Car Rental in East Midlands

Why rent a car in East Midlands?

East Midlands is one of England’s nine regions, and although the area sometimes overlooked in favor of other British destinations, it has plenty to offer. There are three large and interesting cities, typical British villages, and some of the nicest nature in all of theUnited Kingdom. Thanks to the region’s convenient location, with a rental car, you can also quickly reach London, the large northern English cities, or the North Sea coast. 

Top ways to enter East Midlands

• East Midlands Airport: Constantly growing over the past ten years, East Midlands Airport served 4.8 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a large hub for low-cost and charter airlines like Ryanair, TUI Airways, and Jet2.com. The airport is especially active during the summer months when many flights to holiday locations in Spain, Turkey, Greece, and other countries take place.
• Birmingham Airport: Serving the United Kingdom’s second-most populated city, Birmingham Airport handled 12.4 million travelers in 2018. In addition to many European connections, the airport also has flights to and from destinations in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Birmingham Airport is 77 km (48 mi) southwest of Nottingham, the largest urban area of East Midlands, a distance that can be traveled in about 55 minutes.
• Manchester Airport: The busiest British airport outside London, Manchester Airport handled 28 million travelers in 2018. Made up of three terminals, the airport is served by more than 40 different airlines. Manchester Airport is 109 km (68 mi) northwest of Nottingham and can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Liverpool Airport: Also known as Liverpool John Lennon Airport, it handles about five million travelers every year. The airport is a hub for low-cost carriers easyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, and is often the cheapest airport to fly to in Northern England. Located 168 km (105 mi) west of Nottingham, it can be reached in about two hours.
• Leeds Bradford Airport: Serving the two cities in West Yorkshire, Leeds-Bradford is another airport that’s popular with low-cost airlines. Growing steadily for the last decade, it served four million passengers for the first time in 2017. The airport is 130 km (81 mi) north of Nottingham and can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

City facts

• Like the rest of Britain, East Midlands have a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and little temperature changes between the seasons. The average high temperature is 21°C  (70°F) in July, the hottest month, and 7°C  (44°F) in January. Precipitation is the lowest in February and March and the highest in October.
• One of the nine official regions of England, East Midlands has an area of 15,627 km2 (6,034 sq mi). East Midlands is made up of six different counties, of which Lincolnshire is the largest and Nottinghamshire the most populous. In total, around 4.6 million people live in the East Midlands, a number that’s comparable with the population of the Republic of Ireland. 

Top sights and activities

• Nottingham. The largest city in the East Midlands has something for every visitor. Some of Nottingham’s landmarks are the City of Caves (a network of underground workshops, cellars, and shelters), the remains of the legendary Nottingham Castle, the Industrial Museum, Nottingham Contemporary (an art center), and, of course, a statute of Robin Hood.
• Derby. Settled by the Romans and later inhabited by Vikings and Saxons, Derby has been an important trading and political center throughout the ages. More recently, it had a great role to play in the industrial revolution - Derby was the first place in the world where the modern factory, or mill, system was put to use. This industrial heritage can be appreciated at the Derwent Valley Mills, nowadays a tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractions of Derby include the Derby Arboretum (the first public park in England), Derby Market Hall, and Elvaston Castle and Country Park. 
• Leicester. A medium-sized city, Leicester punches way about its size when it comes to impressive religious architecture. St. Nicholas Church, Leicester Cathedral, and St. Mary de Castro Church are important examples. But there are also more contemporary landmarks, like the National Space Center and the National Gas Museum. After seeing Leicester, you can visit the National Forest, an impressive woodland right next to the city.

Traffic and parking

• The United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side of the road.
• On-street parking is usually heavily restricted. Never park on a white, double yellow or double red line (stopping on motorways and next to red lines is illegal).
• You are not allowed to use your mobile phone while driving unless you use a hands-free system.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 112km/h (70 mph) on motorways, 112km/h (70 mph) on dual carriageways, 96km/h (60 mph) on single carriageways and 48km/h (30 mph) in residential areas and areas with street lighting.
• Most East Midlands cities have paid parking spots in the city center. However, the prices can often be exorbitant, so a better idea might be to park a car in one of the large car parks that are usually located near the central area - it will most likely be at least twice as cheap. 
• In England and Wales, the legal alcohol limit is 0.08% for both experienced and novice drivers. Do keep in mind, however, that in Scotland the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, a suspended license, or even imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the documentation of the car needs to be in it whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The emergency numbers are 999 and 112.

Toll roads

Currently, there is only a single toll road in the United Kingdom, the M6 Toll. You also have to pay a toll for using a number of bridges and tunnels as well as for entering the central areas of London and Durham (a city in Northeast England).

As an alternative to the M6 around Birmingham, the M6 Toll is a 43km-long (27 miles) portion of the road, also known as the Birmingham North Relief Road (BNRR), that relieves congestion on the M6 itself. There are toll gates where you can either pay with cash or by credit card. As of September 2019, the price is £6.70 for using the toll road from Monday to Friday (from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), £5.60 for using the toll road on Saturday or Sunday (from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), and £4.20 for using the toll road at night time on any day (from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Find out more on the M6 Toll official website.

