Car Hire in London

About London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. As one of the largest cities in the world, London exerts a strong influence on the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, tourism and communications. Due to London's diverse cultures, over 300 languages are spoken. Greater London has around 9 million inhabitants, making it the third-most populous city in Europe. 

London includes four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, the Palace of Westminster with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret's Church, and the historic settlement of Greenwich, where the Royal Observatory Greenwich determines the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. Other landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. There are numerous museums, galleries, libraries and sports venues, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, British Library and West End theatres.

Basic info and car hire in London

• Location: United Kingdom
• Population: 8.9 million (2021)
• Official language: English
• Currency: Pound Sterling (EUR)
• Weather: In London, the summers are short, pleasant and partly cloudy, and the winters are long, very cold, windy and mostly cloudy. During the year the temperature usually varies between 4°C and 25°C and is rarely below freezing or above 30°C.
• Holidays in London: There is no bad time to visit London. No matter what the weather, it is still one of the most fabulous, interesting and vibrant cities in the world. Visit the city's diverse and charming neighbourhoods, immerse yourself in history and culture with a visit to the museums and a tour of the landmarks.
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions: London being a metropolis, the roads are in very good condition. Foreign drivers must be prepared for traffic on the main roads in particular, but with good research ahead of time and a GPS, driving is easy and enjoyable.
• Car hire in London: Hiring a car at London‘s International Airports or any other location in London with Orbit Car Hire gives you plenty of freedom to get around London and the United Kingdom. With a wide range of vehicles to choose from, you can be sure to find the one that suits your needs and gives you the most benefit on your trip.

Driving in London

If you plan to drive in London, be sure to read this short guide to navigating the roads.

First and foremost, drive on the left-hand side of the road. The Congestion Charge applies to most vehicles entering central London from Monday to Friday (7 am to 6 pm). The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London applies in the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone. It applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day. Most vehicles must meet certain emissions standards or drivers will have to pay a daily charge. Penalty charges may apply if the charge is not paid. You can also find up-to-date traffic information for London on the Highways England website to help you avoid problematic roads. Before driving in London, familiarise yourself with UK traffic rules and standards. Understand standard road signs such as speed limits, priority markings, bus lanes, yellow boxes at junctions and approaches to roundabouts.
Also learn the meaning of the parking lines, overtaking and giving way, to name a few.

• Age limits: The age limit is between 21 and 25, depending on the car rental agency. Many agencies will either charge a young driver fee if you are under this age or not allow you to rent the car at all.
• International Driving Permit: Yes, if your driver's license is not identifiable as Driving License, for example, if it is written in a non-Latin alphabet (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). 
• Additional papers: Identification (passport), a valid driver's license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to take out insurance with the car rental company in case your policy does not cover you when driving in the United Kingdom). 
• Additional requirements: Warning triangles, spare wheels and a hands-free kit with hearing aids are required if you are talking on the phone while driving.
• Children in the car: All vehicle occupants must wear a seat belt. Children under twelve years of age or over 5 feet tall may ride in the front passenger seat. 
• Driving side of the road: Left
• Lights: Headlights must be on at all times (day and night). 
• General speed limits: 80 mph / 130 km/h on motorways, 49 mph / 80 km/h on main roads outside built-up areas and 31 mph/50 km/h inside built-up areas.
• Parking suggestions: Almost all car parks are metered, with the average price per hour being around GBP 1.90/ € 2.20.

Popular day trips from London

Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It is open to visitors all year round. It is also the home of the British royal family. It was founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and has been home to 39 monarchs since. Today, the Queen spends most of her private weekends at the castle. There is a lot to see and do at Windsor Castle. At the State Apartments, explore the ceremonial rooms now used by the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and discover the historic rooms built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza. Windsor Castle is about an hour drive from central London.

Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain. The entire monument, now ruinous, is aligned with the summer solstice sunrise. The stones are located in an earthwork amidst the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred barrows. Archaeologists believe Stonehenge was built between 3000 BC and 2000 BC. One of the UK's most famous landmarks, Stonehenge has been legally protected since 1882 and the site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. This famous monument is about two hours' drive from central London.

