Debating ‘Should I Rent A Car In London?’: Insider Tips
If you’re coming to visit London and then go elsewhere in the UK, you are probably wondering “should I rent a car in London?”
The answer is generally: no, but it depends.
Let’s go through the answers to this question and see in which scenarios you may or may not want to rent a car in London.
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Do You Need to Rent a Car in London to Get Around the City?
No. London’s vast network of underground trains and buses can get you anywhere you need to go quickly and affordably.
If you prefer a car for mobility reasons, there are black cabs (taxis) that you can flag down on any main road. Uber is also widely available in London and is cheaper than taxis.
Should I Hire a Car in London?
No. If you’re staying in London, you definitely do not need a car.
London is a complex and crowded city – too complicated to drive in for anyone new to the UK. You’d have to navigate congestion zones, bus lanes, traffic cameras everywhere, and very congested roads.
Plus, when you get to your destination, there’s nowhere to park!
The vast majority of tourists in London will not need a car if they’re staying in the larger city area.
What if I Want to Hire a Car in London?
That’s your choice, but be warned: you will pay a huge amount of money just to rent a car in London, along with the surging prices of petrol, parking, and congestion fees.
If you really want to hire a car, I would recommend not driving yourself, and hiring a car service with a driver. That way, you don’t have to worry about stressful traffic and parking.
Do I Need a Car to Travel Outside London?
Not generally, no. The UK has a vast network of trains that are much faster and more affordable than renting a car.
The only exception is if you’re going to a more rural area – like the Scottish Highlands or the Lake District – where public transportation is not as widely available or reliable.
In these situations, it’s best to take a train to a metropolitan area closer to your destination and rent a car there.
If you’re headed to another city or tourist spot, like Oxford, Cambridge, or Bath, hopping on the train will get you there much faster. In many places like this, you likely won’t need a car once you’re there.
Should I Hire A Car in London or Outside London?
If you want a car for the next leg of your journey after London, I would recommend catching a train to your next destination and hiring a car there.
It will be much cheaper, and you won’t have to deal with London congestion and fees.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car in London?
It’s expensive, for sure.
Here are some average prices for renting at Heathrow for various dates throughout the year, from a low tourist season like January, to high season like August (prices sampled from popular booking platforms):
- Compact 4 seater: £35-£60 per day
- 4 Seat Sedan/estate: £40-£80 per day
- Compact SUV: £50-£90
- Van or People Carrier: £100-£200 per day
- Luxury Car: £130-£350+ per day
Note that these prices do not include petrol, congestion zone charges and tolls, parking, or insurance, which can add up to at least another £40 per day minimum.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Outside London?
Renting a car in areas outside London is significantly cheaper than hiring a car in London.
Let’s look at some average prices of cities outside London for a 4-seat sedan (estate size).
- Oxford: £40-£50 per day
- Lincoln: £40-£50 per day
- Surrey: £25-£40 per day
- Sheffield: £45-£60 per day
- Leeds: £45-£60 per day
- Manchester: £30-£50 per day
These prices don’t include petrol, tolls, parking, or insurance, but outside of London, these extras are also significantly cheaper than in the city.
Popular Trips from London: Should I Hire a Car in London to Get There?
Let’s look at some of the most popular destinations outside London, and see whether it’s worth it or not to hire a car in London to get there.
Please note: these distances and prices fluctuate depending on where you’re starting from, where you’re going, seasonality and other factors.
1. Should I Hire a Car in London to Get to Edinburgh, Scotland?
Definitely DO NOT hire a car to get from London to Edinburgh.
The drive from London is long and grueling. Depending on traffic, it will take you anywhere from 7 to 12 hours.
I would recommend taking the train to Edinburgh, then hiring a car once you’re there if you need one. Flights are also sometimes quicker and cheaper than the train.
