Car Hire Redditch

Car Hire

No fewer than 90 per cent of the world's needles were once produced in the Worcestershire town of Redditch. Many of those needles were made at the Forge Mill, the last surviving needle scouring mill powered by water. This town sits 15 miles south of Birmingham, putting the larger city within easy reach with car rental in Redditch. Rented vehicles remain the easiest means of transportation in and around this town, even though there are small rail and bus stations in Redditch.

Who to Book With
Europcar and Enterprise are among the few international chains found in the town centre of Redditch, where independent firms such as Great Escape Classic Car Hire still dominate the local car hire market. Many visitors also choose to drive into Redditch after renting vehicles at nearby Birmingham Airport. Online booking offers the best deals, whether renting in town or at the airport.

Best Time to Go
Like nearby Birmingham, Redditch's climate is typically sunny and warm during late spring and summer. These warmest months are also the region's busiest tourism months, although hotel rooms and vehicle fees still tend to be cheaper in Redditch than in bigger cities like Birmingham. Prices decrease even more dramatically during early spring and late autumn, but are at their lowest in winter. Frost typically appears only during the coldest winter nights, but rainfall is always a possibility throughout the year.

Need to Know Essentials
Remember these essential documents when claiming car hire:

- A valid driving license issued in the UK or an International Driving Permit
- A secondary form of photo identification like a passport
- The initial credit card used for the booking
- Printed rental confirmation whenever possible

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
England's only cloverleaf interchange, where the A448 and A441 roads intersect, lies not far from Redditch. This interchange was designed to speed up the traffic flow between Redditch and its surrounding area, but it can be confusing to motorists unfamiliar with cloverleaf interchanges. An intricate duel carriageway system connects Redditch to the M42 motorway. Icknield Street, which travels north to south through eastern Redditch, was originally an ancient Roman road.

Our guide to the UK contains further suggestions about driving in this country.

Transport

Redditch may have rail and bus stations, but they are both so insignificant that private vehicles remain the most practical way to travel around the town and its smaller communities. Redditch's handful of taxi companies run throughout the town as well as to Birmingham Airport, Redditch's nearest air gateway. Much of Redditch's town centre, however, remains fairly walkable.

Trains
Redditch's current rail station consists of a small shop, a ticket office and a car park on Bromsgrove Road. Anytime Day Tickets for National Rail journeys from Redditch to Birmingham New Street cost around £5 each, while tickets for the longer two-hour journey to London Euston cost around £83 each.

Taxis
Redditch's two major taxi companies are ABC Taxis, based in the town centre, and Redditch Taxi, located on the town's outskirts near England's only cloverleaf interchange. Redditch taxi fares begin at around £2.30, charging an extra £1 per kilometer. It costs around £37 for the journey to Birmingham Airport.

Buses
Although Redditch's small bus station was once voted as the subject of Britain's most boring postcard, but passengers can nonetheless board several Red Diamond and First buses to, from and around the town. FirstDay tickets valid around Redditch town for a day cost around £1.80, while Redditch Plus tickets, which can be used throughout the surrounding area, cost around £2.70 for a day, £10.60 for a week, and £37 for a month.

Exploring

Also Birmingham is the most popular daytrip destination from Redditch, this Worcestershire town also lies within decent driving distance of dozens of medieval castles and manor homes a worth closer look. A popular winter attraction is the Snowdome, the first indoor ski slope in England to use actual snow. The country's largest white lion pride lives among 160 other exotic animal species at the West Midlands Safari and Leisure Park.

Recommended Drives

Birmingham - Located just 15 miles north of Redditch, boasts a larger canal network than Venice. The more-than 200-year-old Birmingham Botanical Gardens now houses the National Bonsai Collection, alongside several other rare plants from around the globe. Animal lovers will also enjoy seeing the endangered species cared for at the Dudley Zoo and Castle or the sea creatures swimming around the National Sea Life Centre's underwater glass tunnel.

Snowdome - World-class ski resorts may be hard to find in Great Britain, but the 560ft slope at the Snowdome is the country's first ski hill created from real snow. Tobogganing, snowboarding and even ice skating are among this attraction's other popular cold weather activities. Adrenaline tubing sessions and a swimming pool are also available here.

West Midland Safari Park - The United Kingdom's biggest white lion pride is just one of the approximately 160 different animal species roaming the four miles of the West Midland Safari Park. Park visitors can stroll through the Lemur Woods or enjoy thrilling rides, such as the Venom Tower Drop and the Zambezi Water Splash.