A vibrant city on the River Tyne, Newcastle has emerged in recent years as one of the UK's great art and culture capitals. Located just 70 miles from the Scottish border, its historic centre possesses many noteworthy Victorian buildings and streets, and today the city is flourishing as a tourist destination with dozens of new attractions opening up all over town, while its burgeoning restaurant scene caters for all tastes with a number of innovative venues right across the city.
The warmth and humour of the Geordie spirit is another of Newcastle's main draws, as is the intense passion felt for Newcastle United Football Club, which has been in existence since 1892. And the city centre boasts more listed classical buildings than any other place in the United Kingdom, from the elegant streets of Grainger Town to the contrasting impressive contemporary architecture of the magnificent Millennium Bridge, a wonder of modern engineering.
A stroll through the inner city's medieval streets and alleyways reveals the Newcastle of past centuries when wealthy merchants resided by the Tyne and the riverside was a wall of masts and ships' rigging. Many historic buildings and relics from that period remain intact, particularly on the Quayside where 300-year-old merchant houses sit alongside 21st-century architectural landmarks. In fact, Newcastle is a city still strongly connected to its industrial heritage, a tradition that stretches right back to Roman times when it was called Pons Aelius.
Newcastle is also the hub of a vast region rich in contemporary culture, historic attractions, world heritage sites and dramatic landscapes, all of which lies within easy reach of the city's international airport located just 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) north of the centre. With a car hire in Newcastle you can follow the trail of Hadrian's Wall across some of northern England's loveliest countryside before heading to the coast to relax on some of the best beaches in Northumberland.
Auto Europe is one of the world's top car hire companies with over 24,000 pick-up locations in more than 180 popular destinations. We cater for all budgets large or small by always offering the right car at the right price, whether it’s for a relaxing weekend break in Newcastle or an exciting trip around the north-east of England. Reservations can be made online through our state-of-the-art booking engine in a few seconds or by calling our car rental specialists on +44 123 3225 114.
By working with all the world's most prestigious and reliable car rental suppliers, many of whom operate in Newcastle, we are able to offer the best rates and the widest choice of vehicles in the city and its surroundings, including Newcastle International Airport. Before deciding which car hire company to use, you might like to visit our Newcastle car hire reviews page to see the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous customers in the enchanting north-east of England.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Newcastle, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
By working with all the world's top car hire providers, Auto Europe can offer you a wide choice of locations in and around Newcastle, meaning that you can pick up your vehicle in the heart of the city and be on your way in just a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating in downtown Newcastle, there are several conveniently-located suppliers' offices in other parts of the city, such as Newcastle Train Station and Newcastle International Airport (NCL).
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 come up with all the available locations for cheap car hire in Newcastle and beyond.
Newcastle Airport is a major international airport in the United Kingdom with a convenient location a few miles north-west from the city centre. It serves the city of Newcastle as well as the Greater Tyneside area, Northumberland and Wearside. It is served by major airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air France, British Airways, easyJet, Emirates, Jet2, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair and TUI. You can get to the airport by car via the A1 or by metro, which is directly connected to the airport terminal. Man of the world's most prestigious car rental companies have their desks inside the main terminal building, right opposite the domestic arrivals section. Some of the other vehicle suppliers are located near the Fast Track and Meet & Greet parking area, in close proximity to the terminal building.
Newcastle Airport (NCL)
Website: newcastleairport.com
Address: Woolsington, Newcastle upon Tyne NE13 8BZ, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 871 882 1121
Modern and centrally located, Newcastle Train Station is on the main East Coast Main Line in the north of England. Known more commonly as Newcastle Central, the station first opened in 1850 and today provides a valuable link between London and the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, via Yorkshire. It also has regular routes to many of northern England's key cities, including Sunderland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Carlisle, Hexham and the Tyne Valley. Along with overland services, the station has an underground station beneath its structure which was opened in 1981. Some of the most trusted car rental suppliers in the industry are located on the station premises, with more situated on main roads approaching the station building, as well as the nearby car park.
Newcastle Train Station
Website: northernrailway.co.uk
Address: Neville Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England NE1 5DL
Telephone: +44 (0) 3457225333
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in excess of 180 different destinations all over the world. Thanks to our many years' experience dealing with all the main global and local car rental suppliers, we can offer you the highest standards of service and the cheapest prices on the market for low-cost car rental in Newcastle.
Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies such as their out-of-office pick-up hours or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and are always very happy to assist you with your car rental in Newcastle.
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Newcastle. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, congestion charges, 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.
Yes, a credit card is an essential requirement for anyone hiring a car in Newcastle. This is because the local car hire providers such as Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Sixt, Europcar, Budget, etc. need to block an amount on your card as security in case the vehicle is lost or damaged during the rental period, with the full amount being promptly refunded once the vehicle is returned in exactly the same condition the customer found it. Please note that debit cards are not generally accepted in England, plus it's also important to remember that in the case of high performance or luxury-category vehicles, the supplier might ask you to provide two credit cards in the name of the main driver instead of just one.
