🚗 May & Baker Way Private Car Park – The Complete Dagenham East Parking Guide
Exclusive permit-only parking by Dagenham East Station – steps from Tube, nature park & film studios. Everything you need to know for authorized, stress-free visits.
An on-site view of May & Baker Way Private Car Park. The facility offers a spacious tarmac surface with marked bays (including disabled spots) and partial lighting. The former clubhouse buildings line the right, while modern studio warehouses are visible in the background. No height barriers are present, making it accessible for larger vehicles.
🚗 Type: Private Car Park (Permit/Members Only)
🕒 Open: 24/7 access (gated for authorized vehicles)
🌟 Rating: 4.1/5 (Google Reviews) – Users praise the ample space and quick check-in for authorized visitors.
💰 Pricing & Permits
- Cost: Free for permitted users (no public pay-and-display available)
- Payment: N/A – access is restricted to permit holders or registered guests (no ticket machines on site)
- Permit Enforcement: All vehicles must be registered (club reception or digital system) to avoid PCNs. Unauthorized parking is actively monitored by ANPR cameras.
- Future Changes: No public charging in place; EV bays proposed in council plans (late 2025) could introduce pay-to-charge for electric vehicles.
📊 Capacity & Physical Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Spaces | ~300 (open lot, mostly unmarked) |
| Surface | Aging tarmac (generally smooth, minor cracks) |
| Lighting | Partial – lamp posts at entrance and along main aisle (dim areas toward edges) |
| Security | ANPR entrance cameras; basic CCTV on site (not 24/7 manned) |
| Height Limit | None (no barriers; lorries and vans accessible) |
♿ Accessibility
- Disabled Access: Yes – 4+ marked blue-badge bays near the clubhouse entrance. The surface is level, providing easy wheelchair mobility from car to facilities.
- Nearest Adapted Parking: For public blue-badge holders without site access, Eastbrookend Discovery Centre car park (10-min walk) offers accessible bays during park hours.
- Drop-Off Zone: No formal drop-off lane, but wide entry area by the clubhouse allows vehicles to pull over for passenger drop-offs close to the entrance.
🔌 EV Infrastructure
- On-Site Charging: None available. This car park currently has no EV charge points.
- Nearest Options:
- BP Pulse rapid charger – Rainham Rd South (near Dagenham East Station, ~5-min walk). 1×50 kW unit for quick top-ups.
- Shell Recharge station – Rainham Rd South (~3-min drive south). Multiple fast chargers at the Shell petrol station for a convenient boost on the go.
📅 Peak Times & Occupancy
Live Demand Patterns:
During working hours and event days, occupancy fluctuates significantly due to the mix of business park employees and sports events.
| Timeframe | Occupancy | User Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 8AM–5PM | ~85% full | LondonEast-UK staff & Eastbrook Studios personnel (commuters with permits) |
| Weekday Evenings (after 6PM) | ~10% | Largely empty – only a handful of vehicles (security staff or leftover from late pickups) |
| Saturday Afternoons | 100% (during events) | Sports fixtures & community events – local football matches or club functions fill the lot completely. (When no events, occupancy is low.) |
| Sundays | 20% | Light use – occasional club meetings or overflow from Eastbrookend Country Park visitors (if access pre-arranged) |
Pro Tip: On busy days (e.g. weekend tournaments), arrive 30+ minutes early to secure a spot and complete permit check-in. Once full, the nearest alternative is the Eastbrookend Park car park or street parking around the station (limited availability).
🚶 Walkability Score
This car park is centrally located for key Dagenham East destinations. Here are a few places within walking distance and why they’re worth the stroll:
| Destination | Walk Time | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Dagenham East Station (Tube & Bus) | 5 min | Direct District Line access (Zone 5) plus bus hub (routes 103, 173, 174, 364) – convenient for commuting into London. |
| Eastbrookend Country Park & The Chase | 10 min | Scenic nature reserve with lakes and trails – perfect for a lunchtime walk or birdwatching, without paying for on-site park parking. |
| Victoria Road Stadium (Dag & Red FC) | 15 min | Home of Dagenham & Redbridge FC – ideal for permit holders attending matches, avoiding match-day parking fees. |
| The Pipe Major Pub & Carvery | 8 min | Family-friendly pub (opposite station) – great for post-work meals or drinks, known for its roast carvery dinners. |
🛒 Nearby Amenities
Essentials
- Public Toilets: On-site: None open to public. Nearest: Eastbrookend Discovery Centre (in the country park, ~10-min walk) has free restrooms (including accessible toilets) during daytime.
