Car Hire England

Parking in England

• Baynard House (EC4V 4BQ) offers 233 parking spaces in the English capital, close to St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. If you’re hiring an EV, there’s also 17 EV chargers onsite available 24/7.
• Brockhole on Windermere (LA23 1LJ) is located close to Lake Windermere, perfect if you’re venturing to the Lake District. Moments from the main Visitor Centre, this 300-space car park has eight 14kW EV chargers for those who need it.
• On-street parking is available throughout most of the country. Some spaces will have parking restrictions, fees or require permits to park there. You can also find on-street EV charging bays. Just check the signage to make sure you’re allowed to park.

Electric car hire in England

Hire an electric car in England to explore the countryside emission free and drive coast to coast with no noise pollution.

We have a range of electric cars for you to choose from, including high-performance EVs like the Tesla 3 and  Polestar 2, and compact cars like the Vauxhall Corsa-e.

Green adventures in the wilderness of Dartmoor National Park or the serene Cotswolds have never been easier with Hertz.

Charging point locations in England

England has thousands of charging stations located up and down the country. So, you can plan your road trip comfortably knowing that the UK has over 48,000 EV charging stations. 

England’s motorways and major A Roads have an easily accessible charging network too, with charging points only 25 miles apart.

Congestion charges in England

London is the only city in England with a congestion charge. So, if you’re planning on driving through central London during the day, you’ll need to pay a fee. At the moment, the London congestion charge costs £15 a day. It applies every day of the week, from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 12pm to 6pm Saturday to Sunday (and bank holidays).

As well as the congestion charge, England also has clean air zones (CAZ) and low emission zones (LEZ) in certain cities, including Birmingham, Bristol and London. You may need to pay a fee if the vehicle you’re driving does not meet the emissions standards.

Hiring an electric car means you can drive emission-free and avoid paying fees.

Key roads in England

• The A1 runs north to south across the county. It starts in London, and connects the capital to cities such as Peterborough, Leeds and Durham before greeting the Scottish border.

• The M6 is England’s longest motorway. The route skirts past Preston and Lancaster all the way to the Lake District. Come off the M6 to join the A69 for England’s far north, which is packed with natural and ancient treasures, including Hadrian’s Wall and the Northumberland National Park.

• The M25 Ring Road. The M25 ring road around Greater London was the world’s longest orbital highway when it was completed in 1986. It provides access around the capital and its surrounding counties.

Road Types In England

• Motorways – these multi-lane roads offer high-speed routes across England, connecting major cities.
• A roads – offer fast and direct links between England’s major towns and cities.
• B roads – also known as minor roads, which link A roads together and connect England’s towns and villages.
• Unclassified roads – short roads, best used for local journeys.
• Singletrack roads – these narrow, rural roads include passing places to allow vehicles to travel in both directions.

Toll Roads In England

The UK has around 23 toll roads across the country, with most of them providing river crossings. There are two main toll roads to be aware of when driving on England’s motorways: the M6 toll near Birmingham and the M25 Dartford Crossing in Essex.

There are also some A road bridges and tunnels that you may come across, such as:

• A4 Batheaston Bridge
• A15 Humber Bridge
• A19 Tyne Tunnels
• A38 Tamar Bridge
• A41 & A59 Mersey Tunnels
• A57 Dunham Bridge
• A533 Mersey Gateway
• A3025 Itchen Bridge

You will need to pay to cross any of these toll roads, bridges or tunnels in England. Prices vary from toll to toll, so make sure you check the gov.uk website for the latest charges.

Best hotels in England

London Marriott Hotel Kensington

147C Cromwell Road, London, SW5 0TH

The London Marriott is a four-star hotelwithin easy reach of London’s top attractions, including Hyde Park, Kensington Palace and the Natural History Museum. The modern rooms and suites offer the perfect place to relax and plan the next day’s sightseeing.

The Gainsborough Bath Spa

Beau Street, Bath, BA1 1QY

Book a stay at the award winning, five-star Gainsborough Bath Spa, for a little rest and relaxation on your trip. Enjoy the hotel’s bathing circuit, which uses the thermal waters from Bath’s underground springs. The historic grandeur of the Grade II listed, 18^th-century exterior delightfully contrasts with the modern rooms and amenities, with chic decor to match.

Amberley Castle

Nr Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9LT

Hire a car in England and you could find yourself driving up to the majestic walls of Amberley Castle for an overnight stay. Immerse yourself in country life and live like aristocracy with a night or two in the Tower House Mews, where the 14^th-Century lancet windows offer views of the lakes.

Best restaurants in England

Silo

The White Building, Unit 7 Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, London, E9 5EN

Silo chef, Douglas McMaster, has championed zero waste food for almost a decade. His ‘wild’ mix of flavours and ingredients will wow your tastebuds, while laidback interiors made from recycled materials provide the perfect setting for a green weekend in London. Arrive in style in an electric car to truly embrace Silo’s eco-friendly energy.

63 Degrees

104 High Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1HQ

Don’t miss the Parisian flavours of 63 Degreesin Manchester’s northern quarter. Gratin dauphinois and côte de boeuf are familiar highlights, but the Wagyu burger, whole lobster and ‘crazy carrot’ add a little je ne sais quoi to the menu.

Ugly Butterfly

Carbis Bay Estate, Carbis Bay, St Ives, TR26 2NP

There’s nothing ugly about this glorious Cornish restaurant. Floor to ceiling windows do their best to distract you from your plate. But even Carbis Bay can’t lure your attention away from the indulgent afternoon teas and sustainable, local luxuries on the main menu.

Best things to do in England

Windsor Castle

Castle Hill, Windsor, SL4 1PD

Visit the world’s largest occupied castle for a glimpse into regal life. As one of Queen Elizabeth II’s former residences, Windsor Castle is used for occasions, ceremonies and visits from VIPs from across the globe. Don’t miss the changing of the guard when the King’s troops march through Windsor and into the castle grounds.

Lake District

Lake District National Park

The Lake District has wooed poets, seduced artists and inspired adventurers over the centuries. Tranquil lakes and towering mountains hold many top spots in the record books too. Here, you can scale England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike, or windsail across England’s largest lake, Lake Windermere. Jump in your rental and plan a few different day trips to enjoy England’s largest national park at its best.

Kew Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE

Take a green break from London’s busy streets with a drive to Kew Gardens. Home to the world’s largest botanical collection, the flowers, trees and plants on display at Kew have been collected, studied and preserved since 1759. Bring a picnic and choose one of the 14,000 trees to sit under to soak up this spectacular green space.

 
See all Hertz locations in England