To check which type of credit card you can use to pick up your vehicle, please click on the blue and white info icon (i) in the search engine results where you'll find all the payment information you need. For more tips on paying for your low-cost car hire in Newcastle, please consult our blog post highlighting the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits prior to picking up your vehicle in Newcastle.
When renting a car in Newcastle with Auto Europe, the good news is that our car rental prices always include fire insurance, liability, collision damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection. For extra peace of mind, you can also take out our Full Damage & Theft Protection policy which will cover you against any eventualities on the road in Newcastle and other parts of north-east England, the price of which may vary according to the location, rental duration, car category and supplier. Available for little extra cost, this excellent package covers damage to glass, wheels, roof, undercarriage, towing costs, loss of keys, miss-fuelling, administration fees and much more should you need to make a claim.
When booking your low-cost car hire in Newcastle through the Auto Europe booking engine, you can easily find out exactly what coverage is included in the price of your vehicle. After selecting your dates and car hire category, you only need to click on the blue and white info icon (i) where you'll find all the relevant coverage information such as the mileage allowance, CDW, theft and liability insurance. Please note that occasionally the local car hire company will offer you additional coverage at the time of picking up your vehicle, which is completely optional and cannot be refunded by Auto Europe even if the policy turns out to be surplus to your requirements.
Please take a look at our dedicated car hire coverage page which provides a a general overview of the types of car hire coverage you will find available for your next trip to Newcastle.
Driving in Newcastle is similar to driving in any other busy UK town. It is not advisable to drive through it during the rush hour. It lies at the beginning of the A1 (the main road from London to Edinburgh), and the A69 (this is the east-west route to Carlisle and the M6). The A1 bypass road surrounds the city centre, taking much of the through traffic out of the city. Visit Auto Europe's driving information page to learn more about road regulations in the UK.
Parking is available both on the street and in car parks. Newcastle has around a dozen large inner city multi-storey car parks and over fifty ground-based car parks, in addition to some 2,500 on-street parking spaces in and around the city centre. Charges apply every day, and you can pay at the ticket machine on the street. Please check the machine for specific details. There are plenty of multi-storey car parks to choose, and all are signposted. As part of the city’s innovative Alive after Five initiative, all council-operated multi-storey car parks are free after 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. Please check the tariffs before entering the car park and bear in mind that the machines do not give change, so try to carry as many coins as possible.
Changes are coming to Newcastle’s extensive road system in 2022 in a bid to cut pollution levels. This means that some high-polluting vehicles will be subject to daily tolls of up to £50 to drive into the city centre as part of an effort to encourage people to upgrade to cleaner models or use sustainable modes of transport. The aim of the new Newcastle Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is to improve air quality in Newcastle city centre, including the routes over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges.
With a city centre boasting some of England’s finest Georgian architecture, Newcastle boasts a wonderful array of cultural experiences, a diverse range of stylish eateries and oe of the most eclectic music scenes in the UK. The atmosphere charm of Chinatown and the city's historic castle (after which Newcastle was named) simply cannot be missed, and top-level attractions like Grainger Market and the amazing Victoria Tunnel add plenty of additional tourist interest to visitors exploring the the north-eastermost part of England. Why not take advantage of our Free Additional Driver offers and share the driving with a friend or family member. You might also like to consider picking up your car hire in one place and dropping it off in another with one of our popular one-way car hire promotions.
When you rent a car in Newcastle, you get the freedom to explore not only the city itself but all of the surrounding areas, and Auto Europe provides you with the best selection and competitive hire prices.
Hadrian’s Wall
Built on the orders of the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was once a 73-mile-long defensive fortification. Dotted with forts along its entire stretch, the wall stands as one of the biggest Roman ruins standing today, with some of its parts still visible in the city.
Durham
Easily reached by car from Newcastle, Durham is one of England’s most popular tourist destinations. Some of the city’s most important sites are protected by UNESCO, such as the Norman Durham Castle and its magnificent Cathedral, which also features prominently in the Harry Potter film series.
Segedunum
This well-preserved Roman fort was used to guard Hadrian’s Wall. Built in 122 AD, the fort was established as a garrison to protect the easternmost end of the wall. It houses a museum that includes a large-scale reconstruction of part of Hadrian’s Wall.
Angel of the North
A contemporary sculpture designed by Antony Gormley and completed in 1998. It is a steel sculpture of an angel, 66 feet tall with a wingspan of 177 feet. Its broad steel 'wings' recall the area's rich industrial past.
Beamish the Living Museum North
Beamish Museum is an open-air attraction located a half-hour's drive south of Newcastle. Its main focus is to preserve an example of everyday life in urban and rural north-eastern England at the end of the industrialisation period of the early 20th century. The museum features a recreation of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian life with trams, buses and staff in period costume.
Newcastle is one of the oldest cities in England and has much to offer to anyone who wishes to visit. Take a stroll down its rich history-filled streets and marvel at all there is to see. Here's what not to miss in Newcastle;