- ATM: No ATM on the car park premises. Nearest cashpoint: Dagenham East Tube Station foyer (~5-min walk) or the Shell petrol station on Rainham Rd (~0.7 mi) for withdrawals.
- Pharmacy: Day Lewis Pharmacy (Rainham Rd South, ~0.6 mi) – for any medical or first aid needs, just a short walk/drive near the station area.
Food Options
- The Lab Café (LondonEast-UK) – 8-min walk. Weekday café serving hot breakfasts, lunches, coffee and snacks. Open to the public with indoor seating – popular with site employees for a quick bite.
- The Pipe Major Pub & Carvery – 10-min walk. A large pub across from Dagenham East Station offering hearty British fare and a carvery. Family-friendly atmosphere; ideal for dinner or a pint after work.
- Takeaway & Shops: A small parade by the station includes a convenience store, sandwich shop, and a takeaway, all within 5–7 minutes’ walk for a quick grab-and-go meal.
🅿️ Alternative Parking Comparison
If you can’t use the May & Baker Way lot (or it’s full during an event), consider these nearby parking options:
| Site | Distance | Cost | Max Stay | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Street Parking (Dagenham East CPZ) | 5-min walk | ~£1/hour via PayByPhone | 2 hrs (daytime) | Convenient for short errands or pickups at the station (requires local permit or payment). |
| Eastbrookend Park Car Park | 10-min walk | Free | Dawn–Dusk | Official country park parking; great for park visits (gated at dusk, no overnight). |
| Asda Dagenham (Merrielands) | 5-min drive | Free (3 hrs) | 3 hrs | Large retail park parking – ideal if combining with shopping or cinema (outside immediate area, but plenty of space). |
⚠️ Important Notices
- Private Land – Permit Required: This car park is not open to general public use. Unauthorized vehicles will be ticketed by private enforcement. Always ensure your visit is pre-approved or you have a valid permit/pass.
- Overnight Parking: Not officially permitted. While the gates typically remain open 24/7, leaving a vehicle overnight is at your own risk and could trigger a penalty if not pre-arranged. No dedicated overnight security patrols are guaranteed.
- Event Closures: During major events (e.g. film studio open days, football tournaments, community fairs), access might be temporarily limited to event staff/attendees only. Avoid parking here during film shoot road closures or large match days unless you are involved, as surrounding roads can be congested and enforcement strict.
- Surrounding CPZ Rules: The streets around Dagenham East Station are a Controlled Parking Zone. Do not park on nearby residential streets without a permit (Mon–Sat) – you may receive a council fine. Use designated car parks or pay-by-phone bays instead.
📌 Expert Tips
- “Early Bird” Advantage: If you’re a studio employee or contractor, arrive by 7:45 AM. You’ll not only grab a prime spot near the entrance, but also breeze through the permit check before the 8–9 AM rush of colleagues.
- Authorization Hack: Visiting the sports ground or an event? Ask the organizer for a temporary permit code or ensure your license plate is on the day’s guest list. This way, you enjoy free all-day parking without that dreaded surprise notice in the mail.
- Rainy Day Reminder: During heavy rain, avoid parking at the far eastern end (near the lake side). Minor flooding and big puddles tend to form there – stick to the central and western bays for a drier spot.
- Quick Tube Trips: Need to hop into central London briefly? If you have permission to park here, it’s a great park-and-ride – Dagenham East Station is only a 5-minute walk. You’ll save on daily parking fees at other lots, making short city trips cheaper.
🔮 Future Developments
- 2025: EV Charging Coming Soon – Barking & Dagenham Council has proposed installing up to 8 electric charging bays here as part of a borough-wide green initiative. Keep an eye out for new charging stations and possibly dedicated EV parking sections by late 2025.
- 2026: Public Access Under Review – With Eastbrook Studios now fully operational, talks are underway to open this car park to broader use during off-peak times. The plan could allow weekend park-goers and overflow film crew parking, with upgraded lighting, signage, and possibly an expanded capacity. This means the currently exclusive facility might become a hybrid public lot in the coming years – great news for local visitors (but expect new usage rules if so).
- Club Revitalization: The on-site May & Baker Social Club closed in early 2025, but community groups are lobbying to reopen it. A successful revival could bring back regular events – and with them, more publicly accessible parking sessions on event days. Stay tuned for announcements as the site evolves with the area’s redevelopment.
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