About This Camera
Camera Location & Hazard Overview
Bessant Drive meets Mortlake Road a short distance from Kew, and this camera covers a stretch that carries a genuine mix of commuter traffic and local residents heading into the surrounding Kew and Mortlake streets. The junction sits close enough to the river that riverside dog walkers and joggers regularly cross nearby on foot. a junction that regularly features in local drivers' mental map of the area's quieter routes.
Traffic Pattern & Congestion Trends
The morning brings a steady build-up in traffic as commuters use the South Circular to cross this part of Richmond, with congestion typically peaking between 8am and 9am before easing through the late morning. The evening rush develops from around 4:45pm, continuing through the early evening before finally easing off for the night. with dog walkers and joggers along the riverside path adding a steady trickle of pedestrians that rarely troubles the traffic here at all.
Traffic Fines & Camera Enforcement
This stretch of the A205 is covered continuously by average speed cameras, enforcing the posted limit through this section close to Mortlake. ULEZ ANPR cameras remain active given the road's position fully within the expanded zone that covers the whole of Richmond upon Thames borough throughout the day and night. A rear-end shunt while queuing near Mortlake is a plausible route to a straightforward whiplash compensation claim.
Road Closures & Alternative Routes
Bessant Drive itself offers access into the surrounding residential streets if Mortlake Road is blocked, though it's narrow and not designed for significant through-traffic. For a longer diversion, the wider Mortlake road network provides an alternative route for drivers heading further along the river towards Barnes. These routes work best for local journeys rather than any genuine attempt at a long-distance shortcut. A wing-mirror clip near the riverside path is common enough here to be treated as an entirely ordinary car insurance claim.
Driver Safety & Local Tips
Compared with neighbouring stretches, this section tends to be quieter than the busier Kew Green junction further north, making it a useful early indicator of whether congestion further along the South Circular has started to build or ease during the peak commuter windows.
ULEZ & Emissions
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames operates entirely within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), active 24/7. Non-compliant vehicles face a £12.50 daily charge. No Congestion Charge applies here. Check your vehicle compliance at tfl.gov.uk/ulez.
Parking near A205 Mortlake Rd/Bessant Drive, Richmond
Bessant Drive and the surrounding Mortlake and Kew streets sit within a Richmond upon Thames CPZ, with standard weekday permit hours applying — always check the entry sign for the exact zone. Visitor parking uses Richmond's scratchcard system or the RingGo app for Pay As You Go sessions. There's no major public car park directly here; most visitors rely on street bays away from the immediate Kew Gardens gate, where demand is highest. Single yellow lines near the South Circular restrict daytime stopping. Richmond's CPZ map and permit information sit at richmond.gov.uk/services/parking, worth checking given how tightly this part of Richmond controls kerbside space.
If on-street parking is hard to find, apps like JustPark and YourParkingSpace let you pre-book a private driveway or car park nearby — typically from around £2–£6 per hour or £10–£25 per day depending on how central the location is.
Parking links are affiliate partnerships. JamCams may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.