Introduction
The British capital is also called ‘Europe's most swinging city’. London is (together with New York, Paris and Tokyo) one of the four main capitals of the world. The city is full of history, has several major museums (the majority with free entrance), accommodates one of the best club scenes on earth and comprises an incredible offer of restaurants. Moreover, the city is a shopping paradise with large department stores, designer shops and small boutiques.
Population
London city has 7.5 million inhabitants, however the entire London Metropolitan Area has more than 12 million inhabitants, which makes it the largest metropolis of the European Union.
Location
London was founded by the Romans in 43 BC. The city is situated in the southeast of England on the River Thames, which flows through London from west to east. It is a very large city, Greater London comprises more than 1,500 square kilometers.
Economy
London is one of the most important trade centers on earth and the most important financial center of Europe. Many large banks and corporations have their (European) head office in the British capital. The city is also an important media center, the BBC is the most important employer, but also other radio stations and television channels are based in London, together with large newspapers and publishers.
Furthermore, tourism is important for London's economy with 16 million annual visitors.
For a long time now, the Port of London is not the largest port of the United Kingdom anymore, nevertheless the trans-shipment volume is still considerable, a yearly amount of 50 million (metric) tons.
Airports
The city has as many as five airports. Heathrow Airport (24 kilometers to the west of the city center) is the largest airport, thereafter comes London Gatwick, 45 kilometers to the south of the city, along the M23 highway, and Stansted Airport, about 50 kilometers to the northeast of London. Luton Airport is located 51 kilometers to the north of the city and is mainly used by budget airlines. The smallest City Airport is the most centrally located of all (in the east part of town, near the Docklands) and is mainly used by business travelers.
Public transport
Public transport in the British capital is excellent. First of all there is the subway (‘The Tube’), the fastest and most convenient way to reach your destination in London. Even though the subway system is already very extensive, in the next few years a further extension is being worked on for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
It is impossible to imagine London without its red double decker buses, it is certainly not the fastest means of transport, but great fun and nice for sightseeing at the same time.
At night almost all buses leave from Trafalgar Square, be aware that these buses only stop on request.
Traffic and parking
Although you can perfectly use the car outside the center of London, it is definitely not recommendable to go downtown by car. The city also seeks to discourage this by charging a toll (‘Congestion Charge’) for entering the downtown area, additionally, it is hard to find parking spaces and the parking rates are high.
Hotels
London does not have any lack of hotels, which ranges from friendly bed & breakfasts to classic and elegant hotels and hypermodern and luxurious accommodation. You need to take into account that London is not only a major tourist attraction, but also an important business center, therefore it is recommendable to book your room well in advance if you wish to have an accommodation close to the city center.
External sources
For more information about London, we recommend Google and the following sources:
Frequently asked questions
Is EasyTerra Car Hire the cheapest?
Yes, we offer a guarantee of the lowest price - because we compare various retailers, we can always offer you the best price in town.
What do I need to do when picking up a car?
To pick up your car, you will need your voucher, passport, driver's license and a credit card. It is very important that your driver's license and credit card are in the same name as the main driver. Keep in mind that the local rental company will reserve a certain amount on your credit card as a deposit. This requires the PIN code for your credit card. If your driver's license is foreign (for example, in Chinese), you must bring a translation with you. Only your original passport and driver's license will be accepted - a copy is not sufficient.
Are there any additional costs?
In general, our rates are all-inclusive. Should there be any additional costs, our booking department will get in touch with you before issuing the invoice. Should you object, you can always cancel your reservation with no obligations attached (at least 48 hours in advance).
What kind of insurance is applicable to my car rental?
In general, Liability Insurance, Fire Insurance, All-Risks Insurance and Theft Insurance are included in the cost of your rental car.
What is a worry-free label?
This label indicates that a rental car satisfies the following requirements: Unlimited kilometers, no excess liability (and no excess cover available), sustainable energy policy, and that the car rental company has a good reputation. Availability of cars satisfying these four requirements will speed up the selection of a suitable vehicle for you.
How can I change or cancel my reservation?
You can cancel your reservation through "My Account". We recommend contacting us by phone if your changes to your booking or cancellation takes place at short notice (48 hours or less).
When will I get a confirmation of my booking?
Most reservations will receive confirmation within minutes after payment takes place. We recommend contacting our Booking Department for last minute reservations (pick-up within 48 hours).
Which car rental companies are compared by EasyTerra Car Hire? at this location
- Advantage Rent a Car
- Alamo Rent a Car
- Avis
- Budget
- City Inter-Rent
- Dollar Rent a Car
- Easirent
- Enterprise
- Europcar
- FireFly Car Rental
- Flizzr
- Green Motion
- Hertz
- InterRent
- Keddy By Europcar
- McRent
- National Car Rental
- Peugeot
- Renault
- SIXT Rent a Car
- Thrifty
- Your Rent