Hertz car hire in London

One of the world’s great cities – vast, complex, charming and endlessly surprising – London is a must-visit destination. History has played out on a grand scale here, from when the Romans called it Londinium to the modern, cutting-edge city it is today. With car hire in London you can explore all of its most wonderful sites, attractions, suburbs and more besides.

You’ll find plenty of pick-up locations across the capital, making it easy to reserve a car at a spot that’s convenient for you – including at the major airports of Heathrow and Stansted, as well as other transport hubs like St Pancras station.

Browse our car collection and pick the one that works best for you – whether you’re here for a city break, a family holiday or a business trip. We’ll get you out on the road as quickly as possible so you can start getting to grips with all the excitement of this exciting, enchanting capital.

Driving in and around London

In terms of road rules in London, most of them are the same as at home, including laws around mobile phone use and seatbelts. You’ll also be driving on the same side of the road.

There are a few London-specific rules to keep in mind, however, mostly around the congestion charge. Established to reduce traffic during peak hours, the charge covers the very inner zone of London. You’ll have to pay to enter this area during its hours of operation – 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Our local teams can advise you on how best to pay this and there’s more information here. You’ll also find lanes reserved for buses and cycles.

London has both an inner and an outer ring road. The latter, the M25, is a vast orbital motorway that circles the entirety of the capital and will allow you to avoid the centre entirely should you choose.

Numerous roads lead off the M25, heading inwards to the heart of London as well as outwards to nearby cities such as Oxford and Cambridge. The inner ring road is made up of a number of A roads and also falls outside the congestion charge area.

Street parking in the heart of London can be tricky with a number of restrictions during working hours but gets easier in the evening. However, you’ll also find plenty of car parks in addition to metered areas. At many of the car parks you can reserve spaces online in advance.

A quick guide to London

When a city is as big and important as London, it can be difficult to know where to start. Do you dive head first into the history and the intrigues of kings and queens? Are you here for a belt-busting exploration of the increasingly indulgent food scene?

Or perhaps it’s theatreland that tempts, the lights and glamour of the West End beckoning. The good news? With London car hire you can tick them all off.

Take it to the stage

London’s theatres are among the most famous in the world, with a long history of legendary actors, plays and musicals gracing the stage. There’s sure to be something that takes your fancy, from edgy political thrillers to joyful musicals.

Many of the most prestigious theatres line Shaftesbury Avenue in the heart of the West End, but a few can be found further afield, such as the famous Old Vic near the South Bank.

There are long-running classics such as The Mousetrap, hot new adaptations and plenty of modern classics to be enjoyed. Many of the hottest tickets sell out quickly, so for some shows it’s best to book in advance.

You can also queue for returns on the day or head to the ticket offices around Leicester Square if you decide to see something last-minute.

Rising to the top

London is constantly stretching towards the sky and has a wealth of skyscrapers to show for it. Not all of them are open to the public, but the most impressive certainly is – the Shard, towering over London Bridge, is the city’s tallest building. Shoot upwards in a lift to the impressive viewing platforms or reserve a table at the sophisticated restaurants that have set up home here.

Closer to terra firma, the London Eye is an enduringly popular attraction on the banks of the Thames. Climb into a capsule here – it pays to book in advance to cut down on waiting times – and you’ll enjoy majestic views of the city from 135 metres up, including the nearby Houses of Parliament.

Whistle-stop wonders

London boasts such riches that it’s impossible to tick them all off in a single visit. There’s the winding river, bustling with pleasure boats that ferry you eastwards to the slick skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the leafy suburb of Greenwich. There’s the Tower of London, home to the Beefeaters, the ravens of legend and the crown jewels, and – of course – Buckingham Palace.

Head to Kensington for the unbeatable museum trio – the Victoria and Albert, Science Museum and Natural History Museum, all world leaders in their respective fields. Don’t neglect your palate either, whether at London’s best new culinary hotspots or classics such as Rules in Covent Garden. The capital has also embraced food trucks, and you’ll find thrilling pop-ups and street markets serving up every conceivable cuisine in quirky, Insta-worthy settings.

Relish the action-packed atmosphere and throw yourself into the excitement of the UK’s dynamic capital. With Hertz car hire in London, you can see and do it all, on a schedule that suits you.