Car hire London Gatwick airport

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Cheap Car Hire London Gatwick airport

Cheap Car Hire London Gatwick airport

About Car Hire at Gatwick Airport

London, the United Kingdom's capital, is often lauded as the world's greatest city. Thanks to London’s rich history, diverse neighbourhoods and thriving nightlife, its fame is arguably well deserved. Apart from the Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, London is known for its cosmopolitan status, with a wide range of museums, shops, and restaurants. It also has a colourful past as a centre for monarchy, politics, the humanities, and the sciences. It is no surprise that nearly 30 million tourists visit London every year!

Gatwick Airport (LGW) is one of the five airports serving the Greater London area. It is an international airport in England near Crawley in West Sussex, and is situated about 47.5 kilometres south of Central London. Gatwick was Europe's 10th-busiest airport prior to the COVID-19 epidemic and the UK's second-busiest airport behind Heathrow Airport. Gatwick Airport is served by over 35 airlines, which link it to destinations in Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the United States. Dublin, Geneva, and Barcelona are the three busiest routes out of this airport.

Car hire is a popular choice among those arriving at Gatwick Airport because its proximity to the M25 makes it an excellent starting point from which to explore London and surrounding regions. After you land, head to Level 0 of the South Terminal and look for the hire car sign. Here, you’ll find dedicated desks for the various companies. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Green Motion, Hertz, National, and Sixt are some of the car hire firms present at Gatwick. Note that you may need to obtain a ticket from the ticket machine when you arrive at the counter and keep an eye on the displays for your ticket number to be called.

Downtown Car Hire in London

While on holiday in London, whether you’re with friends or family, you'll want to see as much of the city as possible. Hiring a vehicle is the best way to make the most of your holiday. Pre-booked hire vehicles may be picked up at the airport. However, there is no need to be concerned if you didn’t hire a car at Gatwick Airport. There are several car hire options in Central London as well.

Driving in London

Driving in London can be overwhelming for the first-time visitor because of the sheer number of people and buildings you’ll have to weave through. Therefore, before you get behind the wheel, you should familiarise yourself with the rules of the road in the United Kingdom.

Here are some helpful tips for driving in London

Car Hire Agencies in London

If you want to explore all of London's museums, palaces, parks, retail centres, historical sites, and other great locations, a vehicle ensures that you'll be able to do all of that comfortably and on your own schedule. As a result, there are several reputable local and international car hire firms in London. Among the well-known car hire firms in London are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, and National.

Going with a big group? Hire a minivan or SUV for maximum comfort. For a short business trip, a Mercedes Benz Class-C or Audi A4 will ensure you arrive in style. Wi-Fi is already standard in many cars, enabling you to work while driving. The Jeep Renegade or BMW X3 are both excellent cars if you’re travelling with friends or family for sightseeing as they have ample space for luggage. If you’re looking for something more economical, consider a Ford Focus or Fiat 500. When looking for a car, it's important to shop about and compare your options.

Top Road Trips near Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is located in West Sussex, and although most people immediately go to London, you may be surprised by the lovely countryside, attractive coastline spots, and some fantastic culture that Sussex has to offer. There are so many interesting things to see and learn about in East and West Sussex that it may be difficult to know where to begin. These road trip suggestions will inspire you…

Do parties at Brighton's seaside resort and strolls on its famed fun-filled pier catch your fancy?. Alternatively, you can picnic on the chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel at Seven Sisters. If you’re into history, the Towers of Bodiam Castle, a 14th-century moat-encircled stronghold, are open to tourists. In Arundel, you can take a stroll around the streets of this picture-perfect town and see the church and castle. Similarly, you can also jaunt around the historic streets of Rye, which sits on the banks of the River Thames. Do not miss seeing Chichester Cathedral, a beautiful ancient building with marble vaulted halls, while you’re in the area.

