Car Hire Heathrow Airport

A quick guide to London and beyond

Heathrow is the UK's largest airport and hiring a car is a great way to access the bustling centre of London, as well as the historic sites and family activities in the surrounding areas.

The big city

If you’re heading into central London, you’ll find there’s plenty to do – take in a West End show, eat sushi in Soho, explore the treasures of the British Museum, or try and spot the Queen at Buckingham Palace. They say “tired of London, tired of life” but if you do find yourself craving a slower pace, there are many sites to be explored in the area to the west of London, around Heathrow Airport in your hire car.

History in royal houses

Take a step back into Tudor times at Hampton Court Palace, a 30-minute drive from Heathrow Airport. The gardens alone are worth the visit, featuring a sprawling hedge maze and the world’s oldest grape vine. Inside the palace, gaze up at the wooden beams and intricate details of the great hall, taking you back to the days of old.

With medieval turrets, craggy crenulations and thick stone walls, Windsor Castle is everything you want a castle to be. From its construction in the 11^th century to its survival through the English Civil War, the walls of this royal home whisper history.

For family days out there are activities to keep kids happy like building your own castle or an organised treasure hunt.

Family fun

For families, Heathrow Airport is just a 20-minute drive from LEGOLAND Windsor. This theme park is dotted with giant Lego brick masterpieces at every turn.

Watch a swashbuckling pirate show in between hair-raising roller coasters and Lego-themed rides. Younger visitors will enjoy the Duplo-themed Splash Park, so if you’re bringing toddlers be sure to pack swimwear.

Harry Potter fans will love seeing the magic behind the movies with a visit to the Warner Bros studios in nearby Watford where you can enjoy The Making of Harry Potter tour.

Romantic road trip

Just an hour and a half’s drive away is the beautiful Cotswolds. Thatched-roof cottages and colourful village gardens bursting with flowers make up the small towns in this rural retreat.

There is not a skyscraper in sight and, when driving through the Cotswolds, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into a 19^th century novel or period drama. In just under two hours you can get to the luxurious Cotswold House Hotel and Spa, passing through quintessential English villages on the way.

Scholars and authors

Oxford’s dreamy spires and grand university buildings are a short drive from the airport. Wander the narrow cobbled streets and spend hours browsing cosy book shops.

A free walking tour of the ivy-clad colleges and atmospheric quad lawns is available through Oxford Walking Tour. There’s a focus on the colleges as filming locations for Harry Potter and the halls that inspired Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis.

Whether you’re heading straight into London for business or leisure, looking for somewhere to spend quality family time, or want to escape it all in the English countryside, car hire from Heathrow Airport is the perfect way to make the most of your trip to the UK.

Driving in and around London

Heathrow is connected to London and all major surrounding towns by a comprehensive network of motorways. Heading east on the M4 from the airport will lead you straight into the centre of London and all its attractions.

Just be aware that there is a congestion charge in operation between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday in central London. The staff at our Heathrow pick-up location will be able to give you more information on this if you need it.

London’s Orbital Road, the famous M25, grants access to every part of the city. You can get anywhere you want to go in the Greater London area from this road.

If you want to cross the Thames using the Dartford Tunnel or the QE2 Bridge there's a toll, which can be paid in advance online. Roads can become busy at peak travelling times, so allow plenty of time for the journey. Live traffic updates can be found on the Transport for London website.

Follow the M40 to reach scholarly Oxford in under an hour. Carry on from here to the smaller B-roads of the Cotswolds for a taste of picture-perfect English village life.

Speed limits in the UK are usually set at 70mph (113km/h) on motorways and two-lane dual carriageways with a central barrier. This drops to 60mph (97km/h) on single carriageways, and 30mph (48km/h) through built-up areas. Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory for all occupants of the vehicle.

It’s worth noting that most cars in the UK are manual (stick shift). We offer a variety of automatic vehicles for your convenience but bear this in mind when selecting your hire car.