Car hire London Stansted airport

Cheap Car Hire London Stansted airport

About Hiring a Car in London

London, the bustling capital of the UK, is one of the most visited cities in the world, with over 30 million tourists flocking to the city every year. London is also incredibly well connected to the rest of the world, through its major airports including Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and London City Airport.

With so much to do and see in London – Buckingham Palace, The Shard, Big Ben, The London Eye, Regent Street, and so much more – it’s the perfect place for people of all ages to visit.

Whether you’re visiting London for the first or the 101st time, there’s always something exciting and new to do.

Car Hire at London Stansted Airport

London Stansted Airport is the third-busiest airport in London in terms of passenger traffic (just behind Heathrow and Gatwick), and the airport welcomed a record-breaking 29.76 million passengers through its gates in 2024.

As such, there is a huge range of vehicles to hire from reputable companies directly from Stansted Airport, including those from Alamo, Europcar, Hertz, Keddy, Sixt and more.

Car Hire Companies in London

There are also lots of car hire companies based in London, and HolidayCars works directly with eleven separate suppliers based purely at Stansted Airport, and lots more in the city of London.

While hiring a car from Stansted Airport is more convenient, it can be cheaper to hire in the city itself, so this is also an alternative option. Check out the best deals on HolidayCars for the most affordable deals on car hire in London if you are planning on hiring in the city itself.

Driving in London

There are several rules and regulations which must be obeyed when driving in London. As such, it is best to familiarise yourself with these before driving in the city.

• It is illegal to use your mobile phone while driving, unless it is in hands-free mode.
• The Congestion Charge is increasing to £18.00 from January 2026 (or £21.00 if paid within three days, rather than on the day itself). The Congestion Charge applies if you drive in central London from 07:00 until 18:00 Monday to Friday.
• Speed limit signs are displayed in miles per hour (mph), not kilometres per hour (km/h). This is the same as the US, but the opposite of most of Europe.
• The national speed limit on dual carriageways and motorways is 70mph, and it is generally 30mph in urban areas. You will be able to identify the speed limit on white signs with a red circle, clearly displaying the speed limit in the middle.
• All passengers must wear a seatbelt. Drivers will receive a fine if caught without a seatbelt.

Public Transport in London

Metro

The London Underground is one of the most well-known underground rail networks in the world. With 11 lines, it is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel through the city. There is a line directly from Stansted Airport.

Buses

Buses are another cost-effective way of travelling around London. The big, red double-decker buses are an iconic feature of the British capital, and they are very cheap to use.

Trams

The south of the city has a tram network called Tramlink, making it easy to reach various places in south London such as Croydon and Wimbledon via tram.

Fun Things to Do in London

There are seemingly endless things to do in London when visiting, and there is plenty to keep everyone entertained:

• Sightseeing and visiting historic places such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and more.
• Attend a show at one of the many theatres in London’s famous West End, with musicals ranging from household favourites such as Mousetrap to contemporary musicals such as Hamilton.
• Sport, sport and more sport! Whether you’re a football, cricket, rugby or indeed any other sports fan, there are lots of sporting destinations in London where you can catch a live game.
• Food and drink – whether you want to try classic London dishes such as pie and mash (don’t forget the jellied eels) in the East End, or want to embrace London’s multiculturalism at food markets such as Camden Market or Borough Market, there are excellent choices around every corner – and food from every corner of the world.

Best Day Trips from London

Of course, London is not just one of the best connected cities in the UK by its public transport network – the train to Edinburgh is only just over three hours – but also by its extensive road network.

Places as far afield as Cornwall, the Lake District and Yorkshire can be reached within five hours, but there are also lots of other places much closer by.

The Suffolk Coastline can be reached in around two hours by car, while the Norfolk Broads are around three hours away.

A road trip up to Manchester and Liverpool takes around four hours, while a trip west to Cardiff takes around three hours.

The Cotswolds can be reached in around an hour, while historic cities such as Canterbury are also around an hour’s drive away.

If you want to fully explore the UK by road, the best place to start is by hiring a car from London Stansted Airport.