Bath
Bath is in the valley of the River Avon. The city became a World Heritage Site in 1987 and was later added to the transnational World Heritage Site known as the "Great Spa Towns of Europe" in 2021. The city became a spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis, or "the waters of Sulis“,  c. 60 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the River Avon, although hot springs were known even before then. Many of the streets and squares were laid out by John Wood, the Elder, and in the 18th century the city became fashionable and the population grew. Jane Austen lived in Bath in the early 19th century. Further building was undertaken in the 19th century and following the Bath Blitz in World War II. Bath has up to 1.3 million yearly visitors, making it one of ten English cities visited most by overseas tourists. Attractions include the spas, canal boat tours, Royal Crescent, Bath Skyline, Parade Gardens and Royal Victoria Park which hosts carnivals and seasonal events. From central London, the drive to Bath will take about two and a half hours.

Oxford
Oxford is a city in Oxfordshire, England. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and has buildings in every style of English architecture since the late Anglo-Saxon. Oxford has many significant landmarks, many of which are part of the university and colleges. In addition to several famous institutions, the city centre is home to Carfax Tower and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, both of which offer views of the city's spires. Oxford is home to many museums, galleries and collections, most of which do not charge admission and are a major tourist attraction. Most are departments of the University of Oxford. The journey from central London to Oxford takes about 1.5 hours. 

What to see in London

Discover London's best attractions, landmarks and sights that you definitely should not miss. There are some iconic attractions in London that you simply must visit. But where to start? Let us take a look at the highlights of London, shall we?

London Eye
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is an observation wheel on the south bank of the River Thames in London. It is the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in Europe. Until 2013, the London Eye provided the highest vantage point in London. The wheel has been in operation since 2000. There are 32 passenger capsules in total, each of which can hold up to 25 passengers at a time. The passengers can move freely. One revolution takes about 30 minutes. At night, the wheel is beautifully illuminated. The London Eye is not to be missed, whether you are taking a ride or just looking at it.

Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower was built as an angry symbol of the oppression of London by the new ruling elite. From 1100 to 1952, the castle was also used as a prison, although that was not its main purpose. Early in its history it was a magnificent palace and served as a royal residence. The Tower of London has played an important role in English history. It was besieged several times and control of it was important in controlling the country. During the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison and witnessed the execution of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, the damage caused during the Blitz was repaired and the castle was reopened to the public. Today, the Tower of London is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The estate is managed by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative seat of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the Palace is often the focus of state occasions and royal hospitality. It is a focal point for the British people in times of national jubilation and national mourning. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building that forms the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built-in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham on land that had been in private hands for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House. With the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837, Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch. During the Second World War, which broke out in 1939, the palace was bombed nine times. The heaviest and most high-profile incident destroyed the palace chapel in 1940. Buckingham Palace is a symbol and seat of the British monarchy, an art gallery and a tourist attraction. Behind the gilded fences and gates is not only the weekday residence of Elizabeth II but also the London residence of the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The Palace also houses their offices, as well as those of Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, and is the workplace of more than 800 people. The forecourt of Buckingham Palace is used for the Changing of the Guard, an important ceremony and tourist attraction.

Thames and Tower Bridge
The Thames is a river that flows through southern England including London. At 215 miles (346 km), it is the longest river in the whole of England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom. It flows through Oxford (where it is commonly called the Isis), Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor. Tower Bridge is a bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894 that crosses the River Thames near the Tower of London. The bridge was built to provide better access to the East End of London, which had expanded its economic potential in the 19th century. Tower Bridge has become a distinctive landmark of London.

Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a large, mainly Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, directly west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the most important religious buildings in the United Kingdom and the traditional place of coronation and burial of English and later British monarchs. Between 1540 and 1556 the Abbey had the status of a cathedral and seat of the Catholic bishop. After 1560, the building was no longer an abbey or a cathedral after the Catholics were expelled by King Henry VIII. Instead, it was granted the status of a "Royal Peculiar" of the Church of England by Queen Elizabeth I - a church directly answerable to the sovereign. More than 3,300 people are buried in the Abbey, most of whom have played important roles in British history: at least 16 monarchs, eight prime ministers, award-winning poets, actors, scientists, military leaders and the Unknown Warrior. For this reason, Westminster Abbey is sometimes referred to as "Britain's Valhalla". Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarchs have taken place in Westminster Abbey. Sixteen royal weddings have taken place at the Abbey since 1100, including King George VI and the Queen Mother, the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.

Big Ben
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. The official name of the tower housing Big Ben was originally Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Elizabeth's II Diamond Jubilee. When completed in 1859, its clock was the largest and most accurate four-sided chiming clock in the world. Big Ben is the largest of the tower's five bells. It was the largest bell in the UK for 23 years. The clock tower has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. 

Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a large park in central London. It is the largest of the four royal parks that form a chain from the entrance to Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park to the main entrance to Buckingham Palace. The park is divided into two lakes, the Serpentine and the Long Water. Free speech and demonstrations have been an important feature of Hyde Park since the 19th century. Speakers' Corner has been a place of free speech and debate since 1872. In the late 20th century, the park was known for its large, free rock concerts, featuring groups such as Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and Queen. In the 21st century, the park continues to host major events, such as Live 8 in 2005 and the annual Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in 2007.

Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern edge of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist destination, and with the Royal Opera House, itself is known as "Covent Garden". The neighbourhood is divided by the main street, Long Acre. To the north are independent shops centred on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials, while to the south is the central square with its street performers and most of the historic buildings, theatres and entertainment venues, including the London Transport Museum and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. By 1654, a small open-air fruit and vegetable market had developed on the south side of the fashionable square. Gradually both the market and the surrounding area fell into disrepute as taverns, theatres, coffee houses and brothels opened. By the 18th century, the square had become notorious for its abundance of brothels. The market grew and more buildings were added: the Floral Hall, the Charter Market and in 1904 the Jubilee Market. By the late 1960s, traffic congestion caused problems and the market was moved to New Covent Garden Market in 1974. The central building was reopened as a shopping centre in 1980 and is now a tourist centre with cafés, pubs, small shops and a craft market, the Apple Market, as well as another market in Jubilee Hall.

Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster in central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. The name of the square commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain, which took place off the coast of Cape Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The area around Trafalgar Square has been an important landmark since the 1200s. The site of today's square was once occupied by the ornate enclosed courtyard of King's Mews. The 169-foot Nelsons Column in the centre of the square is guarded by four lion statues. Prominent buildings overlooking the square include the National Gallery, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Canada House and South Africa House. The square has been used for community meetings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday in 1887, anti-war protests and campaigns against climate change. A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. On New Year's Eve, the square is a centre of annual festivities. The square was known for its feral pigeons until they were removed in the early 21st century.

Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence in Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is currently the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Today the State Rooms are open to the public. In 1981, Apartments 8 and 9 were combined to create the London residence of the newly married Prince of Wales and his wife Diana, Princess of Wales, which remained the Princess's official residence after their divorce until her death. Their sons, Princes William and Harry, grew up at Kensington Palace and attended local nurseries and pre-schools in Notting Hill, which is a short drive away. Diana's interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC programme Panorama was recorded in Diana's living room at the Palace. After Diana's death on 31 August 1997, the gates of Kensington Palace became the focus of public mourning. Over a million bouquets, up to a metre high in some places, were laid outside the gates as a tribute and extended into Kensington Gardens. The Princess's coffin spent its last night in London at the Palace. On the morning of 6 September 1997, a tenor bell signalled the departure of the funeral procession, which carried the coffin in a gun carriage from the palace to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony. The residence of Diana, Princess of Wales, was gutted and stood empty for 10 years after her death until it was again divided into two flats.

Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public square in London's West End in the City of Westminster. It was built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly. The Circus today connects Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, the Haymarket, Coventry Street and on to Leicester Square and Glasshouse Street. It is close to the main shopping and entertainment districts in the West End. Its status as a major transport hub has made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting place and tourist attraction in its own right. The Circus is best known for its video screens and neon signs on the corner building on the north side, as well as the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and the statue of Anteros. It resembles Times Square in New York City. Piccadilly Circus is surrounded by tourist attractions including the Shaftesbury Memorial, the Criterion Theatre, the London Pavilion and retail shops. Nightclubs, restaurants and bars are located in the area and neighbouring Soho.

Shakespeare's Globe (Globe Theatre)
Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays, in the London Borough of Southwark, on the south bank of the Thames. The original theatre was built in 1599, destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614 and demolished in 1644. The modern Globe Theatre is an academic approximation based on the available evidence of the 1599 and 1614 buildings. It is considered to be quite realistic. 

Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a district of West London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a cosmopolitan and multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello Road Market. For much of the 20th century, the large houses were subdivided into multi-occupancy rentals. Caribbean immigrants were drawn to the area in the 1950s, partly because of the cheap rents, but were exploited by slum landlords like Peter Rachman and also became the target of white Teddy Boys in the 1958 Notting Hill race riots. Then known for its slum housing, in the early 21st century, after decades of gentrification, Notting Hill has a reputation as an affluent and fashionable area, known for attractive terraces of large Victorian townhouses and high-end shopping and restaurants.