Car rental Luton

Parking in Luton

• Luton’s has a number of long stay parking options close to the airport and near Kimpton Road. Additional long stay parking can be found in Slip End, a village just off the M1 motorway between Luton and Dunstable.
• The town centre has an array of short stay parking lots, including Luton Station Multi-storey Car Park, which is open 24-hours a day.
• Council car parks can be found just north of the town’s inner zone, between Church Street and Hightown Road.
• Many car parks now use apps to pay, so are handy if you’re not carrying small change with you.

Traffic in Luton

Luton’s peak traffic times are between 7am and 10am, and from 5pm to 7pm. Many of Luton’s busiest roads – including Airport Way – have ‘no stopping’ red routes to keep the traffic flowing.

How to get from Luton to London

The drive from Luton Airport to central London covers around 55km (35 miles). The time it takes depends very much on local traffic and your final destination.

1.      Exit the Hertz Luton Airport rental centre and join President Way before turning right on Percival Way.
2.      At London Luton Airport Roundabout, take the second exit onto New Airport Way (A1081).
3.      Merge onto the M1 and drive south for around 37km (23 miles).
4.      Use the right lane to merge onto the A406. Then, take the Brent Cross Interchange to join Hendon Way (A41).
5.      Continue south on Finchley Road (A41) until it merges into the B525 (Avenue Road).
6.      Join Outer Cir to drive past attractions such as Madame Tussauds London, Regent’s Park and ZSL London Zoo.
7.      Use A501 and A400 to snake further south towards Trafalgar Square and the River Thames.

Roads and motorways

Main Routes in Luton

Luton is served by three major roads:

• The M1 motorway, which connects Luton to London in the south and Northampton, Leicester and Nottingham in the north.
• The A6, a two-lane road that winds north from Luton to Bedford and Kettering.
• The A1(M), a motorway located around 24km (15 miles) east of Luton, which leads north towards Stevenage and Peterborough.

Luton to Cambridge

The best route from Luton Airport to Cambridge is via the A505 and the A602. Briefly join the A1(M) near Hitchin, then continue on the A505 and A10 to one of England’s most historic cities.

Luton to Oxford

To drive from Luton Airport to the city of Oxford, take the M1 south, joining the M25 ring road. Then use the M40 to cross the Chiltern Hills AONB. The journey takes a little over one and a half hours.

Driving in Luton

In Luton and across the UK, people drive on the left, with overtaking on the right. The speed limits are in miles per hour, with a top limit on motorway of 70mph, or 112km/h.

What to see and do in Luton

Wardown House

Victorian mansion meets art gallery, Wardown House (LU2 7HA) is set in the lush greenery of Wardown Park. The exhibits focus on traditional Bedfordshire crafts made from materials such as lace. There are two free car parks on site.

Stockwood Discovery Centre

Delve even deeper into the town’s local history at Stockwood Discovery Centre (LU1 4LX), which focusses on craftsmanship, archaeology and social history, and is set beside the golf courses of Stockwood Park. There’s large free parking facilities on site.

Dunstable Downs

The town of Dunstable is Luton’s smaller sibling. It also serves as a gateway to the Chiltern Hills. The blissful Dunstable Downs (LU6 2GY) is a great place for golfing, hiking or even paragliding.

Whipsnade Zoo

Keep the whole family amused for hours at Luton’s 600-acre Whipsnade Zoo (LU6 2LF). This was the world’s first open-range zoo when it opened in 1931. There’s free parking just outside of the zoo.

Luton’s best hotels

Luton Hoo Hotel

One of Bedfordshire’s best luxury hotels, Luton Hoo Hotel (LU1 3TQ) is set in 1,000 acres of parkland. There’s an on-site golf course and a spa.

Linton Hotel Luton

A family-run hotel located near Stockwood Park, Linton Hotel Luton (LU1 3RP) has great parking facilities and a quality on-site restaurant – Carriages.

Hilton Garden Inn Luton North

A contemporary hotel set just a few miles from Wardown House and London Luton Airport, the four-star Hilton Garden Inn Luton North (LU2 8DL) is perfect for business trips.

Luton’s best places to eat

Monna Lisa

Luton’s best-loved Italian restaurant is well-known for its distinctive decor – there’s a tiled roof over the bar. Handily located in the centre of town, you can enjoy rustic dishes that focus on using simple ingredients to a delicious effect.

Nakorn Thai Restaurant

Aromatic flavours and great value for money combine in this Wellington Street Thai restaurant. Park your rental car at a pay and display booth in the surrounding streets and tuck into delicious Thai green curry.

Luton’ best museums

Vauxhall Heritage Centre

Taking out a Hertz car rental is a sure sign you know your vehicles. The Vauxhall Heritage Centre (LU1 3HG) showcases more than a quarter of a century of car making heritage. Star exhibits include the first-ever Vauxhall model, a single-cylinder ‘horseless carriage’.

Hat Factory Arts Centre

Creative souls will love Luton’s most vibrant place. The Hat Factory Arts Centre (LU1 2EY) is a cluster of venues set in the town’s former industrial heartlands. This is a popular spot for catching a dance show, hearing live music or dropping into a workshop. There’s onsite parking.