Using public transport or hiring a car in central London depends on what you’re doing, how long you’re staying and who you’re with. If you’re exploring the centre itself, London’s transport network is one of the densest in the world. With museums, restaurants and landmarks clustered within a short Tube, bus or Elizabeth line journey, you can avoid central traffic and the hassle of finding and paying for parking.
However, once you’re travelling as a group, carrying luggage, heading out of the central zones for a day trip or making an airport run, hiring a car can often work out as better value overall.
Here, we’ll look at the cost, convenience and situations where hiring a car could be the better option for your trip.
How Does the Cost of Hiring a Car in London Compare With Public Transport?
For a solo traveller doing sightseeing in central London, public transport is usually cheaper. Travelling across Zones 1 to 6 costs up to £16.30 a day, while Fairview’s cheapest car hire in London starts from £18.35 per day, before congestion charges or parking. For one person spending the day in central London, public transport is the cheaper option.
However, the cost changes when you’re travelling with other people. Public transport is charged per person, while a hire car covers everyone in the vehicle. For a group of four or if you’re carrying luggage, travelling outside the central zones or making several stops, hiring a car can offer better value. The same applies when comparing car rental options for airport trips or day trips outside the city.
When is it Best to Hire a Car in London?
Hiring a car in London can make more sense when you need to travel outside central London, carry luggage or fit several stops into one day. It can also be more convenient when travelling as a group. Some situations where a hire car can be the better option include:
- Day trips beyond the M25: Popular destinations outside Greater London are not covered by TfL’s zones.
- Airport arrivals with luggage: A car can be easier when travelling with several bags, particularly with a family and young children.
- Multi-stop journeys: Seeing more than one place in a day, especially across boroughs, eats into time on connecting services.
- Visiting relatives: Some outer London routes are less direct and frequent than those in central London.
- Groups and families travelling together: One hire car can be more cost-effective and easier than buying several individual train tickets.
- Business and commercial travel: If you’re visiting clients, attending meetings or travelling between different sites, having a hire car can make it easier to manage your schedule. It also gives you more flexibility when public transport connections don’t fit around your working day.
At Fairview, we offer a range of cars to hire in London, including city cars, estates and 4x4s, so you can choose a vehicle that suits your journey.
Is Hiring a Car Worth It for an Airport Transfer in London?
Often, yes, particularly if you need the car for more than the airport transfer itself. Relying on a black cab from Heathrow to central London can get expensive, with the price increasing with heavy traffic. You’ll then need to arrange and pay for the return journey.
Fairview has branches at both Heathrow and London City Airport, so a car can be collected straight from arrivals and kept for the rest of the stay rather than paying for transfers twice.
Finding a car rental in London can be particularly useful for families and groups:
- Travelling with luggage: One hire car gives everyone space for their cases without needing multiple taxis.
- Staying in London: If you need a car beyond the airport transfer, you can use the same hire car for the rest of your trip.
Are Day Trips Beyond the TfL Network Easier by Car?
Yes, for many day trips outside Greater London, hiring a car can make getting around much easier, especially for destinations beyond the M25. You have more flexibility over where you go, when you leave and how many places you can visit in one day.
Areas further from London, such as the South West and North of England, don’t always have the same level of public transport connections, particularly between smaller towns and villages. Travelling by road can be more straightforward than relying on multiple train and bus services. A hire car with unlimited mileage also gives you more freedom to explore without worrying about mileage limits.
What Should You Check Before You Hire a Car in London?
Before hiring a car in London, check the driver’s age and licence requirements, as well as any charges that could apply to your journey.
- Age and licence: Drivers need to meet Fairview’s age requirements (23-75) and have held a full driving licence for at least two years. You can find the full requirements on our guide to the requirements to rent a car.
- Congestion Charge: If you’re driving into central London, check whether the Congestion Charge applies to your journey and budget for it alongside the hire cost.
- ULEZ: Check what ULEZ is and whether it applies to your route. Fairview’s fleet is ULEZ-compliant, so you won’t pay the ULEZ charge when driving in central London with one of our hire cars.
- Overseas licences: If you’re visiting from abroad, check if you need an international driver’s permit before travelling. Our guide for overseas licence holders explains what you need.
Choose Fairview for Your London Car Hire
If you’ve decided that hiring a car is the right option for your trip, Fairview offers a wide range of vehicles for different journeys, from city cars and hatchbacks to estates, 4x4s and executive cars. We have a fleet of more than 2,200 vehicles, giving you plenty of options for everything from city trips and airport transfers to longer journeys outside London.
Browse Fairview’s car hire in London range to find a vehicle that suits your trip or contact the team if you need help choosing. Ready to book? Reserve your car online.