Car Hire Tamworth

Car Hire

Situated just 22 miles to the north of England’s second biggest city, Birmingham, Tamworth makes an ideal base from which to explore what is known as the Heart of England. The town has a rich history, as evidence in a number of historical landmarks such as its medieval castle, and leisure amenities such as the SnowDome. The latter offers visitors an amazing range of exciting activities, such as skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tobogganing, sledging and tubing.

Who to Book With
Options for car rental are available both in the town of Tamworth, which has major national companies as well as local car hire firms, and at the neighbouring airports of Birmingham (25 minutes’ drive away) and East Midlands (35 minutes’ drive away) where companies such as Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Alamo, National and Hertz are well represented. Pre-booking on the internet via our car rental aggregator site is recommended.

Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Tamworth is in the summer months of July and August when average temperatures are 20°C and it is mostly dry. However, driving conditions are often easier in May and June before schools close for the summer. Tamworth receives its highest amount of rainfall in November.

Need to Know Essentials
On hiring a vehicle, you will be asked to show the following documents:

- An International Driving Permit or a valid UK driving licence
- A passport or another form of personal identification with photograph
- The same credit card you used to make the reservation
- A print-out of the reservation confirmation

For more info, read our FAQs.

Driving
Since the centre of Tamworth isn’t very big, roads can get congested during the morning and the early evening. With Junction 10 on the M42 only five miles away, it’s easy to access the motorway and areas to the north and south quickly. To get here from Birmingham, head north on the M42, turn off the motorway at Junction 10 and follow the A5 into Tamworth.

Our driving Guide to the UK has more details on driving conditions here.

Transport

Many of the town’s shopping facilities and certain tourist attractions, such as the castle, are located within easy walking distance of the centre. However, Tamworth’s outlying areas are spread out so it makes sense to make use of public transport to get around or, even better, hire a car.

Trains
Tamworth Railway Station is a split level station. National Rail services operating here are the Cross Country Route, which gives access to Birmingham New Street and destinations in northeastern England and the southwest, and the West Coast Main Line with a limited number of Virgin Trains services daily to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Buses
Local bus services include those operated by Arriva Bus. For travel to Tamworth from other destinations within the UK, the best option is National Express.

Taxis
Tamworth is well supplied with taxis and taxi ranks are spread around the town centre. There are London-style black cabs in addition to private saloons. All taxi services are metered. The main hotels in town are located within easy walking distance of the town’s entertainment but you are advised to pre-book a taxi if returning from a club at night.

Exploring

Tamworth is an ideal place to rent a car: it is well connected to the major conurbation of Birmingham and nearby airports, yet is close to a motorway and several key tourist destinations. Drayton Manor Theme Park, Mallory Park motor racing circuit and the city of Birmingham are all within easy driving distance by rental car.

Recommended Drives

Drayton Manor Theme Park - Billed as one of the UK’s best amusement parks, with all kinds of rides for children, thrill rides and a zoo, Drayton Manor is just a 10-minute drive by rental car from Tamworth. It is located on the A4091, just off the A38 / A446. From Tamworth, take the A4091 south if coming via the M42 exit at Junction 9.

Mallory Park Motor Racing Circuit - This motor racing and motocross circuit is situated between Leicester and Hinckley, some 20 miles to the northeast of Tamworth. It’s an ideal daytrip by rental car, with the drive taking just 40 minutes along the A5.

Birmingham - England’s second city (a status hotly contested by Mancunians) is a bustling industrial hub with excellent shopping as well as superb culture and leisure facilities. The former include the celebrated Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Ballet and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Its famed Bullring shopping centre, a 30 minute drive south along the M42 from Tamworth, is the ideal place to park before doing some shopping and seeing the sights downtown.