Frequently asked questions about car rental London Gatwick airport

What’s the best area to stay in London?
The best area to stay in London completely depends on why you’re going to visit. If you’re going to see any of the famous sites, make sure to book somewhere central that has good access to these places. You’ll find many hotels around the central railway station, King’s Cross.
What is the cheapest time to go to London?
London's winter months of January and February are the most cost-effective months to visit as the peak holiday season has passed.
What is the best time to go to London?
London's parks are at their most beautiful between March and May, when the weather is moderate and the city's greenery is in full bloom. Late spring, like summer, is a popular time for tourists, and hotel and airfare rates reflect this.
Can you get around London without a car?
If you plan on staying in central London, it is possible (and easy!) to rely on public transport (TfL). But if you want to explore further afield and see more of London and the surrounding areas, then you most definitely need a car to do so.
Tips and experiences for London Gatwick airport

Our customers rated London Gatwick airport with an average of 9.0 based on 54 ratings, and these are the most recent tips, experiences and highlights.

05-11-2021
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says:
Take pictures and video of hirecar before leaving the compound. If at night, look over again the next morning and if damaged, call them up and tell them. When returning car, leave enough time as they only have the 1 shuttle van and you could be waiting awhile.
27-10-2021
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says:
Call before bringing the car back and they will have the bus ready as far as possible.
20-10-2021
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says:
Well sign posted
17-10-2021
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says:
Very well sign posted to guide you around. Helpful staff dotted around airport to help with any request. Extremely clean and tidy with staff continually working to keep it spotless. Good selection of restaurants and retail outlets. All in all a very efficient operation run by enthusiastic and talented staff both in public eye and certainly behind the scenes in what must be a very demanding environment. Well done all.
04-10-2021
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says:
-Print your vouchers -Have your DVLA check -Read the small print -Check vehicle before leaving and take pictures if any damage is found -Query re shuttle service if hire car is located outside the airport -Check fuel tank and take pic of it before leaving
20-09-2021
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says:
Cars were not kept on airport as it said on advert and company only had 1 staff member doing check in, pick up and collect between locations both times I was there. Waited alone for 50 mins to be collected from a dark field (drop off) in the country to return car and get collected. They must frequently get similar complaints as when mentioning this I was told to read terms and conditions about giving due notice, but my flight changed and had to drop it off earlier.
03-09-2021
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says:
Get yourself a days travel card on the train,tube and bus and explore London...Its a fantastic city!!
31-08-2021
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says:
Around London airports are more about where they are not what as traffic on the M25 is brutal. Personally, I like LGW over all other airports as it is big enough for a wide range of destinations and small enough not to have a trek to reach your gate.
28-05-2021
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says:
If you grumble loudly enough about the excessive time it takes to clear the queue, the company might throw in a GPS for free. The latter is a wonderful thing to have given the tendency for British motorways to clog or even be closed. Without the sat nav's ability to find a route around blockages, in real time, I would still be in UK yrying to find my way around. Also, check carefully the blemishes on your car before driving ot away. If you find anything, do NOT return to the hiring desks who take too long to do anything. Instead, get a person from the shed in the parking lot to write down the nature of the blemish(es) on your contract document and get him/her to sign and date it.
08-05-2021
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says:
I didn't know you could drop the car off at the north terminal as well as the south. Would have saved me some difficulty
24-04-2021
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says:
My flight was late and rental desk was closing at midnight. The member of staff was kindly waiting for me 30 min after they closed. Very good customer service. Can recommend them anytime
05-04-2021
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says:
For a big commercial area with loads of building works going on... The collection was very strait forward....
31-03-2021
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says:
Always Hire a car with Navigation. Always have full insurance. Keep of the M27 after lights out. Always Park your car to avoid scratches. Those of us that drive on the right, get your your front passenger to check that you are not driving in the ditch. Finally when you come to the end of your holiday and you have to give back the the car, your going to miss her. :-)
09-12-2020
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says:
