Car Hire Grantham

Car Hire

It seems a little unfair to give the prize for Grantham’s best-known resident to Margaret Thatcher, who was born here as a shopkeeper’s daughter. The award should perhaps go to Sir Isaac Newton, who went to school here and then went on to much greater things. The history of Grantham does not stop there, however, for this Lincolnshire market town has both civil war and WWII heritage aplenty. Grantham is close to one of the greatest routes in Britain, the A1, and is otherwise served by a good network of roads, making driving here simple and pleasant.

Who to Book With
There are several firms to choose from in Grantham, including the nationally-recognised brand of Enterprise, which is located on the outskirts of town. To find the most convenient location and to secure the best deal on a wide range of vehicles, it is advisable to book online in advance.

Best Time to go
As with most places in Britain, if you are going on holiday, the best time to visit is during the spring of summer, when the weather is at its best. A higher volume of traffic is experienced during public holiday long weekends, so, to avoid this, visit at other times.

Need to Know Essentials
To pick up your rental car, you must provide the following documents:

- A British, EU driving license or valid International Driving Permit
- A second form of photo ID, such as passport
- A copy of the credit card used to make the booking
- A printed confirmation, if possible

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
Navigating Grantham is fairly easy, since the High Street runs through the centre of the town and the A52 skims the outside. Around the rest of the town, the roads are narrower, one-way systems. Parking in Grantham shouldn’t be a problem; there are five car parks located off the High Street alone. If you have trouble finding one, just head to a supermarket like Asda or Sainsbury’s.

For getting out and around the county, you only need to remember one road: the A52. This cuts east-west through Lincolnshire and hugs the outskirts of Grantham. If you take it west, it connects with the A1, one of the major routes of Britain going north and south. If you take the A52 east, it will take you to Boston, one of the larger towns of the county. From there you can navigate to the coast.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving here.

Transport

Grantham is an old market town with narrow streets in the centre. Getting around is easy with the use one of the 30 public buses. The mainline train will get you to London in about an hour, or to Edinburgh in three and a half. You can also go west to Nottingham by train.

Trains
Grantham is fortunate to be on the major north-south mainline railway between London and Edinburgh. High speed trains pass through Grantham station, taking just over an hour to reach London King’s Cross, or three-and-a-half hours to Edinburgh. There is also an east-west line that connects to Nottingham. Check the National Rail Enquiries website for details.

Taxis
There are a few taxi companies operating in Grantham that are willing to travel in and around the town or to places farther afield, such as the airport. Some of the taxi firms also have six or eight-seater minivans available for bigger parties, although you will need to request these in advance. You can call Links Taxis in Grantham on 01476 820 920.

Buses
Grantham has about 30 bus routes around the town and to regional areas, operated mainly by Centre Bus. There are also two long-distance coach services to London or Cambridge, operated by National Express.

Exploring

Grantham is a town steeped in history, with attractions dating from ancient times right through to the modern day. It has done much to shape Britain’s history, being a key battle ground in the English civil war and where Cromwell’s forces first gained advantage. Later, its aviation heritage once again put Grantham on the map as the British forces gained an advantage through the Dam Buster raids.

Recommended Drives

Gonarby Moor - This is the site of Oliver Cromwell’s first win over the Royalist troops during the English Civil War. Most of the war was fought around the countryside of Lincolnshire and locations the Midlands. On Grantham’s doorstep is one of the more prominent historical sites, Gonarby Moor. Just head north along the B1174 for about 20 minutes.

St Vincents Hall - You can whistle the theme to the 1955 film all the way as you approach Dam Busters HQ at St Vincents Hall. As well as being the base for the famous British air force raids of WWII, St Vincents Hall is a mighty impressive building in itself, having been built as a Gothic revival mansion in 1868. You can find out more about Grantham’s aviation heritage at the museum in town.

Melton Mowbray - Cutting southwest using the A607 will take you to Melton Mowbray, home of the British porkpie. As you stroll around this scenic old market town, you can discover more about the origins of the country’s most loved picnic item. You can also visit the famous farmers market on Tuesday and Friday mornings.