Car hire in London can be expensive and it pays to shop around for a good deal. Booking over the internet in advance often gets you the best price.

Public transport to and from the London airports and within the capital is excellent and will avoid the need to hire a car while visiting the city. In fact many Londoners do not own a car, because they don't need one. If you want to get out of London to see other places, and you want to drive yourself, there are plenty of car rental companies to choose from. It is often advisable to avoid booking a rental car at your airport of arrival, as prices usually will be at their highest.

All foreigners with valid driving license issued outside of the UK are allowed to drive in the UK for 12 months without obtaining a British driving license. If you have a driving license issued within the EU plus Island, Liechtenstein and Norway, you can drive within the UK for as long as your license remains valid.

In the UK vehicles travel on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right. It is mandatory for drivers and their passengers to wear seat belts where fitted. There are laws which are strictly enforced against drinking and driving, and it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. The minimum driving age is 17.

Road signs in the UK show distances in miles (1mile equals 1.6 kilometers)  and speed limits in mph (miles per hour). On a carriageway the speed limit is 60 mph (96 km/h) unless road signs show a reduced speed limit. On motorways the speed limit is 70 mph (112 km/h) and in towns and build up areas the limit is 30 mph (48 km/h). Speed cameras are located at many places, taking photos of your car/number plate if you are speeding and sending you a fine through your car rental agency.

Roads are generally very good in the UK, but very busy, so it often takes a lot longer to get from A to B than you had thought. Often, if you ask someone how far it is to a certain destination you will get the answer in time instead of in distance.