Set off from an RV hire in London and explore the countryside, coastlines, and historic sites of England and beyond. Drive south to the Jurassic Coast, west toward Stonehenge and Cornwall, or north through the Cotswolds and Peak District. Choose from Indie Campers' California, Active, or Comfort range, all with unlimited kilometres, flexible one-way options, 24/7 online support, and extras like bedding kits, outdoor furniture, or kitchen gear for added convenience. Trusted by thousands with a Europe-wide fleet and 4.8-star-rated service, Indie Campers makes exploring the UK accessible, comfortable, and unforgettable.
Our Road Trips Itineraries
The roads are excellent. M-motorways make long distances manageable, while A-roads and country lanes show you thatched cottages and village greens. Driving is on the left—if you're not used to it, give yourself time to adjust.
Here's what sets us apart:
April through October is ideal. May, September, and October are especially popular—you avoid peak summer crowds and school holidays while getting decent weather for both city exploring and countryside drives.
Spring (March to May)
Temperatures: 8-17°C
Gardens and countryside are blooming. Perfect for visiting stately homes and their grounds (Kew Gardens, Hampton Court). Easter brings some crowds. Frequent rain—bring waterproofs. By May, days are long and outdoor exploration is comfortable.
Best for: Garden visits, historic houses, walking trails, fewer tourists, lambing season in the countryside.
Summer (June to August)
Temperatures: 15-23°C
Peak season. London gets busy—especially July-August during school holidays. Coastal towns (Brighton, Cornwall) are packed. Longer days (sunset around 9pm) mean more exploring time. Book campgrounds ahead. Occasional heatwaves but generally comfortable.
Best for: Coastal trips, festivals (Glastonbury, Wimbledon, Notting Hill Carnival), outdoor activities, beach visits, long daylight hours.
Fall (September to November)
Temperatures: 10-18°C (September), cooling to 5-10°C (November)
Autumn colours in New Forest and Lake District. Fewer tourists after school starts mid-September. Harvest season—farmers' markets abundant. More rain and wind, especially November. Darker evenings from October onward.
Best for: Scenic drives, pub lunches, historic sites without crowds, autumn landscapes, lower campground prices.
Winter (December to February)
Temperatures: 2-8°C
Lowest hire prices (30-40% less). Many coastal campgrounds close. Some moorland roads close due to snow/ice. London Christmas markets and lights through December. Museums and indoor attractions are excellent alternatives. Short days (dark by 4pm). Some rural areas feel isolated.
Best for: Budget travellers, city exploration, Christmas markets, museum visits, cosy pub culture, New Year's celebrations.
Most popular months: May, July, August, and September.
3 to 5 Days
London to Cotswolds Loop (300km, 3-4 days)
London to South Coast (250km, 4 days)
London to Bath & Stonehenge (450km loop, 5 days)
7 to 10 Days
Southern England Grand Tour (900km, 8 days)
London → Oxford → Cotswolds → Bath → Stonehenge → Salisbury → New Forest → Brighton → Canterbury → London
London to Cornwall (1,200km round trip, 9 days)
London → Bath → Exeter → Dartmoor → Cornwall (St. Ives, Land's End, Tintagel) → return via Devon coast
London to Wales & Back (1,100km, 10 days)
London → Bath → Cardiff → Brecon Beacons → Pembrokeshire Coast → Snowdonia → Chester → Oxford → London
14+ Days
Full UK Tour (3,000km, 16 days)
London → Cotswolds → Wales → Lake District → Yorkshire Dales → Edinburgh → Scottish Highlands → return via east coast (York, Cambridge)
London to Europe via Eurotunnel (2,500km, 18 days)
London → Dover → Eurotunnel to Calais → Paris → Loire Valley → Burgundy → return, or continue to Amsterdam/Belgium
Most travellers find 7-10 days gives the right balance for London + 2-3 regions.
Fuel Stations
Average diesel price: £1.45-1.60/litre (motorway services £0.10-0.15 more expensive)
Important: Most London campervans run on diesel, NOT petrol. Check your fuel type before filling.
