Where to drop off rental car in London
 

Hello Everyone,
I am getting ready to reserve our rental car through Hertz. My thoughts are this: We will arrive LHR around 9:00 pm. We will pick up our rental car at LHR and drive to Slough for the first night before heading out for a week in the Cotswolds and Wells.

On our way back to London we want to visit Windsor and return the car before we head into London for 6 days.

My questions are these: Would it be easier to return the car at Slough and train into London, or at LHR and take the London Express or tube into London? Are these my two best options? Do both of these options bring me into Paddington station? From there I would catch the Circle Underground for either of my hotel choices.

We are not positive about where our hotel is. We’re waiting to make a “points” reservation at the Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace Road, which we can’t do until 60 days prior, but as an alternative we are staying at the Ibis London City near the Tower.

So, what is your opinion as to where is best to rent and return our car? I really don’t want to have to drive into London to return the car though.

Thank you,
Michele

Only a guess, but it could be very late 10:30/11:00 before you get to Hertz. Are they open then? Slough? Perhaps a hotel at the airport.

If you drop the car off at LHR you can take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington station. You could take the tube and alight at glouchester road and transfer to the Circle line as well.

We picked up our car in the west of England and dropped it off at LHR, took the express train into London. All very easy.

Hi rogeruktm and HappyTrvlr,
Thanks for the help. I think we might just rent and return to LHR as it appears to be a bit more to return to another location.

HappyTrvlr how easy was it to get to the express train station from the car rental place at LHR?

Thank you,
Michele

The major rental agencies, including Hertz, will drop you at the airport terminal closest to access to Heathrow Express--I believe Terminal 2 drop-off is the shortest walking access point for HR Express and the Underground, but you may get better advice.

Another option if you decide to take the Underground into London from Heathrow is to ask to be dropped at Hatton Cross tube station which is between Terminals 1,2,3 and Terminal 4. I find it less hassle than going back into Heathrow.

Hi Cathinjoetown,
I guess that's what I was trying to avoid, having to deal with the whole airport thing again. That sounds good, to catch the underground at Hatton Cross. I can then take it to the South Kensington stop and transfer there to the line closest to my hotel.

Thanks for the help,
Michele

Michele,

The Hertz buses going to Terminal 4 will drop you at Hatton.

Have a good trip.

Slough?? Why do you want to stay there of all places? There is nothing at all in Slough.

I personally would rather stay in an airport hotel than in Slough (Priceline is brilliant for LHR hotels) . I'd save a whole day's car rental by getting the car the next morning at LHR. None of the rental agencies are actually on the airport - so many LHR area hotels are actually closer to the rental locations than are the terminals.

You likely won't be checked into you hotel until after 11PM - no need at all for a car that night.