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Car hire in Leeds – Exploring the Heart of England
Located in the heart of England, Leeds is a vibrant tourist destination with a great wealth of tourist attractions, not to mention some of the most breathtaking architecture in the whole of the UK. The city is bursting with historic houses, inspirational art galleries and dozens of magnificent museums, including the Royal Armouries Museum, home to the largest collection of arms, armour and artillery in the country. Leeds is also a city of parks and gardens, most notably Roundhay Park which covers more than 700 acres of lakes woods and parkland inside the city's perimeter.
Boasting a thriving independent food scene, the town centre is very compact and ideal for exploring with a car hire in Leeds, making it the quintessential city break destination. Its unique urban landscape is enhanced with sculpture, award-winning architecture and innovative street art, while the famous Victorian arcades offer visitors a truly authentic walk down memory lane. Similarly, you won't want to miss Kirkgate Market, one of the largest indoor markets in Europe where visitors get the chance to savour street food from all over the world.
There's much to see in the city's environs also, with many traces of Leeds' ancient history still in evidence today. The name Leeds derives from the Celtic settlement Leodis and it subsequently became an important strategic fortress for the Romans, eventually gaining its town charter from the King in 1207. Today, Leeds is one of the few places in England where you can drive straight from its bustling urban hub into the lush, green English countryside in just a few minutes, with the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Peak District all within easy striking distance of the town centre. The list of other nearby destinations well worth visiting includes York, Sheffield and Manchester.
One of the international car hire industry's leading companies, Auto Europe offers over 24,000 pick-up and drop-off locations in more than 180 different countries. Founded in 1954, it is also one of the world’s longest-established car rental brokers and has achieved success by working with all the top car hire companies, such as Alamo, Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar and Sixt. You can book your car rental in Leeds with a few clicks of the mouse through our state-of-the-art booking engine. Alternatively, you can make your reservation over the phone by calling our reservation specialists on +441233225114. Don't forget to visit our Leeds car hire reviews page to read the comments posted by previous Auto Europe customers in the city.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Leeds, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Leeds
By working with all the world's top car hire providers, Auto Europe can offer you a wide choice of locations in and around Leeds, meaning that you can pick up your vehicle in the city centre and be on your way in a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating at Leeds Airport, there are several conveniently-located suppliers' offices in other parts of the city, most of which are in close proximity to Leeds's top tourist attractions, such as the Briggate quarter, which is famous for its old shopping arcades and ranks as one of the most historic parts of the city.
To help you make the right choice, our state-of-the-art booking engine allows you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip. Once you've keyed in your dates, an interactive map will immediately appear with all the available locations for picking up your car rental in Leeds.
Leeds Airport
Since opening in 1931, Leeds Bradford Airport is located just 7 miles from Leeds and 9 miles from the city of Bradford. At an elevation of 681 feet, it holds the distinction of being the highest airport in the whole of England. The airport has a single terminal and two air bridges with 24 aircraft stands capable of handling all sizes of aircraft up to the Boeing 757. In recent years, the number of annual passenger movements has grown significantly from 1.2 million in the late 1990s to around 4 million in 2019, with predictions that this number will rise to as much as 7 million by 2030. To cope with the increased traffic, future plans include more departure gates, extended seating areas, improved baggage reclaim facilities and, most importantly, a brand-new £150 million terminal due to open in the next few years. There are several top suppliers operating at Leeds Airport, most of whom have their reception desks inside the Arrivals Hall with pick-up facilities located at the on-site Car Rental Centre in Harrogate Road close to the terminal building.
Leeds Airport (LBA)
Website: leedsbradfordairport.co.uk
Address: Leeds Bradford Airport, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS19 7TU, England
Telephone: +44 871 288 2288
Leeds Train Station
With more than 30 million passengers each year, Leeds Train Station is one of the busiest railway hubs in the north of England. Besides serving numerouslarge British cities such as Edinburgh, Birmingham and Glasgow, it offers high-speed services with London's King's Cross Station and other important stations. First opened in 1938, the station offers travellers a good selection of on-site facilities, including several cafés, bars, shops and restaurants. Leeds Train Station is very centrally located in the heart of the city and many of the world's most prestigious car rental companies have their offices to the main entrance in the areas around Wellington Road and Hunslet.
Leeds Train Station
Website: networkrail.co.uk
Address: New Station St, Leeds LS1 4DY, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 345 711 4141
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Leeds
Auto Europe is a well-established international car rental company offering an extensive selection of convenient pick-up locations in more than 180 popular destinations worldwide. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Leeds
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Leeds. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please call our reservations team on +44 123 3225 114 and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Leeds?
