Hertz car hire in Watford

Car hire in Watford opens up the possibilities of an attractive, well-connected town just beyond the outskirts of London.

Watford is a perfect base for trips to the UK capital and boasts some great attractions in its surrounding area too. It’s home to a major shopping centre and a popular theatre, a great restaurant scene and a 190-acre park, loved by locals and visitors alike for its natural beauty and peaceful walking paths along the Grand Union Canal.

You’ll also have the chance to visit nearby Leavesden, home to the magical Warner Bros Studio Tour – which takes you behind the scenes of the Harry Potter film franchise, and allows you to experience Hogwarts for yourself.

Hiring a car in Watford couldn’t be easier thanks to our simple online booking process and convenient collection points. Browse our extensive vehicle selection, reserve direct in advance, and we’ll have your hire car ready when you arrive.

Driving in and around Watford

Watford lies on the fringes of the north-west suburbs of London. It's conveniently located just inside the M25, the huge circular motorway that loops around the English capital. Join the motorway and you'll be connected to huge sections of London and its outskirts.

The town is also a short drive from the M1, a motorway that moves north through England, linking you to cities such as Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds. The town itself is accessed by several arterial routes, including Hempstead Road from the north and Rickmansworth Road from the east. Another useful route is Exchange Road, a major part of the one-way ring road that moves round the centre of the town.

Watford offers plenty of parking options, including Kings Car Park on Water Lane and Queen’s Car Park on Beechen Grove, both of which are close to the main shopping centre. The Gade car park meanwhile is perfectly placed to access the restaurants and cafés on the High Street.

Several major international airports are easily accessible from Watford, with Luton Airportaround half an hour’s drive north along the M1. In the opposite direction, Heathrowis around 35 kilometres away along the M25.

If you want to visit the heart of London, you can use the M1 to head into the city, although be aware that drivers heading into central areas of the capital must pay a congestion charge on weekdays. You can find all the details, including how to pay online, at the Transport for London website.

Speed limits are displayed in miles per hour, and are generally 30mph (48km/h) in built-up areas (though some residential zones may be 20mph), and up to 70mph (112km/h) on motorways and dual-carriageways, unless otherwise signed.

A quick guide to Watford

As an exciting town perfectly placed to explore London, surrounded by attractive green spaces and a splash of movie magic, car hire in Watford really does offer the full package for visitors.

The town itself is large enough to offer plenty of shops, museums and evening entertainment, while nearby Cassiobury Park and the Harry Potter studio tour are just a short drive away.

The magic touch

JK Rowling’s beloved boy wizard was brought to the big screen at the Warner Bros studios in Leavesden, on the outskirts of Watford. Today the studios host The Making of Harry Potter, an impressive exhibition space that allows you to immerse yourself in the magic of Hogwarts.

The tour gives you behind-the-scenes access to the film sets, including Dumbledore’s office, the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest. You can even sample some of the fabled butterbeer (strictly non-alcoholic, of course).

Thousands of visitors flock to the studios from far and wide, so it's important to book tickets in advance online. There is a free car park available on site, but you'll need to have your ticket reference to hand.

Retail therapy

You'll find plenty to keep you entertained in the centre of Watford, whether you're looking for shopping, dining or a slice of culture. Once you've parked at one of the many pay-and-display car parks, you can explore the intu Watford shopping centre, which has an impressive array of retail outlets.

Head out of the centre towards the High Street and you'll discover plenty of restaurants and cafés to choose from, with several popular chains as well as some respected independent offerings.

The town also boasts plenty of cultural attractions, including the Watford Palace Theatre and the Watford Colosseum, which stage live music, drama and comedy performances all year round. Check online to find out which productions are on offer when you visit.

Park life

On the fringes of Watford lies Cassiobury Park, a picturesque 190 acres of greenery and woodlands that serves as the area’s finest green space.

An ideal place to take a stroll on a sunny day, here you'll find cafés, tennis courts, a water park and even a miniature railway, which is always a showstopper for the youngest visitors.

Walk to the edge of the park and you'll also find the Grand Union Canal, a peaceful stretch of water with a towpath popular with walkers, cyclists and fishermen.

Capital attractions

It won't have escaped your attention that the UK capital lies just a short drive from Watford.

There's a plethora of world-class attractions in London, from West End theatres to the museums located around South Kensington. If you only have a day, a great way to see all the sights is by booking tickets for the London Eye, which offers panoramic views over the city. Or you could take a boat tour along the River Thames from Tower Pier to get a glimpse of the city’s iconic landmarks.

All this and much more is at your fingertips with car hire in Watford. Book direct with us today.