Car Hire Wembley

As you’d expect from such an important business and entertainment district, Wembley enjoys excellent road connections to surrounding parts of London. It lies just off the A406, also known as the North Circular Road, which divides central London from the outer suburbs. This route runs right across the north of the city, from Woolwich in the east to Chiswick in the west.

You can follow the A406 from Wembley to join the M1 motorway, a major route that connects London with Leeds in the north of England. You can use the M1 to access destinations just north of London, including the town of Watford, as well as Leicester, Nottingham and other cities in the Midlands.

In the other direction, the A406 will take you to the A41, also known as Hendon Way and Finchley Road, which leads south through Stoke Newington and into central London. If you are planning to drive into the city centre, you will need to pay the congestion charge which applies on weekdays between 7am and 6pm. It’s easy to pay online – check the Transport for London website for full details.

The main road through Wembley itself is Harrow Road, which runs through the centre from east to west before continuing north towards the neighbouring borough of Harrow. If you are planning to park your hire car and explore on foot, you will find some areas of Wembley are part of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), with spaces only available for drivers with permits.

However, you will find there’s plenty of pay-and-display parking available, including the car park at Wembley Central Square. Wembley Park also has a 24-hour car park that’s conveniently placed for visiting Wembley Arena, the stadium and London Designer Outlet.

Speed limits are displayed in miles per hour and are generally 20mph (32km/h) in some residential zones, 30mph (48km/h) in most built-up areas and 70mph (112km/h) on motorways and dual-carriageways, but always check signs as this can vary.

Home to a world-famous sports stadium and other major attractions, Wembley is a hugely popular destination for visitors to London.

It’s well-placed for visiting all the landmarks right at the heart of the city, while destinations such as Kew Gardens and Hyde Park are also within easy reach.

Sporting icons

Wembley Stadium is undoubtedly one of the most famous venues in the UK, hosting huge sporting events ranging from Premier League football to rugby and NFL games. The site boasts a long and proud history, with its original twin towers first built back in the 1920s. Its first football match – an FA Cup final between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham – was played in 1923.

The structure you can see today, with its distinctive soaring arch, was first opened to the public in 2007 following a major expansion and redevelopment project. If you don’t have tickets to see a match, you can still go behind the scenes by taking a guided tour, which includes access to the dressing rooms, players tunnel and royal box.

Tour availability varies depending on the schedule of events being held at the stadium, so check online and book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Showstopper attractions

As well as the stadium, Wembley is home to a couple of other big-name venues that host events all year round. The SSE arena is the second largest indoor arena in London after the O2 and regularly hosts the biggest stars in music and comedy, as well as boxing, wrestling and even e-sports events.

The stadium and arena are both in the area known as Wembley Park, and it’s here that you’ll also find the London Designer Outlet, a huge shopping mall packed with high street names and designer labels offering discounted lines. There are plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and a cinema, if you need a break from browsing for bargains.

Parks and garden retreats

With a hire car in Wembley, it’s also easy to take the short drive to Hyde Park, one of London’s most beloved outdoor attractions, which lies just 12 kilometres away from Wembley Park.

Established by Henry VIII in 1536, Hyde Park spans more than 360 acres and boasts peaceful gardens, fascinating monuments and highlights such as Speakers’ Corner, where Winston Churchill, Karl Marx and many others once captivated the crowds. At the centre of the park is the stunning Serpentine lake, surrounded by beautiful gardens and a memorial fountain and walkway dedicated to the memory of Princess Diana.

Also just a short drive away is Kew Gardens, London’s biggest Unesco World Heritage site and the perfect place to unwind. Highlights include the tranquil Waterlily House and the Palm House, which houses an indoor rainforest with some of the rarest plants on earth.

If you’ve got a head for heights, you can also take a stroll along the Treetop Walkway – at 18 metres up, it offers an incredible view of the gardens from above. Parking is available on Ferry Lane and on Kew Road nearby. With car hire in Wembley, you can explore it all.