Car hire Leicester

Few English cities can claim a history as old as Leicester, which still includes ancient baths and pavements from its earliest beginnings as a Roman military outpost called Ratae Corieltauvorum. Today, Leicester has become the most populated city in the East Midlands as well as Great Britain's first environmental city. Leicester is currently in the middle of a major regeneration project expected to further increase its already thriving tourism industry.

Transport

The closest airport to Leicester, East Midlands Airport, lies 37kms northwest of the city in Castle Donington. With car hire in Leicester it takes between 45 and 60 minutes to drive between Leicester and the bigger Birmingham International Airport. Leicester's rail station stands near the A6 in the city centre's east end, but there are also a number of bus stops throughout the city.

Car Hire Leicester

East Midlands Airport, among the best locations to compare car hire near Leicester, is conveniently situated along the M1 motorway leading not only to Leicester, but also north towards a number of other cities and south to London. The city of Leicester itself also boasts a tremendous choice of vehicles for rent.

Driving

Leicester's inner ring road and its one-way systems may appear intimidating to first-time visitors, but patience goes a long way when using car rental in Leicester. The city's surrounding motorways are even simpler to navigate, especially the M69 motorway towards Birmingham and the M1 motorway towards London and several other English cities. There are more than 8,500 parking spaces in Leicester.

Things To See and Do

Visitors to Leicester may wish to join the locals on relaxing day trips to nearby Bradgate Park and the Rutland Water reservoir. The ruins of a 12th century manor home turned castle are the main attractions in Ashby de la Zouch, a market town about a 30-minute drive northwest of Leicester. Another picturesque town, Melton Mowbray, stands at roughly the same distance northeast of Leicester. The bustling city of Birmingham lies less than 70kms away.

Best Time To Visit

Like most other parts of central England, Leicester experiences a temperate climate, with especially wet winters and much sunnier summers. December and January are Leicester's coldest and wettest months, but temperatures climb considerably once April and May arrive. The sun can shine for up to 15 hours during Leicester's long summer days, when temperatures can reach up to 25°C.