The town of Bracknell lies between Reading (west) and Woking (east) in the south-eastern county of Berkshire. With a car hire in Bracknell, you own the freedom, convenience and versatility to explore the town at your leisure and discover areas off the beaten track otherwise limited by public transport. Swindon lies about 50 miles west along the M4 while the seaside resort town of Bognor Regis lies about 76 miles south via the A3.
Only 12 miles east of the town centre, London Heathrow Airport is the closest air hub to Bracknell and the first place you can hire a car in Bracknell if arriving by plane. From Domestic Arrivals at Terminal 2, walk straight ahead and turn right at World Duty Free, where you’ll find the terminal’s Car Hire Centre. When arriving at Terminal 5, walk straight ahead from Domestic Arrivals and find the car hire centre midway between WH Smith and World Duty Free on the left.
Bracknell is a significant technology hub on the outskirts of the Greater London Urban Area with adjunct retail businesses. Expect moderate traffic build-up along many of the town’s inner streets as well as the major inbound/outbound roadways during the morning and evening rush hour periods. In addition to the town centre, you can anticipate heavy pedestrian and cycle activity south of the Woke Hill district, where its two colleges are located. The summer period from June–September is also likely to experience additional overall traffic due to tourism.
Morning rush hours in Bracknell last from about 07:00–09:00, peaking around 08:00. Areas to avoid are Met Office Roundabout along the A329 and the Station Roundabout near Bracknell Rail Station. The A322 is the only primary road connecting the town to destinations beyond the town limits and so is liable to experience heavy vehicular volumes inbound and outbound during these periods. Meanwhile, the downtown retail zone around Honeywell Roundabout (Princess Square Bracknell Shopping Centre) is very busy with pedestrian and motor activity from 13:00–15:00.
Book your rental car in Bracknell at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Compact rental cars in Bracknell are around 32% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Bracknell
If you’re travelling with five or more people, then an intermediate vehicle (SUV, saloon) or people carrier is the most comfortable means of transport and has more storage capacity. For smaller groups, a compact or economy Bracknell car hire is recommended for affordability and handling.
The legal speed limit within the town of Bracknell is 30mph except in restricted areas (school, hospitals, and commercial zones) where reduced speeds are common. Single carriageway secondary roads carry a speed limit of about 50mph, while along dual carriageway primary roads (A329) you are allowed to drive at speeds up to 60mph. As for motorways, the maximum speed allowed is 70mph. CCTV and traffic cams are present around restricted zones and major junctions so drive with caution.
There are nearly 50 public short stay, long stay and recreational parking areas around Bracknell, so you should have no trouble finding a spot if on-street parking is unavailable. Short stay bays carry a 2h limit and are generally free of tariffs, while long stay garages charge a tariff of about £1.80 per hour and are pay and display. At multi-storey parking sites, rates start at around £1.60 per hour up to a flat rate of £9 for 8h or longer. Many of the Bracknell Forrest Council public parking sites are open 24h/day and most include Blue Badge parking for disabled drivers.
The average price of fuel in Bracknell is $10.73 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between $129 and $172, depending on the car size.
Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Bracknell.