewater, or a slow puncture at Greenhithe station — call 0330 043 5521. We'll come to wherever you parked, including the car park bay.