Car Hire Chippenham

Car Hire

Located in the county of Wiltshire in southern England, Chippenham is an idyllic market town that peacefully nestles on the River Avon’s crossing and is often regarded as a suburb of Bath. Having rapidly grown since the development of the railway in 1841, Chippenham also boasts a history dating back to the dominance of the Roman Empire. Tourists often arrange car hire and use the town as a base for exploring various other nearby destinations.

Who to Book With
Enterprise, the most prominent car rental company in the Chippenham area, is located on Union Road. Competition is provided by Practical Car and Van Rental UK and Norman E Webb. These companies offer online bookings, which is the best way to guarantee the vehicle of your choice at the best price.

Best Time to go
Chippenham generally fills up in the summer (from June to September), which means that visitors should try and book hire vehicles and hotel rooms in advance given the limited amount of options available. Travelling at other times of the year is likely to result in less pleasant weather conditions but cheaper rates.

Need to Know Essentials
A rental car can be collected by those with the following documents:

- A full and valid British driving license
- A second form of photo ID, such as a valid passport
- The booker's credit card
- Some form of proof of rental confirmation

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
Chippenham is not difficult for drivers to navigate, but its small size often leaves them running into problems when trying to find parking spaces. Illegal parking is not advised due to the amount of traffic wardens that patrol the town. A series of convenient bypasses with links to motorways make travelling to other towns and cities in this part of the country straightforward.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving in this country.

Transport

Chippenham's centre can be explored on foot, but travelling to other cities, such as London and Bath, or venturing into the countryside, really does require car hire. Other transport options for travelling around Chippenham include buses and taxis.

Trains
Chippenham is without an internal train network, although it does have its own rail station with trains running to and from other locations in the south of England. The main service, provided by First Great Western, travels between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads, making stops at Chippenham, Reading, Bath Spa, Swindon and various other towns.

Taxis
Taxis in Chippenham are supplied by companies such as M.R. Taxis, Ezy's Taxis, 24/7 Taxis Corsham, V Cars, E and A Taxis and Swifttaxi. While trips around Chippenham and to Bath might be possible on the meter, other fares may be fixed.

Buses
Faresaver is an independent bus company that supplies public transportation around Chippenham and Wiltshire. The majority of the services start at Bath bus station and call at places such as Melksham, Corsham Trowbridge, Batheaston, Calne and Atworth before terminating at other towns including Bath and Frome.

Exploring

Most tourists in Chippenham start their explorations at the town's main landmark, Buttecross, which has been around since 1570. Yield Hall is also of interest as one of the few Medieval buildings left in town, although it is now a tourist information centre. The majority of tourist attractions are located out of the town in areas such as the Cotswolds and Malborough Downs. Several ancient villages, such as Yatton Keynell, Biddestone, Kington Langley and Derry Hill, surround Chippenham.

Recommended Drives

Bath - This is a mere 15-minute journey from Chippenham when heading southwest along the A4. This is England's most historical tourist destination, where enjoy visiting the hot springs and Roman baths in the UNESCO World Heritage town.

The Cotswolds - One of the most serene areas of countryside in the UK, can be reached by venturing north on the A429. Home to picturesque villages like as Chedworth, which boasts nearby Roman villa ruins, and the iconic Broadway Tower, this is a great daytrip destination.

Bristol - The West Country's unofficial capital, can be enjoyed by driving west on the A420. The Zoo Gardens and Blue Reef are two of the most popular attractions here, while architecture buffs can marvel at the Clifton Suspension Bridge while photographers make sure they have time to absorb the views from the Clifton Downs.