Yes. When you rent a car in Leeds and other cities in the UK you will always be required to present a valid credit card in the main driver's name in order to be able to collect your vehicle. Your card cannot be a debit or pre-paid card and must always be a credit card with enough credit for the car hire supplier to place a security deposit on the vehicle at the time of pick-up. When you return the car at the end of your rental agreement, the deposit will be released directly back onto your card once the car is confirmed to be in the same condition as when you collected it. Please note that if you have booked a luxury car, then some local suppliers might request a second credit card, also in the main driver’s name.
You can find all the necessary credit card info relating to your low-cost car hire in Leeds when making a search in the Auto Europe booking engine. Just click on the blue and white info icon (i) to find out which cards will be accepted, etc. Suppliers accept most major credit cards, such as Mastercard, Visa, Diners and American Express but you must have enough funds to cover the deposit or risk not being able to collect your car when you arrive at your destination. For a list of the most common issues regarding car hire and credit cards, please consult our dedicated credit cards and deposits page.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Leeds?
Coverage is a very important issue and Auto Europe's basic car hire rates always include the minimum amount of legally-required Liability Insurance, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection (TP) for cheap car rental in Leeds and elsewhere in Great Britain. Please note that CDW does not cover any damage caused to cetain parts of the vehicle, such as the tyres, wheels, etc.
For total peace of mind, we strongly recommend our Full Protection cover which can be added with a single click of the mouse when confirming your booking. Full Protection covers you against any damage caused to most parts of the vehicle, including the undercarriage, the cost of which varies according to your chosen car category, location and supplier.
At the time of pick-up, staff working for the local car hire supplier will often try to sell you additional coverage, including Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), Personal Effects Coverage (PEC), Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance and Roadside Assistance, amongst others. Please be informed that Auto Europe will not be able to offer you a refund for any coverage not offered by ourselves if it is found to be surplus to your requirements. All the terms and conditions regarding car hire coverage can be quickly accessed in our booking engine's search results by clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) where you'll find the CDW deductibles, Theft Insurance Deductibles and Liability Insurance. The car rental voucher sent to you once your booking has been confirmed will also contain this information.
How is the traffic in Leeds?
Leeds' accessible location on the UK motorway network makes the city easily reachable by road. The M621 runs very close to the city and provides direct access to the M1 and M62 motorways, as well as the A1. You'll find that journey times and travelling distances are relatively short compared with many other cities in the UK, most notably London (3h30m, 194 miles), Edinburgh (4h10m, 219 miles), Manchester (1h, 44 miles), Sheffield (47m, 35 miles), Nottingham (1h21m, 72 miles), Liverpool (1h34m, 74 miles) and Birmingham (1h57m, 120 miles). For more information on driving in Leeds and elsewhere in England, please see our UK driving guide.
Where can I park my car hire in Leeds?
There are several council-run car parks in and around Leeds city centre. A good short-stay bet is the one on Castle Street located just five minutes from Park Square. For longer stays, opt for the open-air facility next to the Meadow Lane car park just a three-minute walk from Leeds Bridge. The large open-air car park at Quarry Hill is an excellent choice for visitors to both Kirkgate Market and the city's popular Victoria Gate Shopping Centre. Two efficient Park & Ride sites currently operate in Leeds, complete with electric vehicle charging points, thus permitting you to travel to the centre of Leeds by car, park for free in the Park & Ride car parks and complete your journey into the heart of the city by bus at a very reasonable cost.
Do I need to pay a congestion charge when driving my car hire in Leeds?
Not for the moment. Leeds' Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ) was due to come into effect on the 28th of September 2020 to tackle air pollution and protect people's health by encouraging drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles. This meant that vehicles (including rented cars) that failed to meet the minimum emissions standards would be subject to a charge for driving within the zone’s boundary. However, the city's plans to introduce a CAZ have been put on hold for the time-being, with the possibility that the zone will get the go ahead in the not-too-distant future.
Leeds Travel Guide
Leeds provides the perfect base to explore the incredible landscapes of Yorkshire and its surrounding counties. The whole area is blessed with dozens of picturesque towns and villages, each with their own unique qualities and attractions.
Best day trips with my car rental in Leeds
With its prime seaside location in the heart of northern England, Leeds is a city where there’s always plenty going on throughout the whole year, including winter. You can start with an exhilarating drive across the Yorkshire Dales before visitng the Peak District, without doubt one of the most scenic parts of the United Kingdom.
For clients wishing to rent a car in Leeds and explore the city's surroundings, it is also possible to undertake a road-trip and drop the vehicle somewhere else with a one-way car hire offer, which will allow for extra freedom and flexibility. Additionally, you can share the driving with a friend of family member by taking advantage of one of our regular Free Additional Driver offers when booking your next car hire in Leeds.
