Car Rental - Gloucester
With a history dating back to the Roman era, Gloucester has its fair share of old-world heritage. Fast-forward 2,000 years and this English city is thriving, with a glorious medieval cathedral at its center. And with the naturally beautiful Cotswolds on its doorstep, it’s the perfect place to explore by rental car.
Book a car rental in Gloucester and you’ll find we have several pick-up points located conveniently throughout the city. Take a look at our available cars and find the right one for your trip to the UK, whether you’re riding solo, here as a family or on a romantic couple’s break.
When you rent a car with us in Gloucester, there are no hidden extras to pay for and zero cancellation or amendment fees when the reservation is canceled or changed up to two days before collection. Plus, our best price guarantee means that, in the unlikely event you find a lower Hertz price, we'll refund the difference.
Gloucester Locations
A Quick Guide to Gloucester
Discover one of the unsung gems of Middle England when you book a break to Gloucester. With rejuvenated Victorian docks and a wealth of natural beauty on its doorstep, the city is the perfect introduction to the UK.
Unearth Gloucester’s History
Start your tour of the city at the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral. Built during the 11th century in mainly Norman style, Gothic detailing and features have been added over the years. The outcome? A mesmerizing mix of architecture. Take snaps of the splendid façade before heading inside to see the 14th century tomb of Kind Edward II, one of only a few monarch’s tombs outside London, and the grand column-filled nave. The beautiful Great Cloister will also steal your attention with its breathtaking medieval design. You can park your Gloucester rental car at one of the nearby public car parks, like WestGate Street or Pitt Street.
Make your way from the cathedral to Gloucester’s historic Victorian docks. In recent years, they’ve been beautifully restored and transformed into a pleasant waterside area, decorated with public art and lined with bars, cafés, restaurants and cute stores. Wander from north to south and you’ll reach Gloucester Quays, a shopping mall full of designer brands, as well as a multiplex cinema and restaurants. You’ll find a multi-story car park here with 1,400 spaces available for you to safely park your rental car.
As well as its Roman and Victorian heritage, Gloucester is also where Britain's first jet aircraft was built, and this fact is celebrated in style at the Jet Age Museum, found five miles north-east of the city center. Here you can learn more about Gloucester's pioneering aviation heritage, but the star of the show is a replica of a Gloster E28/39, Britain's first jet fighter, built by the inventor of the turbojet engine, Sir Frank Whittle. You can park your rental car here, free of charge.
Watch a Top-Class Rugby Game
Embrace local tradition and take the opportunity while in Gloucester to attend a rugby game at Kingsholm Stadium, a short drive north from the city center in your rental car.
Gloucester plays in the Aviva Premiership, England’s elite rugby union league, and also feature regularly in the European Rugby Champions Cup competition. Tickets for home games sell out fast, so you’ll need to reserve your seats in advance, but it’s worth it for the unique, friendly atmosphere. Parking for your rental car is available on-site at a fee.
The Glory of the Cotswolds
No trip to Gloucester would be complete without a visit to the picture-perfect Cotswolds, a beautiful region of rolling hills and the quintessential image of rural England. You could easily spend several days exploring timeless stone villages surrounded by sweeping meadows and serene stretches of water.
Close to Gloucester is idyllic Painswick, often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’. The town’s quaint, narrow streets are a sheer delight to wander around. From here, you can pick up the Cotswold Way footpath, a 100-mile trail running the length of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Around Painswick, it snakes through magical woodland and pretty flower-speckled fields.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, drive 10 miles south in your rental car to the Woolpack. At this quaint pub you can feast on classic English ‘pub grub’, such as beer-battered haddock and chips while enjoying sweeping views of the lush green countryside.
Book a rental car in Gloucester to make the most of your English break and turn it into a trip you’ll remember forever.
Driving In and Around Gloucester
Surrounded by a network of major roads, Gloucester is straightforward to get around by rental car. The A38 snakes around the south side of the city, while the A40 loops around the north. The Over Causeway provides a direct route into the heart of Gloucester from the ring roads. From there, take Westgate Street to access the city’s main shopping area, as well as its beautiful cathedral. There are also plenty of parking lots in the city center where you can safely keep your rental car, as well as pay and display on-street parking spaces, if you’d prefer to explore on foot.
Gloucester is well connected to other towns and cities in the west of England through a series of freeways, known in the UK as motorways. To the east of the city, you’ll find the M5 which can take you to Birmingham, England’s ‘second city’, in just 80 minutes if you head north in your car rental. Those who venture south on this freeway can arrive in Bristol in less than an hour. This free-spirited city is renowned for its independent shops and regenerated harbor. You can also venture off the M4 and head across the Severn Bridge to discover Cardiff, Wales’ historic capital city.
Cheltenham, a former spa town, is only a 20-minute journey away via the A40. Famed for its elegant Regency buildings and Cheltenham Festival, one of the UK’s great horse racing events, it’s worth a visit while you’re in the area.
While in the UK, you’ll drive on the left-hand side of the road and all passengers must always wear seatbelts. Speed limits vary depending on the road type - 30mph in built-up areas, 60mph on single-track roads and 70mph on two and three-lane freeways.
