London, the capital of England, is located in the south-east of Great Britain and stands tall on the river Thames. Formerly known as Londinium, London means "Fortress of the moon. Its chequered history unravels from over 2000 years ago and the city was destroyed and rebuilt many times as it changed hands. It is a part of the large metropolis of Greater London and its current population is about 8.1 million.
With so many amazing tourist spots, London begs to be explored. TravelCar with its cheap city car rental makes it easy to move around the city and its surrounding areas in a leisurely and relaxed manner. Public transport options make it even more comfortable.
Pricing & availability
TravelCar’s budget car rental is highly popular as vehicles are available at major airports, train stations and other locations in London. Having made a name for itself in the car rental space, TravelCar is a couple of notches above other rental providers. Its car rental prices are unmatchable and highly affordable and TravelCar is well positioned to cater to any requirement. All TravelCar’s rental cars are fully equipped with features and conveniences that will make your trips comfortable and safe. Travelers can rest assured that they will get the best value for their money.
Ease of service
Ease and efficiency is TravelCar’s motto and it ensures that pick-up and drop-off points are easy to locate. Even the car rental process is simple and uncomplicated- a few clicks of the mouse will ensure that it is done. What’s even more appealing is that you can opt to rent the car for a day, a week or even more with TravelCar’s short and long-term rentals. Its discounted prices and best deals are so transparent that it takes the guesswork out of the whole process. Optional extras are also available and you can choose what add-ons you want during the booking process. There’s no denying that its car rental UK is a seamless operation that doesn’t pinch the pocket. It’s easily the best way of getting around the city to tour the sights or get away for a weekend.
Great customer service
TravelCar believes that car rentals should never be ‘a pain in the neck’ but an enjoyable experience. It works hard to ensure you get the best out of your rental deal. Its staff is encouraging and helps make your trip a huge success. All you need to do is to let them know your itinerary, the duration of your trip and where you're headed. TravelCar finds you the cheapest car rental options and fills you up with relevant information. It offers a reliable and impeccable service and its customer service team handles all customer requests with aplomb and assurance. TravelCar believes that the customer journey should be a satisfying one.
TravelCar, the best car rental in London, has an extensive range of vehicles- If you’re looking for a small, comfortable car, its Mini will be ideal. The economy class car allows you to save a few precious pounds while the Compact model is useful if you have a lot of luggage to lug around. The intermediate, mid-sized and full-sized family cars have more trunk space and leg-room. Luxury car hire in London with all the value add-ons is the perfect choice to travel in style. Its vans and SUVs are popular options for large groups.
Car rental in the UK, especially the self-drive car hire in London is a breeze with TravelCar.
London is regarded as a “world cultural capital” and has an unassailable position as the world’s largest financial center. Regardless of why you’re visiting London, there’s always something to delight and captivate you. TravelCar’s car rental will make it even more delightful.
Buckingham Palace
No visit to London is complete without a tour of the Buckingham Palace, the abode of Queen Elizabeth II. The lavishly decorated State Rooms, the grand staircase, the throne room, exquisite paintings and sculptures by the masters, elegant furniture and delicate porcelain, colossal chandeliers and grand interiors are just delightful. The palace is open to the public during summer. Don’t forget to see the famous “changing of the Guard,” which is a daily event at 11 a.m., from April until late July.
The London Eye
An engineering marvel, just opposite the Houses of Parliament, is located right in the middle of London. You can see the capital come to life in a breath-taking manner as this cantilevered observation wheel rotates 360 degrees, giving you a bird’s eye view of the iconic landmarks of the city. As the glass capsules rotate, the city unfolds before your eyes and you get an ever-changing perspective of the whole of London in just 30 minutes.
Madam Tussauds
This one is a ‘must visit’ as glamor and history combine in a very realistic way. You get to rub shoulders with iconic figures in an interactive manner. You can meet the Queen in person and stand side by side with the royal family. Music icons, sports figures, and historic personalities light up the rooms in a life-like manner. Catch a glimpse of the sculptors at work behind the scenes and go home feeling enriched and entertained.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London, a symbol of power of the Norman King is literally a fortress on the Thames. Initially, it was only a wooden structure but over time it expanded to house about 20 towers. Essentially associated with torture and bloody tales of death, the Tower was once a royal residence and several kings lived there. It has an armory that’s filled with the weapons that the kings used, but today it’s well known for the priceless Crown Jewels and there are long queues of people waiting to get a glimpse of those studded gems.
