Why rent a car in Camden Town?
Camden Town is a lively district in northwest London. It’s known as a hub of music, nightlife and shopping. It’s also a great location for visiting nearby must-see London locations by hire car, such as Soho, Mayfair, Paddington and Kensington.
How to get to and around Camden Town?
If you’re arriving via Heathrow Airport then it’s a 27-mile drive by rental car to Camden Town. En route, you could take a detour to visit pretty Richmond, a suburban town in southwest London known for its idyllic river walks along the Thames and its deer filled park.
Hiring a car in Camden Town city centre
Finding a hire car in Camden Town is simple. You can rent a car from a range of providers at either Heathrow Airport or in Camden Town itself. Various supermarkets in Camden offer free parking, but only for customers and not usually overnight. Various hotels also offer free parking for guests, so do check before booking. There is a wide variety of hotels in Camden Town to suite a range of budgets, including Corner House Hotel, New Market House and Camden Town Hotel.
What brands are available?
There are various hire car providers to suit your budget and preferences. These include Hertz, Firefly and Green Motion, an environmentally friendly rental car service.
Must-sees within an easy drive of Camden Town
Camden Town is best known know for its legendary Camden Market, which is open seven days a week and has been going strong for over 40 years. The market sells everything from vintage clothes to quirky gifts to an amazing array of street foods, and has over 1,000 stalls. Other highlights of Camden Town include buzzing bars, a varied live music scene and the picturesque walks along Regent’s Canal. You can even take a boat tour from Camden Lock to Little Venice to see the many colourful houseboats there.
Grand and historic Westminster is a five-mile drive from Camden Town by hire car (do bear in mind that the quickest route has a congestion charge. Westminster is at the centre of London and is home to unmissable sights like Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Hyde Park and Victoria Embankment Gardens. It’s also the location of famous shopping streets such as Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly, and vibrant Soho, with its lively nightlife.
Adjacent to Westminster is Kensington, also a five-mile drive from Camden Town. Leafy and elegant Kensington is the home of various world-class cultural attractions, including the History Museum, the Science Museum and the Royal Albert Hall. You should also make sure to visit the lovely green spaces of Holland Park and Kensington Gardens, which includes the 17th century Kensington Palace, a royal household that is open for tours.
Tips and tricks for driving in Camden Town
If you’re driving into London by hire car, remember that you’ll have to pay a congestion charge during peak hours. London traffic can be busy, so give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. If you’re visiting from abroad, remember that the UK is left-hand drive. Bear in mind that it’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in the UK.
Ready to plan your Camden Town city break?
Feeling inspired to explore Camden Town and the rest of London? Check out this
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