Car Hire Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is probably one of the easiest towns to drive around in the UK, thanks to its modern road layout. Short, straight roads are laid out in a grid system, connected by numerous roundabouts. There are plenty of signs, but if you do take a wrong turn, it’s easy to correct it at the next roundabout. 

Situated between the A5 to the west and the M1 to the east, it’s around an hour-and-a-half’s drive to get to London. Alternatively, you could drive to Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon or Birmingham in the north-west to visit its famous Jewellery Quarter.

Oxford is just more than an hour’s drive down the A421, while Cambridge is a similar distance but in the opposite direction. These classical cities are both prime spots for a romantic break, exploring the cobbled streets and punting along the rivers.

On the M1 and dual carriageway A roads, the speed limit is normally 70mph (112km/h).  Milton Keynes has a unique grid road system too, where roads run from one district to another, rather than through them. An absence of buildings along these streets allows the national limit of 60mph (96km/h) to be active for a lot of them. This falls to 30 or 40mph (48 or 64km/h) within the central grid system.

There are more than 20,000 parking spaces in the centre, spread across shopping centres, on-street spaces and multi-storey car parks. Parking costs start from as little as 50p per hour, depending on the colour-coded zones. Check out the charges and parking map here.

Enjoy the freedom of a hire car in Milton Keynes, whether you just want to get around the modern centre or venture out on the motorway to another nearby city.

Entertainment and culture is a big focus in Milton Keynes. Whether you’re stopping off on the way down to London or heading up north, it offers an abundance of options that will keep you busy.

The old days

Before Milton Keynes arrived, the area was home to a small village, some fine buildings and a truly incredible history.

At the centre of it all was Bletchley Park, a 19^th-century mansion that became the HQ of the Government Code and Cypher School in World War Two. Inside this grand house, a top-secret team cracked the ‘unbreakable’ Enigma code using one of the world’s first computers, providing crucial intelligence for the Allies and potentially changing the course of history.

Get inside the minds of these genius codebreakers and discover the huge pressures they faced. You can visit the National Museum of Computing too. This houses the world’s largest collection of functional historic computers, leading you through their history from the 1940s to the present day.

Extreme entertainment

Snozone has the UK’s widest and longest indoor ski slope. It’s a great place for a rainy day in Milton Keynes, to practice your skills or just burn off some excess energy. If you want something more extreme, have a go at indoor skydiving at iFLY – within the same action-packed Xscape centre.

On the edge of the town, close to the M1, is Willen Lake where the conditions are perfect for water skiing and wakeboarding. You can also try windsurfing and sailing or hop into a kayak for a relaxing paddle. Suit up and get stuck in, whatever your ability.

Youngsters will love the UK’s biggest high rope adventure course at Treetop Extreme, found within Willen Lake and Park. Clamber over 50 obstacles and whizz down the four zip wires to get your adrenaline pumping.

Relax in the new town

However you like to relax, Milton Keynes has something that fits the bill. If retail therapy is your thing, there are more than 400 stores to choose from, many of them found at the town’s large shopping centre. You can spend hours browsing everything from budget shops to designer stores.

Milton Keynes boasts more than 5,000 acres of green space, so you can find a park, garden or woodland path with ease. Ouzel Valley Park borders the river, while you’ll find local sheep grazing at the central Campbell Park.

Get lost in the labyrinth with a sundial at the centre, then challenge yourself to get back out. Alternatively, stroll alongside the Grand Union canal or enjoy a leisurely cruise on a barge.

Hire a car in Milton Keynes with Hertz to discover the best of this fascinating region.