Car Hire Luton

Car Hire

Luton is both a town and borough in the county of Bedfordshire, 30 miles north of London. The town is renowned for housing the Luton London Airport, which is the main hub for Easyjet. However, Luton also contains several popular landmarks, including a stunning museum and art gallery, Whipsnade Zoo and Stockwood Park, which houses the Mossman Carriage Collection. Luton Carnival is also one of Europe’s best summer festivals. Visiting Bedfordshire’s surrounding towns and landmarks is best done with car hire.

Who to Book With
The centre of Luton is home to several rental companies that offer convenient car hire services visitors. Budget, Avis, Hertz and Enterprise are the largest firms supplying Luton with vehicles. However, tourists will be able to find cheap local suppliers too. You are encouraged to book Luton car rental online in advance if you want the cheapest rates.

Best Time to go
Rainfall is pretty constant throughout the year in the UK, so it doesn’t generally affect tourism as much as the climate. Most visitors flock to Luton and the surrounding Bedfordshire region in the summer months, as the temperatures are higher and the days are longer. The month of May plays host the Luton Carnival, an ideal time to experience the town’s buzzing culture. However, hotels and rentals are often booked out during this event, so reservations are essential.

Need to Know Essentials
Several documents are required when renting cars in Luton:

- A national driving license
- A second form of identification
- Confirmation of online booking
- The credit card used when making the reservation

Visit our FAQ's page for further details.

Driving
The roads in the centre of town can get congested during the morning and evening rush hours, but overall, Luton’s city centre is convenient for driving. The construction of the A505 has meant districts around the Arndale Centre and New Town mostly enjoy free-flowing traffic. The heart of Luton is taken over by a pedestrian mall, so driving is not possible. However, getting to and from this area by car is convenient. The parking centre at Luton Station is no longer operating, as construction of an even larger parking garage is underway.

Look through our guide to the UK to find out more about driving in the country.

Transport

The town of Luton is primarily served by buses and licensed taxis, although commuters can also get around via limited railway services. Travelling by public transportation in Luton is fairly straightforward, but car hire is recommended for those that want to head out to nearby daytrip destinations.

Taxis
Licensed taxis, operated by the Luton Borough Council, are available inside the town and throughout the entire borough. Go Luton Taxis is the largest and most extensive taxi company operating within the town.

Buses
Aside from rent-a-car services, buses are the most inexpensive way to get around Luton. Bus routes in the borough are mostly operated by Arriva the Shires Ltd. However, there are several other private companies, including Centrebus, Stagecoach and Grant Palmer. providing routes from the town.

Trains
Technically, there is no inner-city rail network serving the town and borough of Luton. However, the Midland Main Line does pass through Luton, and connects the central station with two other train stops – one in Leagrave (to the north of Luton) and one at Luton Airport Parkway, before travelling on to destinations throughout the East Midlands.

Exploring

Luton rests in a convenient location to the northwest of London, where access to several magnificent counties is made easy. Plenty of exciting cities and landmarks rest within 90 miles of Luton, such as the globally renowned university city of Cambridge and the flourishing landscape of Chiltern Hills. Plenty of scenic driving opportunities also await day-trippers from Luton.

Recommended Drives

The Chilterns - These are a tremendously beautiful area of rolling hills and chalk landscapes, resting to the west of Luton. It is easy to see why this attraction is a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty, as many of the rolling greens, valleys and patches of forests are breathtaking. Hiking, scenic drives and picnicking in the Chilterns are the top activities here.

Cambridge - The world famous university town, is thriving with ancient college buildings, parks, museums and galleries, including Kings College Cathedral and The Backs. Even though a daytrip will only give tourists a small taste of Cambridge’s phenomenal culture, Luton is only 40 miles from the town, so it is possible to come back any time.

Stevenage - This is a small town with a unique history. It was the first ever ‘New Town’, built following WWII to house displaced Londoners. This town an ideal destination for a daytrip from Luton, as it sits less than 10 miles outside of the borough and contains several fascinating attractions, such as the local museum, St Nicholas Church and the Rooks Nest House.