Ideas for day trips

• The Peak District. Also known simply as The Peak, this picturesque upland is made up of a number of small villages and the Peak District National Park. Inhabited since at least the iron age and later used for mining, The Peak is now capitalizing on its scenic beauty as a popular tourist destination. The area, perfect for a day outdoors regardless of the season, is characterized by hills, caves, long valleys, forests, and hiking paths. The area, located about 56 km (35 mi) northwest of Nottingham, can be reached in about 50 minutes.
• Skegness. A small town on the North Sea, Skegness might have less than 20,000 inhabitants, but its population at least doubles on any bright summer day. Visitors come here to enjoy the carousels of Bottons Pleasure Beach which are located right along the seafront, Natureland Seal Sanctuary, Skegness Pier, and the long, rugged Lincolnshire Coast. Located 132 km (82 mi) northeast of Nottingham, Skegness takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach.
• Birmingham. Better known for its industrial and economic prowess, Birmingham remains an underrated tourist destination. Yet Britain's second city has its share of hidden gems, including the Birmingham Science Museum, the Jaguar Castle Bromwich Assembly Plant and Sareholl Mill, an area that’s said to have an inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's Shire from The Lord of the Rings. Located 82 km (51 mi) southwest of Nottingham, Birmingham is just a 50 minute ride from Nottingham and is definitely worth a trip.
• Stoke-on-Trent. Located a bit northwest of the previously mentioned urban triangle of the East Midlands (it is in the West Midlands), and not often seen as a travel destination, Stoke can nonetheless be a fun place to visit if you give it a chance. The city’s industrial heritage is on display via such attractions as the Gladstone Pottery Museum (known for their famously large bottle kiln statues) and Etruria Industrial Museum, but there are also other landmarks such as the Trentham Gardens and City Museum and Art Gallery. The drive from Nottingham to Stoke takes about an hour.
• Sheffield. Another former (although noticeably bigger) industrial powerhouse, Sheffield has successfully dived head-first into reinventing itself as a modern cultural hub. The home of Def Leppard, the Arctic Monkeys, and two of the most passionately supported football teams in England, the city is also not short of heritage attractions of various eras such as the Graves Gallery, Arts Tower, and Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. Situated 45 km (72 miles) north of Nottingham, Sheffield can be reached in 60 to 90 minutes.
• Lincoln. Although having lost some of its medieval grandeur since when Lincoln was, for a while, the third-largest city in the whole land, the city retains much of its historical charm. Home to one of the best-preserved old town centers in the region, it boasts a wealth of heritage landmarks and buildings, many in the style of English Gothic, and also provides access to the nearby Lincolnshire Wolds, a charming nearby hill range separating the rest of the country from the North Sea. Lincoln is less than an hour’s drive northeast of Nottingham.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car types in East Midlands are economy, compact, and standard. The most popular rental cars are the Ford Fiesta, the VW Polo, and the Ford Focus.

Further destinations

• Wales. With England the biggest country of the United Kingdom and Scotland having the wildest nature, Wales might fly under the radar as a tourist destination. But, with vibrant cities like Cardiff and Swansea, historic villages, beautiful remote beaches and Snowdonia National Park to the best-preserved Celtic heritage in the UK, there are plenty of reasons to visit. Wrexham, the largest city in North Wales, is 150 km (93 mi) west of Nottingham and can be reached in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. You can explore the rest of Wales from there.
• Manchester. One of the largest and most interesting cities in the United Kingdom, Manchester is known for its creative spirit, world-famous musical acts, diverse neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions – or, as the local saying goes, the city has everything but the beach. Finding out for yourself is easy as Manchester is only a 90-minute drive from Nottingham.
• Liverpool. The city of The Beatles, Liverpool has plenty of sites and attractions related to the famous band. But, from the impressive Royal Albert Dock to the World Museum Liverpool and one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in Europe there’s even more about this famous port city. Located 175 km (109 mi) northwest of Nottingham, Liverpool can be reached in just over two hours.
• London. From Big Ben to Buckingham Palace, from the London Eye to Piccadilly Circus, from Tower Bridge to Trafalgar Square - the capital of the United Kingdom indeed has more world-famous landmarks than it’s possible to visit in a single vacation. But the city has even more to offer, from ever-bustling arts and culture scene to uniquely distinct neighborhoods and literally every single world cuisine. A place like no other and the highlight of any trip, London is 205 km (128 mi) south of Nottingham and takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach.

Car rental prices in East Midlands

• Medium cars - from €24 per day
• Large cars - from €26 per day
• Small cars - from €27 per day
• SUVs - from €29 per day
• Premium cars - from €49 per day
• Vans - from €58 per day
• Station wagons - from €75 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these tips and land a great rental car in East Midlands:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting East Midlands is the cheapest in February when renting a car is about 60% cheaper than the yearly average and an unbelievable 85% cheaper than renting a vehicle in May.