London is a wonderful destination that is well worth exploring with car hire. Renting a car in London allows you to break out of the city and experience all that is unique. Whether you're visiting London on a flying visit or you're in for a longer stay, let car hire take you to your destination. Whatever way you plan to spend your time in London, you can be guaranteed a memorable travel adventure. Once you've picked up your car from Luton Airport, you're free to discover the charms of the city and the surrounding countryside. The following is a handy guide to how best to spend your time in London.

Luton Mini Guide:

London's Luton Airport is located 51 km outside of Central London. Luton Airport offers a number of services and facilities including: banks, ATMs, cafés, bars and restaurants. The airport is signposted on major routes including the M1, M25 and A1.

Things To See/Do in Luton-London

Luton is a large town located in the south of England. Aside from the airport, Luton is perhaps most famous today for being the home of Luton Town Football Club, who play in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship. The club's biggest success to date was winning the League Cup in 1988. The team's nickname, "the hatters" comes from Luton's flourishing millinery industry in the nineteenth century.

The town is also famous for Luton Carnival, which is held in May each year. The multicultural event has become the largest one-day carnival in Europe, with crowds of over 150, 000 on each occasion.

Luton's surrounding countryside has plenty on offer for those craving fresh air and wide-open spaces. Why not leave Luton behind and make a car hire journey to the nearby Whipsnade Wildlife Park and Zoo? The Wildlife Park and Zoo is home to over 2,500 animals and is one of the biggest conservation parks in Europe.

Active thrill-seekers may like to stop off at Dunstable Downs, (which forms part of the Chiltern Hills) for a spot of hang gliding or paragliding.

If that's not exciting enough, don't forget London city is never far away, offering superb shopping on Bond Street and Oxford Street, world-class theatre shows in the West End and of course museums, galleries and iconic features like Big Ben, London Bridge and Buckingham Palace.

Eating Out/Nightlife/Accommodation in Luton-London:

Eating out in Luton is cheap, given the town's growing population of budget conscious students. The town offers a range of eateries to suit all palates and budgets, including cosy gastro-pubs, sleek international restaurants and cheap cafés. The Bury Park area caters especially to Asian tastes. For a special night out it's well worth heading into London to its vast selection of trendy clubs and nightspots.

It's easy to find accommodation in Luton to fit every budget and requirement. Thrifty travellers can rest easy at The Red Lion Lodge Hotel, situated on Castle Street. The hotel deals in cheap room rates starting at £45 for a double room. Leaside Hotel & Restaurant is another budget option-special offers include family room rates priced at £80 a night.

About the Author - Fiona writes for Argus Rentals and Car Hire UK