London Bridge
This 265-meter long bridge with a framework that’s built with 11,000 tons of steel is a famous symbol of London. It’s close to the harbor and many large vessels pass under the moveable bridge. Its unique feature is that the bridge opens to allow bigger vessels to pass through. Glass floors installed more than 40 meters above the river in the walkways allow visitors to watch the bridge open and close below their feet. It’s a unique experience.
Westminster Abbey
This place, in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament, is witness to almost every royal coronation that took place in the church. The Houses of Parliament or the Palace of
Westminster, as it is called, is home to London’s historic Big Ben. It also is abode to the House of Lords and the House of Commons- the two parliamentary factions.
The British Museum
This is the largest museum in the United Kingdom and is a treasure house of artifacts from bygone civilizations. The more than seven million objects on display fill you with wonder and awe. The Victoria and Albert Museum is an interesting storehouse of decorative arts.
The Kew Gardens, Kensington Palace, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and more dot London’s landscape.
London is an exciting city but its bright lights tend to eclipse some amazing areas that are in its vicinity.
Bath
Just under two hours from London Paddington lies the picturesque and beautiful city of Bath. Famous for its Georgian architecture and Roman built baths, it is about 11 miles south-east of Bristol and about 97 miles west of London. It is the largest city in the county of Somerset and can be found in the valley of the River Avon.
You can access Bath by train from Paddington Station in London. There are trains every half an hour and the journey time is about 90 minutes. The train stops at the Bath station, which is very close to the famous Roman Baths.
Buses also ply between London and Bath and the touring coaches are pretty frequent. Although price-wise, coaches are a better option, the journey time of 3-4 hours can be a little depressing.
Oxford
Oxford is stated to be the oldest university in England and the famous Christ Church College is the largest in it. History seeps through the intricate buildings and the amazing architecture compels attention. Oxford has a beauty and charm of its own, parallel to none other. Blenheim Palace, the home of the Duke of Marlborough, very close to Oxford, the scenic Oxford covered market, the exciting museum of history and science, the underground Bodleian Library are worth visiting.
You can travel to Oxford either by train or bus. As it is just 55 miles from Central London, it’s easy to get a train from Paddington Station. The journey time is just under an hour. That means you can get to Oxford and back on the same day.
Double-decker air-conditioned buses (Oxford Tube bus service) ply between Oxford and London throughout the day from London’s Victoria Coach station. The frequency is great and the journey comfortable.
Stonehenge
A mysterious and most talked about monument- the sophisticated stone circle, erected in the late Neolithic period around 2500 BC. The stones are laid out in the shape of a horseshoe and form concentric rings. Stonehenge is built on Salisbury Plain and a visit to London is incomplete without a glimpse of this wonderfully architected monument.
You can take the train from London’s Waterloo Station to Salisbury and then hop on to the tour bus that goes directly to Stonehenge. There are daily tours that just operate between Stonehenge and London. Journey time is two hours either way plus the amount of time you spend at the site. It’s cheaper to combine Stonehenge with a couple of other attractions.
Stratford-upon-Avon
This world-famous town, in the county of Warwickshire on the river Avon, is in the West Midlands. It’s the birthplace of William Shakespeare and is a must-see for Shakespeare fans. It is about two and a half hours from London and one hour from the south of Birmingham. Other interesting tourist spots are the Warwick Castle, Holy Trinity church (where Shakespeare was buried) and the Royal Shakespeare Company, where plays are performed.
You can reach Stratford by train from London’s Marylebone station but the journey time is more than two hours. Of course, going to Warwick is easier and quicker and from there you can reach Stratford.
Buses ply between London and Stratford-upon-Avon from London's Victoria Coach Station. Though these are cheaper than the train, they are definitely much slower. There are also daily bus tours between the two places.
Canterbury, with its museums, cathedrals, castles, and abbeys, Hampton Court with its two palaces, Windsor with its castle, meadow, and parks are also very close to London. All of these are easily accessible by train or bus.
Driving in the UK can be challenging- you need to drive on the left side of the road. If you drive on a weekday between 7 am and 6 pm you have to pay a congestion charge. In addition, polluting vehicles have to pay a T-Charge or Emissions Surcharge.
Insurance is a must and if you have a non-UK driving license, remember that they are valid only for one year from the date of your last visit to the country.
Speed Limits for cars in the UK
| Motorways | 70 mph |
| Dual carriageways (roads divided by grassy areas or barriers) | 70 mph |
| Single carriageways (undivided roads) | 60 mph |
| Built-up urban roads | 30 mph |
| Built-up area near schools | 20 mph |
| Road with sharp bends | 50 mph |
In an effort to reduce road deaths, Transport for London is all set to impose a speed limit of 20 mph on London roads that fall within the Congestion Charging zone.