Car Hire Scunthorpe

Car Hire

Scunthorpe is a pleasant town in the North Lincolnshire area of England. It is a former steel-producing town which has undergone something of a renaissance since the British government closed down all the iron-ore mines in the area more than two decades ago. Scunthorpe has no major tourism draws and offers a relaxing base from which to explore this interesting part of the country by car.

Who to Book With
Practical, Enterprise and Avis are the three international car hire suppliers with service depots in Scunthorpe. Ready Rent a Car is the best known of a handful of regional firms. Most of the rental companies work from offices in industrial parks on the outskirts. There is a grouping on Normanby Road. Drivers can book their vehicle online and this usually garners the best daily rates.

Best Time to go
Scunthorpe is not on the UK’s mainstream tourist trail and does not receive too many visitors. Mid-June to the end of September is the best time to visit, although the town centre and roads in the surrounding locality tend to be busier during the school summer holiday period.

Need to Know Essentials
Hire companies require renters to show the following when they pick up their vehicles:

- A current UK driving license, both parts if it is the new one with a photo
- A passport or some other photo ID
- The voucher or confirmation number for the reservation
- The debit or credit card originally used to confirm the booking

Our FAQ's page provides additional details.

Driving
Scunthorpe is almost a pleasure to drive around and presents little difficulty. Parking spaces are easier to find than in other larger UK cities. There are also a number of car parks dotted around the centre. Parking charges at short-stay car parks are £1.50 for up to two hours. Long-stay car parking is £2 for up to four hours and £3 for the day. Getting out of Scunthorpe is easy and Doncaster, Grimsby, Hull and Lincoln are all within a 48-km radius.

Our guide to driving in the UK has more details about laws and road conditions in the country.

Transport

The town centre, shopping precincts, North Lincolnshire Museum, and railway and bus stations in Scunthorpe are all in close proximity and within walking range of each other. Taxis and buses are the public transport options for heading out of town. A car rental offers that extra freedom and also the means of taking excursions to locations not on public transportation routes.

Trains
Scunthorpe’s train station is on the line between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes. Hourly trains in each direction are operated by First TransPennine Express and also stop at Sheffield, Doncaster and Grimsby en route. The station is only a short walk from the town centre. It has a taxi rank outside and is on local bus routes.

Buses
Two bus firms provide service here. Stagecoach and Hornsby Travel serve city routes as well as ones to villages in the surrounding area. Weekly passes are available for frequent travellers at prices beginning at £8.80.

Taxis
There are a number of taxi and private hire companies in Scunthorpe which offer 24/7 service and accept telephone bookings. Fares out of town are usually quoted at fixed prices when booking. Taxi ranks are found in the town centre and at the railway station.

Exploring

Besides the North Lincolnshire Museum and shopping there is little to encourage visitors to tarry in Scunthorpe itself. The town’s real attraction lies in its prime location for exploring the region with a self-drive car hire. East coast seaside towns and amusements, Lincoln Castle and the quirky Mr Straw's House are easily accessible on daytrips.

Recommended Drives

Lincoln Castle - This is an 11th-century masterpiece in the centre of Lincoln. Highlights at this beautifully preserved Norman edifice include a walk around the ramparts and the chance of seeing one of the only four copies of the Magna Carta still in existence.

Pleasure Island Family Theme Park - Located in Cleethorpes this park offers a fun day out for people of all ages with amusements ranging from dodgems and roundabouts for kids to aptly named white-knuckle rides such as Hyperblaster and Obliterator. Bird and sea-lion shows are among the other draws here.

Mr Straw's House - Located in Worksop, this is one of the more unusual tourist sites in the region. It transports visitors back to the early years of the 20th-century with artefacts, furnishings and exhibits much as they were when the grocer's family inhabited the semi-detached residence. The house is not big and the National Trust recommends that people pre-book their visit.