- Miles from London: ~400 miles
- Train journey: ~4.5 to 5 hours
- Approximate train cost: £30-£150
- Drive time: ~7-12 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
- Flight: 1 hour 15 minutes, from £30
2. Should I Hire a Car in London to Get to The Lake District, England?
The Lake District is a place where you might want a car once you arrive, but getting there from London by car can take a long time depending on traffic.
Take a train to the area, then hire a car once you’re there.
- Miles from London: ~290 miles to Windermere
- Train journey: ~3 to 4 hours to Windermere
- Approximate train cost: £40-£120
- Drive time: ~5-8 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
3. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Stonehenge?
Stonehenge can be a tricky destination for tourists because it’s not in a metropolitan area; it’s just in the middle of nowhere off the highway.
If you want to drive, the trickiest part will be leaving congested London and coming back again. There is parking at Stonehenge, but it’s limited. Driving is a good option if you want to explore other destinations on the same day as visiting Stonehenge.
There are several tour companies that offer transport and tours of this monument that are more accessible and easier for tourists. Some of these also include destinations like Bath and Windsor Castle.
- Miles from London: ~88 miles
- Train journey: ~1.5 hours to Salisbury, then a bus/taxi, or use a tour service with coach ride included
- Approximate train cost: £30-£50
- Drive time: ~2 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
4. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to the Scottish Highlands?
The Highlands are a place where you’ll definitely need a car once you’re there, but getting there from London by car is absolutely greuling.
You’ll deal with traffic in London and through other major cities, then with long and winding narrow roads through rural areas.
I would recommend taking the train or flying to Inverness, then renting a car once you’re there.
- Miles from London: ~500 miles to Inverness
- Train journey: ~8 hours to Inverness
- Approximate train cost: £50-£200
- Drive time: ~10-16 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
- Flight to Inverness: 1.5 hours, from £39
5. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Bath, England?
Bath is a very quick and easy day trip from London by train. You don’t need a car, and if you do drive be warned: parking in Bath is very limited.
- Miles from London: ~115 miles
- Train journey: ~1.5 hours
- Approximate train cost: £30-£90
- Drive time: ~2.5-3 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
6. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Stratford-upon Avon?
Stratford-upon Avon (not to be confused with Stratford, London) is a quick and easy train ride from London. You don’t need a car once you get there, and parking is limited if you do decide to drive.
- Miles from London: ~100 miles
- Train journey: ~2 to 2.5 hours
- Approximate train cost: £30-£70
- Drive time: ~2-3 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
7. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Oxford?
No. Oxford is a short train journey from London, and you don’t need a car once you’re there if you’re just touring the city itself.
- Miles from London: ~60 miles
- Train journey: ~1 hour
- Approximate train cost: £25-£50
- Drive time: ~1.5-2 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
8. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Cambridge?
No. Cambridge is a short train ride from London, and you don’t need a car once you arrive. Most of the city is accessible on foot or by bus.
- Miles from London: ~60 miles
- Train journey: ~1 hour
- Approximate train cost: £20-£50
- Drive time: ~1.5-2 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
9. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to York?
No. York is a short train ride from London, and you can explore the city on foot once you arrive.
- Miles from London: ~210 miles
- Train journey: ~2 hours
- Approximate train cost: £30-£100
- Drive time: ~4 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
10. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Cornwall, England?
Cornwall is a destination where you will need a car once you’re there, but the drive from London is long and arduous.
Taking the train from London to a major town in Cornwall, then renting a car once you arrive, may be the best option.
- Miles from London: ~250 miles to Newquay
- Train journey: ~4.5 to 5 hours to Newquay
- Approximate train cost: £40-£120
- Drive time: ~5-8 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
11. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Snowdonia National Park, Wales?
You’ll want a car to experience the most of this incredible national park in Wales, but driving all the way from London will be long.
Catching the train from London to Birmingham, Cardiff, or even Liverpool, and renting a car from there, may be your best option.
- Miles from London: ~250 miles
- Train journey: ~3 to 4 hours to Betws-y-Coed
- Approximate train cost: £40-£120
- Drive time: ~5-7 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
12. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland?
