Car Hire Bury St Edmunds

Car Hire

The historic market town of Bury St Edmunds dates back to the 19th century and is centred on the famous Abbey of St Edmund, which sits near the town centre. It is located at the centre of England’s East Anglia region, making it a popular place for visitors to use as a base for travelling throughout the region. The A14 road skirts the town centre, making it easy to get out and explore the region, with car hire the most convenient way to do this.

Who to Book With
International car hire agents such as National, Europcar and Alamo have branches right in the town centre. This makes getting out and around easy, though it is still best to book car rental online before arrival to ensure availability.

Best Time to Go
Bury St Edmunds is predominately a summer destination though tourists can be seen here throughout the year. If arriving in July or August, expect rates to be marginally higher than rates in off peak times, while in the winter some great deals can be had. Rainfall is spread quite evenly across the year in Bury St Edmunds, with October generally being the wettest month.

Need to Know Essentials
Drivers will need to show the following documents in order to collect their car rental:

- Both parts of a UK driving licence
- Proof of ID, such as a passport or a utility bill
- The credit card used to make the online booking
- Confirmation of booking

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
No area of Bury St Edmunds is more than a 45-minute walk from the centre, making it easy to get around on foot, while on market days (Wednesday and Saturday) the town centre is completely pedestrianised. City-run car parks are located within a 10-minute walk of the town centre though there are a few short-term car parks a little bit closer. All car parks in Bury St Edmunds are pay-and-display, with tariffs being higher on market days.

Look at our guide to the UK for more tips on driving here.

Transport

There is no need to drive in Bury St Edmunds as the town is quite small and can easily be explored on foot. Public buses are scarce in the town centre but connect Bury St Edmunds with the rest of Suffolk County, though a car is the most reliable way to get out and explore. Cycling is a great way to get around Bury St Edmunds as the town is equipped with designated bicycle lanes.

Trains
Bury St Edmunds Railway Station is located in the northeast part of the town centre and has been open since 1847. Greater Anglia has two lines that stop here; the Peterborough–Ipswich line and the Ipswich to Ely line. The railway station is also connected to Amsterdam, as Dutchflyer’s Cambridge to Amsterdam line makes a stop here.

Taxis
There are three taxi ranks in the town centre where licensed taxis can be found. Taxis are not necessary for getting around the town centre but provide travellers with a way to get to the nearest airport, London Stansted, with fares to the facility around £60.

Buses
There are no local buses in Bury St Edmunds, but National Express coach services stop here on their Victoria Coach Station to Great Yarmouth route as well as their route between Clacton-on-Sea and Liverpool.

Exploring

Bury St Edmunds’ abbey, cathedral and Saint Mary’s church are its main landmarks, as well as its Wednesday and Saturday market. Otherwise, there is little to see and do here, but its location makes it easy to get out and explore. There are many interesting places to visit close by and with a car, any number of these locations can be discovered.

Recommended Drives

The National Horseracing Museum - This is located in the town of Newmarket, which is most famous for its horseracing and for being home of the Jockey Club. Horse lovers will love wandering around this museum, which displays trophies, paintings, jockey uniforms and other horseracing memorabilia. Even if you are not a fan of horseracing, you will enjoy walking around the picturesque country town.

Norwich - Known as the two cathedral city, is a great place to spend a day visiting its famous cathedrals and castle, and walking along its medieval streets. The one-hour drive here is beautiful as it passes through Thetford Forest.

Lowestoft - This is a lovely coastal town that was once a bustling fishing port. It boasts some of the finest beaches along the North Sea and is home to an amusement park, a zoo and the historical Lowestoft High Lighthouse. It makes for a great day out with the family.