Parking in Herne Hill

[Sue]

Admin, please move if in wrong section.

I have a load of books to take to the Oxfam book shop in Herne Hill. It's opposite the Half Moon pub at the bottom of Half Moon Lane.

It would be two trolley loads on the bus or walking, and I've already done that once this year! And books  are very heavy! 

Is it possible to park nearby, does anyone know? There are so many restrictions these days, and I don't want to risk a fine.

[Angelina]

Maybe call ahead and get one of the staff to meet you at the car and take them in for you

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

There are parking spots on the same side of Half Moon Lane and on Eynella Rd, which is the nearest side street.

Edited September 9 by Dogkennelhillbilly

[Penguin68]

Parking is only restricted to residents only between 12 to 2.00 Monday to Friday. But you can't park north of Stradella Road. 

[Earl Aelfheah]

Pretty sure you are allowed to park north of Stradella road, outside of the restricted hours (12-2 weekdays): https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth 

Unless you mean it's difficult to find a space, which may be the case.

There is also a parking bay outside the shop. Max stay 1 hour

[Penguin68]

Sorry, yes, you can park but it's unlikely you will find a space. I meant to say 'you can't park with any certainty' - and if you go past Stradella Road getting back to where you can park is a bit of a bind.

[Eats Dulwich]

3 hours ago, Dogkennelhillbilly said:

There are parking spots on the same side of Half Moon Lane and on Eynella Rd, which is the nearest side street.

Deleted as I've just repeated what has already been said!

Edited September 9 by Eats Dulwich

[Sue]

4 hours ago, Angelina said:

Maybe call ahead and get one of the staff to meet you at the car and take them in for you

Thanks, I'd thought about that, but I'd still have to park, and it's very near a bus stop.

Good idea to call the shop and see whether/when there may be less busy times to go, thanks.

Edited September 9 by Sue

[march46]

Worth calling ahead as sometimes they can’t accept large donations

[Sue]

3 hours ago, march46 said:

Worth calling ahead as sometimes they can’t accept large donations

I think books are ok. It's the Oxfam book shop I'm taking them to, not the small Oxfam shop opposite, and they have taken loads off me in the past.

But I will call and double check, thanks.

[Azalea]

Wouldn’t it be easier to donate to local charity shops?

[PeckhamNicola]

They are very funny at the Herne Hill Oxfam, for a charity book shop, about accepting book donations. Last time I tried to drop off a few bags the woman there was quite cross so I took them right back out, and I will not go back again. Definitely had this very same conversation on this forum before, including about the parking. That time I drove them over to a different charity bookshop in Streatham where - shock horror - they thanked me. And since then I've taken other books in smaller quantities to local charity shops.

[Sue]

13 hours ago, Azalea said:

Wouldn’t it be easier to donate to local charity shops?

Yes it would be easier, and I give a lot to the hospice shops, but for various reasons there are certain things I prefer to give to Oxfam.

However I might go through the books and see if some could be donated more locally.

10 hours ago, PeckhamNicola said:

They are very funny at the Herne Hill Oxfam, for a charity book shop, about accepting book donations. Last time I tried to drop off a few bags the woman there was quite cross so I took them right back out, and I will not go back again. Definitely had this very same conversation on this forum before, including about the parking. That time I drove them over to a different charity bookshop in Streatham where - shock horror - they thanked me. And since then I've taken other books in smaller quantities to local charity shops.

I think in any charity shop staffed by volunteers, the reception you get must depend on the member of staff.

The Oxfam bookshop have always been very happy when I've taken shedloads of books there in the past.

On the other hand, I've taken things to the hospice shop that were received very grumpily when they hadn't even looked in the bag or asked what they were. It felt like I was being a nuisance and causing them more work.

I don't remember a previous thread on here  about the Oxfam shop and parking, but that's possibly because it wasn't relevant to me at the time.

Edited September 10 by Sue

[Jenijenjen]

1 hour ago, Sue said:

On the other hand, I've taken things to the hospice shop that were received very grumpily when they hadn't even looked in the bag or asked what they were. It felt like I was being a nuisance and causing them more work

I posted about this many years ago, how it was all smiles and thank yous if you bought a book for 50p (it was a long time ago) yet if you donated goods that might raise £50 there was just a grumpy "leave it there." Happy to say I've found things have improved a lot.

[Cancerian]

I would phone ahead to check whether they are accepting donations. I’ve been in the shop a couple of times over the past few years and seen people turned away with book donations.

There are a few parking spaces outside the row of shops there and it’s sometimes pot luck but I’ve usually parked ok.

Let us know how it goes Sue.
 

l

[indiepanda]

I have taken books to the Oxfam book shop in Herne Hill in the past and found they had a limit on how many bags they would accept from one person, so worth checking in advance if they have any current restrictions, don't want to lug a heavy bag out of the car and be told they won't accept.

I was able to park nearby - in the side street on the other side of the road, but I do know it's luck of the draw how far down that street you have to go to get a space.

[J27]

I had lots of books to donate to the HH Oxfam bookshop a few months ago.               

I phoned them, and they told me I could drive to the rear of the shop, where parking is easy.  They gave me directions, and came out to meet me when I arrived.  They were very helpful, and grateful for the donation.

So it's definitely worth ringing them!

Edited September 12 by J27

[Sue]

16 hours ago, J27 said:

I had lots of books to donate to the HH Oxfam bookshop a few months ago.               

I phoned them, and they told me I could drive to the rear of the shop, where parking is easy.  They gave me directions, and came out to meet me when I arrived.  They were very helpful, and grateful for the donation.

So it's definitely worth ringing them!

Thanks so much for this! That's really useful!

[Ruffler]

On 09/09/2025 at 09:53, Dogkennelhillbilly said:

There are parking spots on the same side of Half Moon Lane and on Eynella Rd, which is the nearest side street.

Eynella road is nowhere near the Herne Hill Oxfam shop. Do you mean Stradella?

Edited September 15 by Ruffler

[jandhuk]

We booked a day when we could drop around 8 bags. They directed us to use the rear entrance on Carver Rd. I would definitely ring as they don’t seem to have much space at the back. Our experience was great, they were very polite and thankful.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

On 15/09/2025 at 18:26, Ruffler said:

Eynella road is nowhere near the Herne Hill Oxfam shop. Do you mean Stradella?

Yeah sorry

[personannrose]

A trolley like this one will hold loads of books and you won’t have to worry about parking your car

Edited September 18 by personannrose

[first mate]

Should this thread be in the traffic section?

[Azalea]

1 hour ago, personannrose said:

A trolley like this one will hold loads of books and you won’t have to worry about parking your car

Walking to Herne Hill from central East Dulwich (Sue has said she lives off Northcross Road) with a trolley full of books would be very laborious.  

[personannrose]

Hi Sue, I don’t know how far you are able to walk but if you can get to the Oxfam shop you wouldn’t need to walk back to East Dulwich because the 37 bus stops outside. Some of these trolleys fold up really small snd are light enough to take on a bus (or pop in the boot of your car for that matter). They can be a practical option when transporting large/heavy loads around. Good luck!