Dump Stations
Most campgrounds along major routes (M4, M40, A1) have dump stations for non-guests (£5-8 fee).
Helpful Apps
Requirements
Booking
What's Included
Parking Near Central London
Important: DO NOT drive your campervan into central London if you can avoid it. Congestion Charge (£15/day) + ULEZ charge (Ultra Low Emission Zone, £12.50/day for older diesels) + difficult parking = expensive and stressful.
Park & Ride Strategy: Park at campgrounds outside London, take public transport in.
If you must park in London:
London Gateway Services (M1 North) - Scratchwood, NW7 | Free up to 2 hours, then £25/24 hours | Height restrictions apply | Not for overnight
Brent Cross Shopping Centre - NW4 | £6-15/day depending on duration | Height limit 2.4m (too low for most RVs)
Alexandra Palace Way - N22 | Street parking, free on Sundays | Check signs for restrictions | Not secure
Best approach: Stay at Lee Valley or Crystal Palace campsites and use public transport.
Congestion Charge & ULEZ
Congestion Charge Zone: Central London, Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, weekends 12pm-6pm | £15/day | Must pay online by midnight next day
ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone): Most of Greater London, 24/7 | £12.50/day for older diesel vehicles | Check your campervan's Euro emissions standard (should be Euro 6 or newer to avoid charge)
How to check: Enter licence plate at tfl.gov.uk/check-vehicle
Our advice: Avoid driving in these zones entirely.
Getting from Airport/Train
From London Heathrow (LHR):
From London Gatwick (LGW):
From London Stansted (STN):
From King's Cross/St Pancras Station:
Left-Hand Driving for International Visitors
If you're not used to driving on the left, here are key tips:
Your passenger is your curb guide - They're closest to the curb. If they can touch it, you're too far left.
Roundabouts go clockwise - Enter from left, give way to traffic from the right, exit where needed. Signal left when exiting.
The driver sits in the centre of the road - If you find yourself on the left side of the lane, you're probably in the wrong lane.
Wipers vs turn signals - You'll accidentally hit wipers instead of turn signals for the first day. Everyone does it.
Practice in a quiet area first - Spend 30 minutes driving in a quiet neighbourhood or car park before hitting major roads.
Country lanes - Single-track roads with passing places. Pull over at wider sections to let oncoming traffic pass. Locals know the roads—let them through.
Speed Limits
Speed cameras (fixed and mobile) are common. Fines sent to your address.
Roundabouts
Give way to the right - Traffic already in the roundabout has priority. Enter when clear, exit at your desired road. Signal left when exiting.
Single-Track Roads
Common in Scotland, Wales, and rural England. Passing places (marked with blue signs) allow vehicles to pass. Pull in on the left, or wait opposite if the passing place is on the right. Be patient—locals know when to go.
Alcohol Limit
England/Wales: 0.08% BAC (roughly 1 pint). Scotland: 0.05% BAC (half a pint). Don't risk it. Penalties include licence suspension, fines, possible jail time.
RV-Specific
Height: Know your vehicle height (2.7-3.2m typical). Many historic bridges, tunnels, and village lanes are 3m or lower. Watch for low bridges (clearly marked with height in feet and metres).
Width: Narrow country lanes are common. Pull in at wider sections to let oncoming traffic pass. Wing mirrors will fold in if needed.
Wild camping: Not illegal in most of England/Wales but frowned upon on private land. Scotland has "Right to Roam" laws allowing wild camping. Use common sense: remote areas, leave no trace, move after one night. Better to use campgrounds or designated spots.
Parking: Most pub car parks allow overnight parking if you're a customer (ask permission). National Trust car parks often prohibit overnight stays (signs posted). Height barriers common in town centre car parks.
Narrow bridges: Many old stone bridges are single-lane. Priority signs indicate who gives way (larger red arrow = you must wait).