a well searched online before you travel. keep your essential documents ready. keep credit cards and passport up to date. do not get lost in airport. follow all signs to go to the right terminal. check online for all alternatives travel routes.
03-12-2020
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says:
Easy to navigate the airport. Lots of improvements look.to be getting made. Security checks efficient.
01-12-2020
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says:
- very easy to get to Central London from this airport - easy access to everything you need, no way you can get lost at this airport, everything is clearly marked - unless using Green Motion, easy access to car hire office - CLEAN toilets - this is always nice, when you fly somewhere and you need to use the rest room and everything is clean and fresh - If you want to save some money, don't use Gatwick express train from Gatwick to London and the other way around, there is Southern rail service, which is as quick as Gatwick express and is bit cheaper - I prefer this airport when flying to / from London, as it's generally quicker, better organized and just simply nicer airport comparing to Heathrow or Stansted
21-11-2020
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says:
Make sure you have all the right documention and it's up to date Remember that there may be a queue of customers in front of you and remain calm; the staff are doing their best and are as professionally as possible to gove each customer the best personal service.
04-11-2020
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says:
Be very careful that you have gone over the car with a fine toothed comb, and that you have the ability to photograph and email after you have picked up the car. Check the I contest this evaluation on the form, other wise any charges will be taken and no contact made to check your evaluation of any damage.
13-10-2020
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says:
Travel light, don't stay and eat in crazy expensive places (unless you can afford to) so that you can travel more often.
17-09-2020
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says:
Plan, plan, plan!! Shop around for best deals, we saved a fortune doing this
29-08-2020
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says:
Get there early to avoid stress going through security Get prepared ahead of going through security - i.e. remove watches, belts, have liquids in appropriate container etc. take a packed snack as prices are high travel light - nothing worse than lugging bags around the airport wear comfortable shoes for the flight as feet tend to swell buy water from WH Smiths after you go through security - better value
28-08-2020
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says:
1. Pick a car rental company that is in the airport. 2. Make sure you are not talked into any upgrades. 3. Use the full-to-full gas policy of the car rental company as you will then pay for what you use. 4. Do not let yourself be intimidated even though you may be tired and in a new country. 5. Read the reviews of all car rental companies and hotels before you choice. 6. If it's too good to be true, it's NOT.
23-08-2020
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says:
The airport was all sign posted and I had no issues navigating around.
21-08-2020
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says:
Do make sure you allow enough time on getting the bus from LGW to the crown plaza hotel (Easirent Desk) as they only run every 45 mins. The Bus is free of charge by showing your Voucher to the driver. Do remember to check your travel route before leaving as there maybe delays and you could use a faster alternative route to your destination. A late flight into LGW is best met with a stay at the premier inn over the road from Arrivals..... makes the experience so much better. Always make sure you have enough fuel for your journey. No one likes to be panicking about running out if you get caught in a traffic jam (the norm on the M25). Enjoy your stay in the UK........ life is for living !!!
04-07-2020
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says:
Giraffe has great food, Bloc hotel made life easy by grabbing the tram in the morning to the North Terminal. World of Whiskey was awesome! EAT had great coffee and sandwiches. Gatwick was quick, convenient, and I would fly through them again.
27-06-2020
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says:
Travel light. Don't be late. Remember you're not the only person travelling through the airport. Be nice to other people. If you're abroad, you're not at home so things/people may be different, so be tolerant!!!! and if people don't talk English, They still don't understand you if you shout at them :)
19-06-2020
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says:
Supply and demand. If there is a car park full of higher class vechicles than the one you booked, negicate an upgrade.
18-06-2020
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says:
Great airport and it’s a shame that I had to deal with Green Motion.
10-06-2020
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says:
Rent from anyone other than easirent, and your rental experience will actually be easy.
08-06-2020
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says:
Work out your route beforehand. Google maps are great. Choose the right size vehicle for your needs don't just go for the least expensive. Remember the traffic around Gatwick is busy. Arrive at the airport in plenty of time and allow sufficient time to go through security in peak times check flight is on time.
