Drivers in the capital no longer need to play petrol station roulette. Google Maps has rolled out a feature that lets users see fuel prices at stations near them, making it easier to compare costs before filling up — a welcome bit of relief with UK fuel prices among the highest in Europe.
The idea is simple: search for petrol stations in the app or ask for fuel along your route, and nearby options appear with current price information alongside the usual opening hours and directions. For anyone driving in London — where the difference between stations a few streets apart can run to several pence per litre — that's real money over a full tank.
The rollout, reported by Secret London, is part of a broader push by Google to make Maps more useful for drivers, beyond just getting from A to B. Fuel price data has been available in some markets for a while, but its arrival for London drivers is a practical upgrade for anyone navigating the city by car, whether a local commuter, a rideshare driver watching their margins, or a visitor picking up a hire car for a day trip out of town.
There are a couple of caveats worth knowing. Price data depends on stations and suppliers feeding accurate information, so figures can occasionally lag reality — worth bearing in mind if a price looks suspiciously cheap. Coverage may also be patchier at independent stations than at big chains like Shell, BP or Esso. Still, even as a rough comparison tool, it beats driving past four garages squinting at forecourt signs.
For travellers, this slots into a genuinely useful habit: checking fuel costs before a road trip. Petrol in and around London tends to be pricier than at motorway-adjacent or rural stations further out, so filling up before heading into the city — or using the app to find the cheaper option on your route — can shave a noticeable amount off a trip's budget. It also pairs neatly with other Google Maps driving features like live traffic and toll-free route options.
Who is this for? Anyone driving in or around London: locals doing the weekly shop by car, delivery and taxi drivers, and holidaymakers touring the UK by hire car who'd rather spend the savings on dinner than diesel. It's a small feature, but the kind that quietly makes a city easier to drive in — and with fuel still a major line item on any road trip budget, a quick glance at the app before you fill up is an easy win.
Full details are at Secret London.
