Car Hire London - Ealing

Car Hire

Affectionately known as ‘Queen of the Suburbs’, Ealing is a borough in West London. The borough consists of several important districts, including the suburb of Ealing, entertaining Acton and Southall. The area is famous for its annual festivals, shopping opportunities, restful parks and Southall’s Asian-influenced culture. The borough is relatively extensive, so tourists should rent a car if they want to get around the many landmarks and historical sights.

Who to Book With
London-Ealing is home to a number of renowned rental firms, not to mention some local companies offering car hire too. The best-known suppliers in the borough include Enterprise, Practical and Budget. Tourists should book online prior to reaching Ealing to secure the best deals and the widest choice of rentals.

Best Time to go
The winter months in Ealing, along with the rest of London, are generally cold and. However, if tourists want to see the sites without hordes of travellers, this is the best time to visit. Prices for rentals and lodgings also tend to be less expensive in the winter months too. Rates and crowds hit their peak during the months of July and August, when the weather is at its brightest.

Need to Know Essentials
Before renting a car in London-Ealing, tourists will need to supply several documents:

- An international or national driving license
- The credit card used at the time of reservation
- The driver’s original passport
- Proof of booking

More information can be found in our FAQ's section.

Driving
Driving is a convenient way of getting from one landmark to the next in London-Ealing. Most of the streets, roads and highways within the borough are in great condition and, outside of peak hour traffic times, congestion is minimal. The borough sits outside the Central London Congestion Charge area, so tourists won’t have to pay extra fees for driving in London-Ealing. Parking can be found on some of the smaller streets, and driving is the best way to explore the surrounding boroughs of London.

Take some time to read our guide to UK for more details on driving in the country.

Transport

Like the rest of the UK capital, London-Ealing also boasts an impressive list of public transportation. Visitors will be able to choose from taxis, buses, Tube and train networks to explore the area. Getting into the centre of London, which is only 10 miles to the east of London-Ealing, can be done via any of the above transport options. Daytrips from the borough are more conveniently undertaken by car, however.

Visitors should use the Oyster Card when making single-trip journeys by public transport in London-Ealing. Whether you are to travel via overland trains, bus or the Tube in the borough, an Oyster Card is by far the easiest ticketing option. Paper tickets can be purchased at local bus and train stations, but are more expensive than travelling by Oyster Card;it is not uncommon for prices of train and bus journeys to be slashed by more than 50 per cent. Even daily, weekly and monthly Travelcards can be transferred onto an Oyster Card.

Taxis
Taxis are an integral part of the transport system of London-Ealing. Black cabs are the most common form of taxis in the borough. They can be hailed from the street-side, and drivers are renowned for knowing every lane, street and route around London. They are generally regarded as the most expensive form of transport in the borough, however. Transport for London is the authorising body for taxis in London-Ealing.

Buses
London-Ealing is also served by a bus system, part of the Greater London bus network, also operated by Transport for London. There are plenty of routes passing through the borough, connecting the districts of Acton, Southall and Ealing with downtown London and the surrounding boroughs of West London. For more information about London-Ealing buses, see Transport for London Ealing bus routes.

Trains
The borough is home to several different train lines and networks that operate to surrounding boroughs and nearby Central London. Ealing Broadway is the main train station in the area, offering connections to both the Underground (Tube), the Rail Network and The Great Western Main Line. The Tube runs from Ealing on the Central, Piccadilly, District and Metropolitan Lines.

Exploring

London-Ealing is close to many important sites of southern England, and car hire makes it possible to access these landmarks and cities with ease. Top destinations include the likes of Stonehenge, the royal city of Windsor and the Georgian city of Bath. Highways and motorways, such as the A4 and M4, can be effortlessly accessed from London-Ealing, providing quick connections to these memorable daytrip destinations.

Recommended Drives

Windsor - This is just a short drive from London-Ealing. This impressive town is where tourists will find some of the more magnificent royal landmarks in England. Windsor Castle rests within the town, while the world’s most impressive high school, Eton College, is only a few miles away.

Stonehenge - Located near the city of Amesbury, which is less than a 40-minute drive from London-Ealing. Stonehenge is one of the most alluring attractions in the United Kingdom. Visitors will be inspired by the ancient mystery surrounding this intriguing site. Taking an entire day to explore this landmark is recommended.

Bath - Located some 90 miles to the west of London-Ealing, but with quick access to the M4, tourists who travel via car will be there in no time. This historic and picturesque city is renowned for its stunning Georgian architecture and Roman baths.