16-05-2020
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says:
There are several things that we did that maybe of interest to your customers, some of which needed the car, others could be done by public transport. 1. The Painted Hall at the Old Naval College at Greenwich: the ceiling is being renovated and you are taken up to the ceiling on scaffolding to see this magnificient art work close up 2 Woodhorn Colliery at Ashington in Northumberland: one of the deepest coal mines in the UK; fantastic visual displays 3 Holy Island, Northumberland: a trip across the causeway to one of the oldest centres of Christian Religion in the UK - lovely setting and nice walks. It is often better to use public transport if you are using AirBnbs in rural areas to get into the city. You get good views from the top deck and it reduces the cost of parking a car.
22-09-2019
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says:
Pack light and wear comfy shoes. Don't forget travel pillows and headphones!!
17-09-2019
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says:
Book a car early to get the best price. Make sure you have access to GPS!
04-09-2019
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says:
Hire your car from Green Motion. Travel light, especially with kids. They don't wear half the gear anyway. Take a sat nav with you or ensure car is equipped with one.
02-09-2019
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says:
1. Leave lots of time to Savoie stress 2. Reasearch amd plan the trip 3. Keep back up copies of all travel details, both hard and soft copies 5. Don’t forget to look at the software updates if airlines require apps to watch films 6. Stay positive in the event of delays - there is often nothing you could do about it and unhappiness is detrimental and easily spread!
02-09-2019
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says:
Book a good reliable airline. Choose a friendly, calm and trustworthy car rental company. Make sure you have all the paperwork with you when you travel (email, mobile apps and/or printed). Allow plenty of time for incidents and accidents. If you have any problems or concerns then ask for help.
25-03-2019
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says:
Hiring a car through a nationwide provider is recommended.
15-03-2019
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says:
The Gatwick airport rental car collection point is some distance from the baggage collection. It is worthwhile to pick up a baggage trolley. Avis upgraded the booked car from a manual Holden Astra to an automatic Mercedes A180 at no additional cost. The boot space in the Mercedes is limited however and we had difficulty accommodating two medium size suitcases. The rental car drop off point at Manchester airport id very poorly signed. We were departing from terminal 1, but the drop off point is at Terminal 3 with a shuttle bus service. The shuttle bus service is frequent, but allow extra time when dropping the car off. The drop off procedure at Manchester airport is very efficient.
15-03-2019
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says:
Leave plenty of time when driving around London especially on tge M25 as congestion seems a daily problem and can cause late arrival or missed flights
13-03-2019
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says:
If you are flying Virgin Atlantic, they have moved to the North terminal. The car rentals are at the South terminal, but their is a good shuttle going back and forth between the terminals.
14-10-2018
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says:
Some of the parking places not exist (closed)any more and have not updated google maps yet. Also,Becareful about congestion Charge zones in London and recommend to do payment in advace.
12-09-2018
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says:
Don't drive anywhere near central London as the public transport is excellent and far easier / less stress.
09-09-2018
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says:
Imperial war museum was great.
05-09-2018
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says:
Visit Kew Gardens.
03-09-2018
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says:
Don't drive in the city centre as there is a congestion charge. Tube is the best way to get around. And take a boat trip on the Thames. The royal palaces are all great: Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and The Tower of London
10-04-2018
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says:
Book the London Eye in advance Always check on the south bank for events
04-04-2018
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says:
nil to add
11-03-2018
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says:
Try and find one more conveniently located in the Terminal you arrive to, Easi rent London was not very professional.
08-03-2018
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says:
Take your time to tour around
24-02-2018
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says:
Roads are more congested and road rage more prevalent
08-02-2018
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says:
Don't use Europcar Gatwick. However, the Tower of London is a great day out - especially if you get cheap tickets with Tesco Clubcard!
09-12-2017
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says:
enjoy the London life style
08-12-2017
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says:
Comedy club London
15-07-2017
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says:
Think of the time your traveling as traffic is heavy during peak hours