Don't rent a car when you're in a city. Renting a car in the United Kingdom can be great for exploring the countryside. But driving in London or Manchester has the same frustrations as elsewhere in the world. Instead, plan on using public transit and cabs to get around.

For the vast majority of visitors, renting a car in London is not a good idea and is often described as a logistical nightmare. London features one of the most comprehensive and efficient public transport networks in the world, including the "Tube," buses, and the Elizabeth Line, which make a car unnecessary for city exploration. Driving in central London involves navigating the Congestion Charge zone (currently £15 per day) and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which can result in significant daily fees for non-compliant vehicles. Traffic congestion is among the worst in Europe, and parking is both extremely scarce and prohibitively expensive, often costing more than a luxury meal for just a few hours. Additionally, the city is filled with narrow streets, complex one-way systems, and "Low Traffic Neighborhoods" (LTNs) that are strictly enforced by cameras. Unless you are planning a multi-day trip into the remote countryside with heavy luggage, or you have specific accessibility needs that public transit cannot meet, you will find that walking and using an Oyster card or contactless payment is faster, cheaper, and far less stressful than trying to pilot a vehicle through the London maze.