Yorkshire Dales
Home to ancient castles, preserved abbeys and some of England's most outstanding natural scenery, the great Yorkshire Dales are worth a visit at any time of year. When you rent a car in Leeds, each part of the region has its own distinctive character; the Southern Dales being less remote but still wildly beautiful and the Northern Dales which are mostly covered with heather moorland and valleys full of hay meadows surrounded by stone walls. Most of the Dales are part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, a protected area established in 1954 that covers more than 800 square-miles.
Peak District
An hour's drive south-west from Leeds brings you to another of England's most prized landscapes, the Peak District National Park. Covering more than 550 squares-miles, it was the first national park to be established in Great Britain, having been founded in 1951. The park's highlights include the Heage Windmill (built in 1797 and today the only working example of a stone towered windmill in England), the famous Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Haddon Hall (several Harry Potter scenes were filmed there) and the amazing views across Hope Valley.
York
Just 27 miles north-east of Leeds lies York, one of the loveliest cities in the north of England. Filled with interesting things to do, along with several attractions that portray the many chapters of its long history, York offers the perfect day-trip from Leeds, with the chance to stop at a typical country pub for lunch en route. Don't miss York Minster, the largest medieval church in England, and Clifford's Tower which was built in the 13th century and offers some of the best views of the city.
Haworth
A visit to the charming village of Haworth (20 miles west of Leeds) will fill your mind with the kind of scenery that inspired the Brontë sisters. This undisputed literary mecca attracts visitors from all around the world, who are drawn by its timeless appeal and landscapes that feature so prominently in Emily Brontë's most famous novel, Wuthering Heights.
Saltaire
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, Saltaire to the north-west of Leeds is a complete and very well-preserved industrial village dating from the second half of the 19th century. Its textile mills, public buildings and workers' houses are built in a harmonious style of high architectural standards, with the urban plan (which remains intact) provides a memorable impression of the Victorian era.
What to do in Leeds
A pleasant city on the River Aire, Leeds has much to offer the visitor, especially in and around its historic centre where many of the main attractions exist. The hub of downtown Leeds is the Civic Quarter which revolves around the City Square pedestrian area where the main focus is the city's spectacular Town Hall, a building consecrated by Queen Victoria in 1858.
- Briggate: Conveniently located in Leeds city centre, the Briggate quarter is famous for its old and very atmospheric shopping arcades, all of immense architectural significance. Don't miss the Grand Arcade which was constructed towards the end of the 19th century and today houses many of the city's most inviting boutique-style shops. Nearby, Thorntons Arcade also dates back to the late 19th century and is most notable for its clock with four life-size figures. The city's other popular arcades authentically reflecting the Victorian era are Queens Arcade and County Arcade, the latter featuring elegant iron domes, marble floors and intricate stonework.
- Royal Armouries Museum: Arguably the top attraction in town, the Royal Armouries Museum is home to the largest collection of arms, armour and artillery in England. The museum's star exhibit is without doubt Henry VIII's original suit of armour, along with some rare pieces that once belonged to Emperor Maxmillian. Sourced from all over the world, the collectiion also includes rare experimental pistols and the only surviving elephant armour in the world.
- Harewood House: Seat of the Earl of Harewood, Harewood House is an enchanting Georgian-style country manor that was finished in 1771 after 30 years of construction. Located a 15-minute drive north of Leeds city centre, its lavish interior is worth seeing for its fine wall and ceiling paintings by Angelika Kauffmann and furniture by the renowned English furniture maker, Thomas Chippendale. Other highlights include rare pieces of porcelain and several paintings by Gainsborough and El Greco. The gardens feature a large lake and the ruins of a 12th-century castle.
- Leeds Industrial Museum: Just two miles west of Leeds lies one of the city's most fascinting attractions, the excellent Leeds Industrial Museum. Here, visitors can wander around one of the world's largest wool mills and learn all about the history of wool production in and around the Yorkshire area from the 18th century onwards.
- Abbey House Museum: Located just 4 miles west of the city, about a 10-minute drive with your low-priced car hire in Leeds, the wonderful Abbey House Museum in the leafy Kirkstall district is located inside a magnificent Cistercian house built in the middle of the 12th century. Visitors can see the impressive roofless remains of the church with its narrow choir and imposing tower, along with the chapterhouse, refectory and kitchen, all of which are almost perfectly intact. Another section of the musuem features workshops, old stores and reproduction houses depicting local life throughout the centuries.
- Leeds City Museum: With hundreds of amazing exhibits housed inside six impressive galleries, the Leeds City Museum illustrates thousands of years of the city's history, from the Egyptians to the Romans and beyond. This world-class museum has items you'll be talking about long after you've arrived back home, such as the famous Leeds Tiger in the Life on Earth Gallery and the mummy of Nesyammun in the Ancient Worlds Gallery.