Hertz car hire in Ashford

A medieval market town in Kent, nestled in the south east of England, Ashford is a charming destination that offers the perfect balance of town and country life.

Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, car hire in Ashford gives you easy access to London and the chance to explore some of the UK’s most beautiful rural landscapes.

You’ll find the ideal car for your trip within our comprehensive range. Reserve your car online and we’ll have it waiting for you when you arrive.

Whether you’re arriving by train or flying into Gatwick Airport, which is around an hour away, our professional team will show you to your car and be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Driving in and around Ashford

Hiring a car in Ashford opens to the door to a wealth of English adventures. This small town sits in between two Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) – Kent Downs and High Weald.

Kent Downs is 15 minutes’ drive east on Canterbury Road – also known as the A28 – which leads directly from the town centre. To the west, the rolling hills and woodland of High Weald are around 35 minutes away, heading west out of Ashford on the Great Chart Bypass and joining the A28.

The elegance of Royal Tunbridge Wells and the historic town of Hastings, the site of the famous 1066 battle, are both within an hour’s drive – and you can be walking along the iconic White Cliffs of Dover in around 30 minutes.

The M20 motorway skirts the edge of the town, taking you north towards London. This is also the route to Gatwick Airport, which is around an hour from Ashford via the M20 and M26. Southbound, the M20 takes you from Ashford to the port town of Folkestone, where the Eurotunnel heads beneath the Channel.

On UK motorways, the maximum speed is 70mph (112km/h), unless there’s a variable speed limit displayed – the same applies for dual-carriageways. In the town centre and surrounding residential areas of Ashford, the speed limit is usually 30mph (48km/h). On rural roads and single-lane carriageways, the maximum is 60mph (96km/h).

There are around 10 car parks in the centre of Ashford, where charges usually start from about £1 per hour. You can park for free on certain roads at certain times, often Sundays and evenings. Find out the car park locations, opening times and charges on the Ashford Borough Council website.

A quick guide to Ashford

So many beautiful settings are within easy reach when you hire a car in Ashford. From country houses set in tranquil, leafy parks to the bustling streets of London, you can enjoy a quintessential slice of English life.

The Garden of England

Kent is the epitome of country bliss. The landscapes are idyllic, yes, but it’s also down to the community who really treasure and protect the natural scenery. Catch sight of hares, deer and red squirrels bounding through the fields and forests and look up to see majestic birds of prey swooping through the sky, including Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons.

Historic castles peep up through the trees, creating a setting fit for a fairy tale – like Leeds Castle, which feels eternally romantic. Swans glide through the tranquil waters of the moat while the perfectly-coiffed hedges of the maze invite you to get lost. This fantastical setting is just 20 minutes’ drive from Ashford, while the famously beautiful Sissinghurst Castle Gardens are half an hour to the west.

A perfect day in Ashford

There are plenty of high street shops, department stores and locally-run shops to explore in the centre of Ashford. Head to the local bowling alley for an afternoon of family fun, and make sure you pass by the Mark IV WW1 tank in Saint George’s Square, gifted to the town in 1919 for their wartime fundraising efforts.

When the sun is shining, Victoria Park is a beautiful place to explore, curving alongside the Great Stour river. Follow the tree-lined pathways, walk along the banks of the river and stop by the Hubert Fountain - an elaborate three-tier, cast-iron fountain decorated with classical figures.

Go to Godinton

In a small village, 10 minutes’ drive north of Ashford, you can bask in the grandeur of Godinton House. This stately home is 600 years old, filled to the brim with intriguing relics and decor harking from medieval to Victorian – but it’s the surrounding gardens that really steal the limelight.

From lily ponds to walled gardens, trickling stone fountains to daffodil meadows, this whimsical landscape seems to roll on forever. There’s a delightful calendar of events and gardening workshops throughout the year, so if you want to get involved, have a look at the schedule online.

The Big Smoke

Hiring a car in Ashford means you can drive into the centre of London in as little as an hour-and-a-half. It’s convenient for business meetings, yes, but also an exciting day trip. No matter how many times you visit the capital, there’s always something new waiting for you to explore.

You could tick off the big sights like Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the London Eye, or dive straight into the bustling shopping scene on Oxford Street.

Tuck into a street food feast at Borough Market, where you’ll find everything from oysters to Thai and sugary sweet treats, or go all out and indulge your taste buds at a Michelin-star restaurant. You could even catch a matinee performance of a West End show, before driving back to the sanctuary of Ashford.

Hire a car in Ashford and enjoy a break to remember in this picturesque corner of England.