Car Hire London City Airport — Business Gateway to London and Beyond

London City Airport (LCY) is London’s most central airport, located in the Docklands just 11 km east of the City of London. Primarily serving business travellers with short-haul flights to European destinations, it’s the closest airport to Canary Wharf and the financial district. For business travellers needing to get to meetings quickly or explore southeast England, City Airport’s location is unbeatable. Within 20 minutes, you can be in the City or Canary Wharf. Within an hour, Kent or the M25 ring road.

The airport has a single small terminal handling about 5 million passengers annually. Car rental is available, though less common than at other London airports due to the excellent public transport connections. However, for those heading beyond London or needing flexibility, rental cars are available.

Picking Up Your Rental Car at London City Airport

Car rental desks are limited at City Airport due to its urban location. Enterprise and Europcar are the primary providers, operating from nearby locations with shuttle service. Most are open 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays, with limited weekend hours. Follow “Car Rental” signs or enquire at the information desk.

Pickup may require a short shuttle to an off-site location. Vehicle return is at the same location. Fuel stations are available near the airport — fill up before returning.

Documentation: valid driving licence (EU/UK licence or International Driving Permit for others), passport or ID card, and credit card for deposit (£500-1,500). London City Airport serves primarily business travellers — service is efficient.

Where to Go from London City Airport

Canary Wharf (10 minutes) — West on the A1121 and A1261. London’s financial district. Limited parking — most visitors use public transport.

City of London (20 minutes) — West on the A1011 and A13. Historic financial centre. Avoid driving during Congestion Charge hours (weekdays 7 AM-6 PM).

Greenwich (20 minutes) — South on the A102 and A206. Maritime heritage, Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark.

Kent (1 hour) — East on the A13 and M20. Canterbury, Leeds Castle, White Cliffs of Dover. Escape the city.

Southend-on-Sea (45 minutes) — East on the A13. Coastal town, pier, beach. Day trip from London.

Tips for Driving in London

Driving is on the left. Speed limits are 30 mph in built-up areas (reduced to 20 mph in many zones). Central London is heavily congested — consider using public transport for city travel and only driving for journeys outside the city.

London has a Congestion Charge (£15/day) for central London (weekdays 7 AM-6 PM). There’s also an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering most of Greater London. Confirm your rental meets ULEZ standards — most modern rentals do, but older vehicles may not.

Parking in central London is expensive (£30-50/day) and limited. Consider staying outside the Congestion Charge zone and using public transport for city exploration. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from City Airport connects to the Tube network.

Compare London City Airport car hire prices using the search above. For business travellers heading to the City or Canary Wharf, or those exploring southeast England, it’s the most convenient London airport.