5 Must Haves When Touring the London Region by Car

• By: Editor
• On: 12/Dec/2008
• In: UK Travel Tips

These are just a few quick points to ensure that you get your trip off to a good start, and, of course, a safe and happy return.

1. Have a Plan:

At least for the first one or two days know exactly where you're going. Whether you're headed straight for the hotel or on a tourist trail from Heathrow Airport, it's good to have a plan. 

The M25 is connected to all the major routes leaving London. From here you can take the M4 West (for the West Country and South Wales), the M40 North-West (for Oxford and Birmingham), the M1 North-West (for Leeds and northern England), the M11 North (for Stansted Airport and Cambridge), the M2/M20 East (for Canterbury and Folkestone), the M23 South (for Crawley and Brighton), or the M3 South-West (for Southampton and the Isle of Wight). The following can help a lot with this…

2. GPS (with a back-up Map):

A GPS Device can really be a life saver when you are visiting a new city or country that you aren’t familiar with. Just enter your preferred destination, it will plot your course out of Heathrow Airport and away you go. Just remember to have the latest maps on your GPS Device and have a good old fashioned paper map handy just in case.

3. Mobile Phone:

Mobile phones are always very handy if you have a breakdown and need to call for assistance, or if you just want to call ahead to your hotel.

While European phones should have little difficulty crossing borders as all of Europe uses the same technology, the same cannot be said for the other continents. So it's recommended you check to see if your phone will work in England before you leave and if it doesn’t, you can make arrangements to get a rental phone or buy a pre-pay phone in Heathrow Airport (all the major operators have a store in the airport).

Don’t forget your charger as well as any necessary adaptors.

4. Entertainment:

If you're travelling with kids and you're taking a particularly long trip out of, or around, London then a portable DVD player or a hand-held games console (such as a Nintendo DS or PSP) with your kid’s favourite movie/game can be a blessing.

These also serve as an excellent distraction when you return to Heathrow Airport and you're waiting for your flight. If you don’t have any of these than having a few car games such as "I Spy" or "20 Questions" can prove a great distraction.

5. Food:

Grab some snacks in Heathrow Airport before you set off. It could save you the money and hassle of stopping for fast food or at a restaurant in a tourist area that could work out quite expensive. A portable cooler is ideal as well.

So there you have it, the basics to ensure that driving around London is less of a hassle. If you need car hire at Heathrow check out our car hire Heathrow Airport page.

If you've any questions, thoughts or comments please let us know. Just leave your message in the comment box below.