If you have never lived in London, or maybe you did a long time ago, finding your way around it now can be daunting. It can be tempting to forget about driving yourself, which you do everywhere else, because it just seems too much stress. Stick to the bus and the Tube, people may tell you, and some may even recommend using taxis, but really, despite the Uber revolution, getting around London with someone else driving you is just throwing money away. For a night out, maybe, so you can relax and maybe have a glass of wine, but when your days are going to be devoted to exploring and seeking things out, it is far better to rent a car in London, so you can be in control of what you’re doing, with your transport right there, waiting to take you to the next place on your list.
So, here’s the thing, the UK’s capital is not some metropolitan monster at all: it’s just bigger than what you’ve been used to lately. With your lifetime of experience plus the modern advantages of satnav, if you rent a car London can be yours to explore however you like, rather than sticking to the routes that are all public transport will allow.
With a good new car at your disposal you have your own environment. If the weather is good you can head for a nice park and enjoy the great outdoors. Maybe you’ve forgotten how big Richmond Park is in the south-west of the city, or Hampstead Heath in the north, but they are both like bring out in the country, only with loads of shopping places, restaurants etc at hand. And what about Hyde Park and Green Park? Right in the centre of things, but beautiful and peaceful. You can park nearby and spend as long as you want there, then move on when you’ve had enough.
If your idea of a day out in London is shopping, you can find a convenient car park in the West End and do all the shops and sights on foot. Have a look and see what’s so special about Harrods, maybe. Go on the London Eye or have a boat trip on the Thames. Then, if you want to shoot off to have a look at Lords cricket ground or Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC, just to say you’ve been there, you can do that with no fuss and no delay. Want to take a picture on the zebra crossing like the Beatles on the cover of Abbey Road? It’s quite close to Lords, so you can do both on the same day. Spend a couple of hours in Camden Market if you like. When you rent a car London is yours to use as you wish.
You can pay for parking online in many places, and just be aware of where you are. Depending on how central the area is where you’re staying, you may be able to walk to the places that are liable to the congestion charge. Look them up in advance and make a plan – that’s often the best way anyway.
