London, England. One of the greatest cities in the world and a popular tourist destination for people the world over. There is no denying that it merits this reputation, offering a wealth of things to do and just as much to see. And for tourists visiting London, one of the most popular things to do is rent a car.
For Americans in particular, this is an extremely popular choice (seeing as you cannot drive there in your own car without a slow boat journey). However, this might seem a bit odd – London is, after all, a very congested city (especially in the center) and getting around by car here can involve a lot of horn tooting and traffic jams. Nevertheless, car rentals are popular in London, but why is this?
One of the main reasons, at any rate, is that London does not only offer London. Equipped with a good rental car, you can explore the greater London area, the South East of England more broadly or you can even go on a road trip across the rest of the country (something which is very doable, given the smaller size of the UK compared to the U.S.).
If you want to go further afield, it is advised that you make judicious use of secure cam straps to attach things like bikes and tents to your rental car. Rollercam, a company specializing in such products for tourist purposes, say that the opportunity for nature exploration in the rest of the country is very impressive, However, did you know that you can also make any number of fantastic car daytrips from London? Leaving in the morning and coming back in the evening puts you within range of a truly vast array of sites, attractions, towns, and general day-outs. Again, London offers more than just London.
Where Can You Go?
Well, we simply cannot list all the places you could go – there are hundreds. Greater London is vast and extends London’s population to nearly nine million people. Unsurprisingly then, there is a lot to see across this geographical area, which is easily reachable by car. Going for a day out by car though can put you within range of much more than just Greater London. Here follows a – by no means exhaustive – list:
Windsor
No more than an hour by car from London, Windsor is the town containing the famous Windsor castle, one of the residences of the British Royal Family. The grounds and related buildings of this site are vast and there is much to see and do here.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Unbelievably picturesque with a wealth of timbered Tudor-style houses and many cozy pubs, Stratford-Upon-Avon is, of course, the birthplace of Shakespeare, probably one of the greatest writers who have ever lived. The town makes much of this accolade and, for literature lovers and the faintly interested alike, you will find much to see and do here. The quaint medieval market town can be reached in two hours by car from London.
Broomfield Maidstone (Leeds Castle)
Not to be confused with the northern town of Leeds (which will take you nearly four hours to reach from London), Broomfield Maidstone is much closer and contains the famous Leeds Castle. Castle-visiting is one of the major tourist activities in the UK, and you will not be disappointed by this one. Take a short walk out of the small town, and you can also experience some spectacular nature – the undulating green hills and dramatic landscapes for which southern England is famous.
Ultimately, London is a hectic, expensive, and busy place. It is also a lot of fun. But if you would like to escape the bustle of the city for a day, that’s perfectly possible by car.
