Car Hire in London
The perfect hire car will soon be yours
You’re busy and London is even busier, so we’ve made car rental in London effortless. Come and meet us at prime hire locations across the UK capital.Where would you like to rent your Avis car or van and begin your journey? In a fast-paced city like London, we want to make sure you can keep up. Once you’ve booked your car here, meet us at one of our hire locations and pick up your rental car to get around the buzzing capital in comfort and style. Be it a small, cost-effective car for parking in the city, a larger vehicle or luxury car hire for trips to the countryside, we have what you’re looking for.
It's fair to say that London is a huge city, but you can find one of our car hire locations all over it, at Heathrow, Gatwick or City airport as well as hub train stations in the city such as Euston Station.
Use the booking form above and begin your journey.
Popular airport locations in and around London
Explore the rich culture of London in your hire car
The UK capital has so much to offer. Park your London rental in the city and explore numerous attractions such as world-class museums, landmarks, shops and a wide variety of restaurants.Museums and Culture
London is sometimes described as a city of villages. It's made up of distinct neighbourhoods – from upmarket Chelsea and Hampstead, to decadent Soho and edgy Shoreditch. Many neighbourhoods boast a variety of museums, like the Tate Modern in Southwark or the National Portrait Gallery in Covent Garden. On your trip, make sure to visit the independent bookshops and delicatessens of Notting Hill, as well as see the famous blue door from the movie, in west London. You can also visit east London by taking a cruise boat out to Greenwich to visit the Cutty Sark and Maritime Museum, the Meridian line and the Royal Observatory or simply cruise there on your own in your Avis rental car.
Shopping
Don't miss the opportunity to take advantage of London’s ample retail options from restaurants to street markets. There is the ever-famous Oxford Street for the traditional London experience but there’s much more to the city. Try Old Spitalfields market or Brick Lane in east London for new and vintage clothing, furniture and bric-a-brac; Camden Lock in north London for original designer clothes, one-off artwork and furnishings; and Borough Market in south London for an extensive selection of international foods. If your interest lies in antiques, head over to Portobello Road, West London, on a Saturday and explore the antiquities of one of London’s most renowned streets.
Nightlife
While the capital of the United Kingdom is alive during the day it is no less busy at night. London's Theatreland, centred on Shaftesbury Avenue, is famous worldwide. The city has numerous music venues which frequently attract world class acts and performers. Be sure to make the most of the cultural experiences on offer and enjoy the swift travel experience with Avis while you are in London.
Hire car road trips from London
If you fancy a day trip out of the centre of London, why not head off in your Avis rental to one of these destinations close by?Windsor – in easy reach of London hire locations (26 mile/42km drive from central London)
A little over an hours’ drive from London, via the M4, is the riverside town of Windsor. Visit the magnificent Windsor castle, the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years and an undeniable piece of British history. Take a stroll along the Long Walk to the Copper Horse statue, for great views of the castle and surrounding area. Cross the town bridge over to Eton for a stroll along the high street, lined with medieval buildings and inns, and a catch a glimpse of the famous school, founded by King Henry VI in 1440.
Hire a London rental and explore Syon Park (10 mile/16km drive from central London)
Open to the public between March and October each year, Syon Park is in the London suburb of Brentford, 40 minute drive from central London. It’s one of the best preserved historic houses in London. With its classical interiors, rooms full of precious art and history, as well as its gorgeous, landscaped gardens and parklands, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Henley-on-Thames by hire car (37 mile/60km drives from central London)
Famous for the annual Henley Royal Regatta, Henley is a picturesque town you can spend hours exploring. Go for afternoon tea and cruise along the river bank watching the boats sail by. From Central London it’s about a one hour and 30 minutes’ drive, via the M4. A relaxed 37 mile trip in a comfortable Avis hire car.
If you’re eager to see more of the United Kingdom you can explore the outskirts of London as well as find us scattered around the country.
Don't forget the London Congestion Charge
There are a couple important things you need to know when driving in London. First, while we try to make your driving experience in the city as comfortable as possible, there is still a lot of traffic. The busy streets are full of cars and cyclists, with over half a million cycle journeys across London every day. If you want to avoid the city centre, you can get on the M25, also known as the London Orbital, to circle the outskirts of the city. Part of Zone 1 in central London has a congestion charge due to the heavy traffic as well as a speed restriction of 20mph (31km/h). Second, several London hire locations fall inside or just on the outskirts of the Congestion Charge zone.
Congestion Charge
Drivers entering central London must have permits when driving within the congestion zones between 7am and 10pm, 7 days a week (look out for the Congestion Charge signs). The charge is payable on a daily basis. The official site has maps and details on how to pay the charge.
Dartford Crossing
You will see notifications about a charge as you pass through the Dartford Crossing. You don’t need to do anything, or pay the fee in advance, as we will make the payment on your behalf. The crossing fee will be charged to the payment card registered to your rental within 14 days of the authority notifying us of the crossing, with no additional costs included.
Driving rules in United Kingdom
Which side of the road?In the United Kingdom, please drive on the left side of the road. Your rental car in the UK will always be a right-hand drive.
Country driving laws
- Mobile phones may only be used with a headset or hands-free device
- There is a congestion charge payable when driving in London
- Use the outside lane to overtake on motorways and dual carriageways, however, only overtake on the right side of the road. Overtaking on the left could result in prosecution for dangerous driving.
- Zebra crossings (black and white stripes on the road) give pedestrians right of way to cross the road
Speed Limits
All speed signs will be in mph.
For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:
Urban areas:
lowest 20 mph (31 km/h, for congested city centres like central London) and usually 30mph (48km/h) Motorways: 70 mph (112 km/h)
Rural areas: 60 mph (96 km/h). Unless indicated by road signs.
Unless indicated by road signs.
Child safety / Seatbelt laws
- It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
- Children aged under 12 or less than 135cm tall must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size
Please note, it is the child’s parent / guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.
This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk. Click here for further information and services we are able to provide to comply with these laws.
Avis doesn’t only provide the rental vehicle but an array of personalised extras
Our ambition is to accommodate all your driving needs. Sometimes these include hiring a van for business or personal transportationExplore all of our car hire extras and find the best options for your journey.