RV hire: £650-1,300 (varies by vehicle/season)
Fuel: £180-320 (diesel £1.45-1.60/L, 600-800km typical)
Campgrounds: £210-350 (£30-50/night × 7)
Food: £140-300 (cooking vs restaurants)
Attractions: £100-250 (museums, historic sites, National Trust properties)
Congestion/ULEZ charges: £0-27.50/day if driving in London zones
Total estimates:
One-way fees vary.
London is the gateway to Britain's most diverse road trip network, and Britain delivers extraordinary variety within a remarkably compact geography. The Cotswolds are 90 minutes west. The South Downs coast is under 2 hours south. Dartmoor and Cornwall's Atlantic beaches are 4 hours southwest. Snowdonia's mountain lakes are 4 hours northwest. The Scottish Highlands are a full day's drive north, and worth every mile. No other city in the UK, and few in Europe, puts this concentration of landscapes, heritage, and coastline within a single week's driving range.
The practical advantages are equally strong. London has multiple hire locations, excellent road connections in every direction, and you're clear of the city and into open countryside within 30-45 minutes via the M25 orbital. Unlike starting a trip from a rural depot, you have full supermarket provisioning, camping gear retailers, and fuel infrastructure before you leave. The M4 heads west to Wales and Bristol. The A1/M1 heads north toward Yorkshire and Scotland. The M3 heads southwest toward Hampshire and Dorset. Every route is well-surfaced, well-signposted, and RV-accessible throughout.
September and October are consistently strong months for London RV hires — summer crowds have thinned, the New Forest and Peak District are at their most atmospheric, and the Cotswolds turn golden. May and June are the finest months for Cornwall and the South West: long evenings, bluebells in the Devon hedgerows, and manageable crowds before the school summer holiday peak in late July.
Over 11,000 travellers hired campervans from London last year. Find your vehicle and start planning your UK road trip.
For most travelers, a special licence is not necessary to hire a campervan in London. A valid driving licence is required, though, to operate any of our vehicles. If you are a non-EU citizen, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required in addition to your home country’s driving licence. Additionally, your licence must match the transmission type of the vehicle (manual or automatic). You can find more details about driving licence requirements here.
Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just be sure to add the extra cleaning service when booking. This ensures a professional anti-allergy cleaning is carried out after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per campervan, and it must not exceed 30kg in weight. Also, we are not liable for any legal fees related to traveling with pets. If you’re booking through our marketplace, check the “vehicle rules” section to confirm if the vehicle is pet-friendly.
The sleeping capacity of our campervans and motorhomes varies depending on the model and size. Our Class C motorhomes can typically accommodate 4 to 8 people, while our Class B campervans can sleep between 2 to 4 people. Vehicles equipped with a rooftop tent generally have space for around 2 people. For a full breakdown of our models and sleeping capacities, click here.
If you're exploring London in a campervan rental, it's essential to be aware of the country’s official camping regulations. Many natural areas are legally protected, so using designated overnight parking spots or official campsites is strongly recommended. This not only helps preserve the environment but also ensures a safe and enjoyable experience. For more guidance on safety and responsible camping, click here.
We provide three different protection plans to cover any incidents or damages that might occur during your campervan rental. All Indie Campers campervans come with third-party vehicle insurance, and property damage coverage (which varies based on the country). For marketplace rentals, insurance options may differ depending on the host. For further details on campervan insurance, visit this page.
Yes, our search filter makes it easy to rent a campervan close to your location by using a 60km radius system. Depending on where you're searching from, you can quickly find the nearest Indie Campers campervan rental pick-up centre.
Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers RV rentals in London include unlimited mileage, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited mileage applies exclusively to Indie Campers RVs and is subject to responsible use.
Our Campervans
Our Road Trips Itineraries
“Great service, quality vehicle. Had van for 5 weeks with no issues after travelling the Uk from North to South.”
“Receipt pick up and drop was excellent and everything was checked and confirmed working order. On return Kanada met at reception gave us coffee after the long trip and fully checked the vehicle for any issues. Will use again in the summer and recommend to my friends a excellent trip tja”
“VW California, Aditya Dumbre helped us out as great, couldn’t recommend more”
