Car Hire in London: Discover all our stations

Impressively varied architecture, the winding River Thames, stately parks, iconic shopping streets and hipster neighbourhoods. London, the UK’s capital and most popular cities in the world, needs little introduction. Totalling 1 572 km², the city is filled with endless fun and things to do.

With Europcar UK car hire you can get to know London on your own terms, discovering the full extent of its magic.

With 30 Europcar stations across the city, whether you are reaching London by plane (Gatwick or Heathrow), or train (St Pancras or Waterloo), there are convenient pickup points to suit. London is very spread out, so even if you are not planning on leaving the city, having a hire car can be really useful.

Choose a rental car from the Europcar fleet to suit your journey. Need economy car hire or larger family models? We can sort you with either. For smaller models, popular choices include the Vauxhall Astra and Fiat 500.

Londoners that need a helping hand? Europcar van rental is available across London. Perfect for moving larger loads across the city.

Europcar London offers car hire and van hire for short and long-term rental periods.

In London and the UK, cars drive on the left side of the road and signposts and speeds operate in miles per hour.

The national speed limit is 70 miles per hour (112 km/h) for cars on motorways and dual carriageways, 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) for single track roads, and 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) for built up areas. Around schools and more residential areas this is reduced to 20 miles per hour.

To combat traffic and reduce pollution, Transport for London has a Congestion Charge for entering the city between 7am and 6pm, Monday through to Friday. This fee is £11.50 per vehicle. The Congestion Zone covers the centre of London, including Vauxhall, Westminster, the City, and Clerkenwell. Congestion fees can be reduced by up to £1 when you prepay.

Parking in London can be tricky if you don’t know where to start. There are some car parks located at some Underground and Overground stations. In most London streets parking restrictions apply between 8.30am-6.30pm on Monday to Saturdays. These are pay and display systems, where you buy a ticket from a machine or pay via phone. Be aware of the Red Routes (displayed by double red lines) across the city where parking, box junctions, and bus lanes are monitored.

London is busy all year around, with traffic constantly entering and leaving the city. Peak times include weekday traffic at 7.30am to 9.30am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving with a phone (either calling or texting) is illegal and penalties are severe.

Visiting London is a journey through its rich history: medieval and contemporary architecture, punk roots, ground-breaking British fashion, world-famous literature, and multicultural food scene. Each corner of London, from the music-filled streets of Brixton and the quiet elegance of Hyde Park, and cobbled charm of Covent Garden, is a surprising mix of old and new.

From London, there are lots of great trips by car to get some country air. Richmond Park with its free-roaming deer (8 miles/12 kilometres), and prestigious University town of Oxford (59 miles/94 kilometres), and the charming Cotswolds area (80 miles/128 kilometres).

Around 45 minutes away by car, Windsor Castle is an ideal day trip to discover the area around London. One of Queen Elizabeth II’s stately homes, Windsor Castle is the world’s largest and oldest occupied fortress. The exterior is pure majesty with battlements and towers, but the inside is no less grand. Take a free guided tour (every half an hour) to see the state apartments, Queen Mary’s dolls’ house, Prince Albert Memorial chapel, and the changing of the guard. Picnic on the river bank to complete a perfect day out.

London boasts several prestigious museums - Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert, The National Gallery - all with free entry to the main collections. Trafalgar Square and its fountains, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Shard are amongst the attractions you need on your hitlist. Old Spitalfields, Broadway Market and Brick Lane Market are a feast for the senses. If you fancy getting back to nature, a long walk around Hampstead Heath and its swimming ponds or visit to Kew Gardens will be just the ticket.

We are proud to be European leaders in car rental. To find out more about the Europcar car hire experience, be sure to visit our car rental page!