Car Hire Romford

Once an Essex market town, today Romford is part of East London, within the borough of Havering. The A1251 creates a ring road circling its centre, which is made up of several sections including Waterloo Road, Oldchurch Road and St Edwards Way. 

This connects to London Road, heading west towards Chadwell Heath. It eventually becomes the A118 and then the A11, passing south of Stratford towards central London. The A12, which runs north of Romford, also joins the A11 providing access to the city centre.

In the other direction, you can follow the A12 to join the M25, also known as the London Orbital motorway (it encircles the capital and provides connections to the surrounding towns and suburbs), as well as the M1 motorway that heads up to Birmingham and the Midlands, and the North of England.

You can also head south out of Romford by following the A13, which passes London City Airport in around half an hour, before continuing towards Canary Wharf. This route connects to the North Circular Road, officially the A406, which loops around central London connecting suburbs such as Wembley, Barking and Southgate.

Speed limits are given in miles per hour, and vary along these roads, though it is mainly 30mph (48km/h) or 20mph (32km/h) on most of the streets within and around Romford. On the A12 it’s mostly 50mph (80km/h), which is true for a lot of the M25 as well, but always check the signs in case of any changes. Motorways and dual-carriageways outside of towns and cities typically have a maximum of 70mph (112km/h).

When driving in central London, you’ll need to pay the congestion charge that applies from Monday to Friday. You can find all the details, including how to pay online, at the Transport for London website. Parking in central London is possible, though spaces are at a premium, but cheaper locations can be found a little further out and there are large multi-storey options.

Within Romford itself, there’s plenty of town centre parking. Some of these car parks are open 24 hours and many are free on Sundays.

As you’d expect from a town on the outskirts of London, this place boasts a great selection of shops, restaurants and things to do.

Hire a car in Romford to head further afield, exploring all that East London and the surrounding areas of Essex have to offer. 

Get back to nature or sunbathe by the sea

Bedfords Park, just north of the town centre, boasts hundreds of acres of historic parkland and a nature reserve, home to red deer and other wildlife. Follow one of the walking trails to try and spot them in their habitat, or cycle round for a flying visit.

There’s a large free car park and the site is open all year round, so it’s a great place to visit in your hire car, especially in the spring when the woodland is covered in bluebells. The visitor centre also offers excellent views over the surrounding areas of London and Kent.

If you’re craving a beach, however, take a trip beyond the M25 and explore the coast for a fantastic family day out. The popular resort of Southend-on-Sea, less than 50 kilometres away, is home to wonderful sandy shores and family-friendly attractions, with panoramic views of the coastline from its pier. Grab an ice cream and relax in a deckchair, or go for a paddle in the sea on a warm sunny day.

Enjoy the cultural highlights

Housed within the historic Romford War Memorial Building, the Brookside Theatre hosts live music, comedy and drama all year round. Just a short drive away is the Queen’s Theatre, in Hornchurch, which boasts an impressive schedule of local and touring productions – be sure to check the listings before visiting.

Havering boasts two museums, one of which is in Romford town centre. The Havering Museum is a small but fascinating attraction that tells the story of the borough, from prehistoric times to the present day. Run by friendly and knowledgeable volunteers, there are two permanent galleries and a temporary exhibition room.

Look out for East London landmarks

Hire a car in Romford and you’re well-placed to visit East London’s top attractions, with the district of Stratford just a short distance away. This area was regenerated for the London 2012 Olympics, and today it’s a thriving hub for shopping and days out. 

Many attractions centre around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the London Stadium, Aquatics Centre, VeloPark and other venues built to host events in 2012. Walking tours are available, and if you’re visiting in the spring or summer you can even take a boat out onto the water, providing a great view of all the landmarks.

If you’ve got a head for heights, take a trip to see the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, a distinctive structure made from twisted red metals overlooking the park. It boasts two observation platforms at the top, where you can enjoy panoramic views of London from 80 metres high.

You can also undertake some retail therapy at Westfield Stratford City, one of the biggest shopping centres in London. It’s packed with department stores and high street names, along with a cinema and dozens of restaurants – ideal for relaxing at the end of a busy day.

With car hire in Romford, all this and much more is within your reach.