Car Hire Woking

Car Hire

Woking grew up during England’s Victorian Era, but today it’s essentially a part of Greater London, located just outside the M25 motorway ring road. It’s a pleasant little town with a smattering of historic attractions and traveller amenities in its pedestrian downtown core. Woking is particularly useful for those looking for an alternative to staying in London, especially if playing golf at one of the many nearby courses is on the agenda. You can still zip into the capital by train in under 30 minutes.

Who to Book With
From Sixt to Kendall Cars, there is a good selection of local car hire outfits along with international chains in Woking. You can find them near the train station or in business parks around the fringes of the pedestrian town centre. Golfing is a particularly common reason for visiting, so many travellers rent a car upon arrival. It’s advised to book your rental online well in advance during the warmer months to avoid paying higher prices or facing the possibility of sold out vehicle stock.

Best Time to Go
Pleasantly warm summers and tolerably mild winters are the norm in Woking. The weather here is similar to that in London, so expect regular rainfall throughout the year. A brief window of dry skies typically occurs in July and August, which are the prime months for tourism and golfing. But in reality, any time between May and September offers comfortable temperatures for outdoor pursuits.

Need to Know Essentials
To pick up your rental vehicle, be sure and bring these documents to the office:

- A UK, EU or International Driving Permit
- A second piece of ID
- A printed rental confirmation sheet
- A credit card

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Woking isn’t known for its traffic problems, mainly because the entire downtown core is pedestrianised. There are city-operated car parks located on all sides of downtown that are ideal for drivers. Seven of these car parks are free, while the more centrally-located ones charge fees. All of Woking’s car parks are open 24 hours a day for your convenience.

The town is located just six miles south of the M25 motorway which runs around greater London. This ensures easy driving to all corners of the capital, as well as to southern England via the M3. The A3 bypass and a number of smaller roads offer plenty of options for driving around Surrey and south towards the coast.

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

Transport

Woking enjoys excellent transport connections by train, coach and even plane. Both Gatwick and Heathrow have direct coach and rail access to Woking, while the trains run all day into London’s Waterloo station in just 26 minutes. In town, the historic core of Woking is nearly all pedestrian and a joy to walk around. Taxis are on hand for quick trips, while a decent bus network handles transport around the fringe of Woking and into its suburbs.

Trains
Woking’s train station enjoys a direct line into London Waterloo, taking just 26 minutes to reach the capital. This rail line runs the other direction to Southampton and Portsmouth, providing several ways to move about the region by train.

Buses
Buses are not particularly useful for visitors as they mainly service the 14 surrounding villages and suburban areas in Surrey. Services are limited in the town of Woking itself, which is primarily a pedestrian zone.

Taxis
Taxis are a popular means of transport for visitors that choose not to get a car on arrival. There are only a couple of companies in town, including Woking Taxis, but they are very useful and available 24 hours a day. You may find a cab waiting outside the train station, but it’s far easier to phone in for a pick-up.

Exploring

Since Woking is located just outside the M25 motorway that surrounds London, it allows quick unfettered driving access to the whole of southern England. There are a dozen golf courses right outside Woking, one of the main reasons why visitors come here. But venture farther into Surrey and you can also enjoy everything from historic towns like Guildford to vast national parks like the South Downs. Woking is one destination where a car will prove very useful.

Recommended Drives

Guildford - A fantastic medieval town just a short drive south of Woking. Its town centre is hundreds of years old, featuring a lovely cobblestone High Street lined with historic buildings, pubs and shops. Guildford also has a lovely castle used by the king in the 1400s.

South Downs National Park - One of England’s 15 protected areas, a vast space of natural beauty peppered with historic villages. There are beautiful rural roads running right through this area, offering dozens of options to stop and take a stroll through medieval villages.

Brighton - This is easily reached on a daytrip from Woking via the M23 to A23 roads. This popular seaside resort town has loads of beach activities to enjoy as well as a very lively town centre. There are plenty of other seaside towns in the area as well, offering a great coastal loop of a daytrip.