Top tips for renting a car in Kingston upon Thames
Hop in a car and appreciate the flexibility that comes with car hire in Kingston upon Thames. Rather than have your plans scheduled around public transport or taxi firms, a Kingston upon Thames hire car ensures you are able to decide when and where you want to go. Whether you want to explore places in London such as Westminster Abbey or go further afield into the British countryside, a hire car gives you the freedom to do so. Take a drive to Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is about a 35-minute journey by car and more convenient than other modes of transport.
The main airport in the UK, Heathrow Airport (LHR), is about a 30-minute drive from Kingston upon Thames. Here you can find numerous car rental companies, such as Avis and Sixt in Terminal 5, which can be reached via the Piccadilly line (should you be coming from a different terminal) or a free shuttle-bus leaving from Terminals 2 and 3. For Sixt, follow signs to the "Sofitel Hotel" upon your arrival, whereas Avis can be located in the short stay car park on level 4. YourRent, FLIZZR and other rental companies can also be found upon leaving the Piccadilly line at Terminals 2 and 3 (which is also next to Terminal 1). Upon arrival at the airport, just follow the car rental signs, and you’ll be on your way in no time. At Terminal 4, you will also find rental companies such as Hertz, just follow the signs to the Terminal 4 Car Park to locate them.
As you can imagine, being a town and borough within London, Kingston upon Thames can get very busy. Exploring this busy borough is made a lot easier if you include a sat nav in your booking. It’s important to stay alert whilst driving, as not only will cars be pulling out, overtaking and braking suddenly, but pedestrians will cross the road without warning. London is a great city for cycling too, and this extends into Kingston upon Thames. Whilst much of London now has its own cycle highway, separating cyclists from road traffic, much is still under development and there will be thousands of cyclists on the road on a daily basis, so make sure you're aware of your surroundings, especially on roundabouts and when turning.
Kingston upon Thames attracts many visitors throughout the year, many of whom will be there to catch a glimpse of their rugby heroes at neighbouring Twickenham, so be prepared for crowds on match days. With Kingston upon Thames being part of London, it’s always going to be busy on the roads, but never more so than during rush hour (From 8:00–9:00 and 17:00–18:00). Try to avoid travelling during these hours as traffic can come to a standstill. The nearby M25 is one of the roads that becomes exceptionally busy during these periods, as it acts as a ring road around London and an entrance and exit to the rest of the country. It is therefore advisable to drive your car hire in Kingston upon Thames during the quieter times of the day.
Book your rental car in Kingston upon Thames at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Compact rental cars in Kingston upon Thames are around -8% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Kingston upon Thames
For your Kingston upon Thames car hire, opt for a small car to help you easily navigate the busy roads and also make parking more viable.
Kingston upon Thames has various speed limits, including some that are 20mph in residential zones. Check the signs to be sure you’re adhering to the speed limit as there are speed cameras in operation. The speed limits increase as you get further away from the centre. The M25 has a national speed limit of 70mph, but has many average speed test cameras.
From £1.60 per hour, or £12.60 per day, you can park at the NCP Car Park on St James’s Road. Alternatively you can pay £1.70 per hour to park at Canbury Place Car Park on Walter Street. Both of these are just a short walk from the centre.
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Kingston upon Thames. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Kingston upon Thames is C$ 9.25 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 111 and C$ 148, depending on the car size.
Compact (Ford Focus or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Kingston upon Thames.