Getting to Northern Ireland from London is best done by plane. Plane tickets are usually more affordable than driving and taking the ferry.
You can fly to Belfast, then rent a car from there.
- Miles from London: ~500 miles to Belfast, then drive or tour
- Train journey: ~8 hours to Belfast (including ferry), then drive or take guided tour
- Approximate train cost: £60-£200
- Drive time: ~12-14 hours (including ferry)
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
- Flight to Belfast: 1 hour 15 minutes, from £29
13. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to the Cotswolds, England?
Depending on where you’re going in the Cotswolds (it’s a large area), you may want a car once you’re there.
As drives from London go, this one isn’t too long, and you may benefit from having a car to explore the most of this gorgeous region.
- Miles from London: ~100 miles
- Train journey: ~1.5 to 2 hours to Moreton-in-Marsh
- Approximate train cost: £25-£70
- Drive time: ~2-3 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
14. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Brighton, England?
Brighton is a really quick trip on the train south from London. You don’t need a car once you’re there as the city is easily explored on foot or by bus.
- Miles from London: ~50 miles
- Train journey: ~1 hour
- Approximate train cost: £20-£50
- Drive time: ~1.5-2 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£40-£80 per day base rate
15. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Liverpool, England?
The drive to Liverpool from London can be long with traffic. I’d recommend taking the train, which runs frequently and is pretty affordable. You can rent a car once you’re there, though you don’t need one if you’re staying in Liverpool itself.
- Miles from London: ~220 miles
- Train journey: ~2 to 3 hours
- Approximate train cost: £30-£100
- Drive time: ~4-5 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
16. Should I Rent a Car in London to Get to Cardiff, Wales?
Trains from London to Cardiff run frequently and are pretty affordable. Once you get to Cardiff, you don’t necessarily need a car to get around.
As drives from London go, this one isn’t too long, so if you’re exploring outside Cardiff, it may be worth it depending on your goal.
- Miles from London: ~150 miles
- Train journey: ~2 hours
- Approximate train cost: £30-£90
- Drive time: ~3 hours
- Car hire cost: ~£50-£100 per day base rate
Should I Rent a Car in London? Final Tips
If you take away anything from this post, let it be this: hiring a car outside of London is cheaper, easier, and way more convenient than hiring a car inside London.
Take a train to somewhere nearby your destination, then hire a car there. You’ll save so much time, money and headaches!
Should I Hire a Car in London: FAQ
Do rental cars pay congestion charge in London?
Yes. The congestion fees in London start at £15 per day, and rental cars are not exempt.
Usually your car rental company will charge your card on file after your rental period has ended.
Do I really need a car in London?
No. Whether you’re living in London or visiting London, you do not need a car to get around. There are a few exceptions, but most of the time, it’s not worth the time, hassle, and significant cost of having a car in London.
Should tourists drive in London?
No. London is congested, confusing, and not an easy place for a visitor to drive in. Tourists do not need a car to get around the city and can use London’s incredible transport network to travel quickly and cheaply.
Why are rental cars so expensive in London?
Everything in London is expensive, from hotels to rental cars to restaurants. It’s costly for anyone to own vehicles in London, and rental car companies have to charge more here than in more rural areas.
Is it stressful to drive in London?
It can be, yes. You’ll deal with driving on the wrong side of the road (for tourists from other right-driving countries), manual transmissions, congestion charges, heavy traffic, limited and expensive parking, and confusing winding streets.
More on Navigating London
The Best Oyster Card Tourist Options to Save Money
Is London in Europe? 7 Common Questions Answered
Can You See France from England and Visa Versa? 6 Stunning Viewpoints
What’s the Closest Country to London? 10 Incredible Trips to Take Today
How to Use the London Underground for the First Time
How to Catch a Bus in London for the First Time
How to Travel in London During a Tube or Rail Strike
The Best Navigation App for London to Download Now
