Car hire Gatwick Airport

Car hire at London Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is one of London's – and therefore one of Britain's - gateways. Flights arriving here come from across the globe, carrying millions of passengers annually.

It is the largest airport in Europe for point-to-point flights and is second only to Heathrow in the UK for business. With our service, the area around Gatwick is open to exploration, and there are many beautiful towns and villages to visit.

Brighton is only thirty to forty minutes drive from the airport and is full of tourist attractions and entertainment, whether you are in town just for the weekend, or for longer.

Waterside attractions, restaurants and sporting activities will while away the hours, while some of the more iconic tourist attractions create memories to be treasured for a lifetime. Cheap car rental from Budget allows visitors to explore this seaside resort at their convenience.

Reigate is a small town in Surrey with historical roots, only twenty minutes drive from Gatwick. Ideal for a quiet weekend trip, it contains fashionable boutiques, shops and restaurants. A quirky little town, Reigate was home to Charlie the parrot, a bird taught by Winston Churchill to curse Adolf Hitler.

The Sussex countryside surrounds Brighton and is only a short distance from Gatwick airport, ideal if you have taken a rental car and feel like doing some exploring. The South Downs, recently awarded National Park status, allow visitors to leave the hustle and bustle of towns and cities behind and get away from it all. Flora, fauna and rolling hills provide the perfect backdrop to a romantic weekend, or a cycling trip for the whole family.

Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the wife of Henry the Eighth, is only half an hour from Gatwick Airport and is open to the public. Get a history fix by touring the building, or explore the extensive and beautiful gardens. Several live events occur in the grounds throughout the year and are well worth seeing.

A little further away from the airport is Nymans Estate, featuring a fantastically designed garden and jaw-dropping views. With our car hire service these locations are within reach of visitors to Gatwick airport.

Explore Sussex in a Budget hire car

Whether on a romantic break or a family holiday, there are plenty of things to be done around Gatwick Airport.

Holmbush Farm is six miles from Crawley, the town beside which the airport is situated. This is a wonderful family activity, ideal for younger children, with petting of the friendly animals, goat-racing and a whole host of other entertainments on offer for visitors.

Closer to the airport are several museums, including Amberley Working Museum, which looks at the industrial heritage of the local area. The museum includes indoor and outdoor exhibitions, from a narrow-gauge railway and bus, both of which travel throughout the 36 acres of the site, and a series of traditional crafts, from stained glass to blacksmithing.

Crawley town itself has numerous places to visit and shops for purchasing the odd thing, but if you’re in the mood for some serious retail therapy, the City of London is close by.

The capital of the UK and a major player in world economics and politics, the city has arts, culture, entertainment and attractions to maintain your interest for weeks.

London Congestion Charging zone

If you are planning to drive your Budget hire car within London, then you should be aware of the London Congestion Charging zone.

The Congestion Charge can be paid online, over the phone, at selected retail outlets, or when you pick up your rental vehicle.

Transport for London charge a £10 per day fee for all vehicles driving within the Congestion Charging zone, between 07:00 and 18:00 hours, Monday to Friday.

This fee must be paid by midnight on the day of travel. Alternatively, if you choose to pay by midnight the following day after you drove into the Congestion Charging zone, the fee is £12.

When hiring a vehicle with Budget, it is your responsibility to pay the Congestion Charge. Any unpaid charges and penalties will be recovered from you by Budget.

Learn more about the Congestion Charge