Compare Leeds car hire

In recent years, Leeds has rediscovered its mojo as a cultural and commercial powerhouse – it’s ideal for a short city break. It’s also a busy motorway hub, meaning, at the wheel of a hire car, you can easily unlock the fascinating secrets of nearby rural Nidderdale, the Vale of York and the mysterious Pennine Moors.

If you're arriving at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), nine miles (14.5km) north-west of the city centre, you have a choice of four approved hire car companies. Avis, Enterprise, Europcar and Hertz each have booking offices at the terminal, meaning it's easy to find a cheap rental.

Once in your hire car, it's a straightforward drive into Leeds. Turn left out of the terminal on to Whitehouse Lane and follow the A658 around the western flank of the airport. Continue along this road as it becomes the A65, driving through Kirkstall en route to the eastern suburbs and city centre.

You'll find the Car Rental Centre on the corner of Whitehouse Lane and Scotland Lane, adjacent to the long stay car parks. A free, 24/7 shuttle serves the facility – simply take the bus from outside the airport terminal and jump off at the first stop.

Car rental companies at Leeds Bradford Airport in 2024 include:

• Avis (Tel: +44 344 544 6018)
• Enterprise (Tel: +44 113 391 1999)
• Europcar (Tel: +44 371 384 3421)
• Hertz (Tel: +44 843 309 3038)

There are plenty of hire car booking offices in Leeds, with Enterprise, Europcar and Hertz at the city centre railway station, plus clusters in Sheepscar to the north, Hunslet to the south and Armley to the west, so you’re sure to find a convenient location.

Leeds is served by a swirling mass of motorways and major road arteries, which provide dual-carriageway access to the heart of the city centre. Traffic jams are likely on the 40mph Inner Ring Road during rush hour, but with a little forward planning – and good fortune – you can avoid a slow crawl through the suburbs.

That said, don’t be surprised if you lose your bearings at first, or get stuck in the wrong lane and miss a crucial turn. Some of the junction sequences can be confusing, particularly around Quarry Hill and where the A64(M) meets the A58(M). There are plenty of signposts, but since it can be difficult to keep up, it's worth packing your satnav or a GPS-enabled smartphone.

Within the city centre, on-street parking is limited and the spaces you'll find are typically costly. There are various multi-storeys to choose from although, again, these can be pricey. Not until you reach the suburbs beyond the universities do you find areas where you can park for free.

If you’d rather leave the car behind, park and ride services will get you into the city centre in 10-15 minutes. The Elland Road site suits those coming from the south and west; Temple Green from the north and east. Day tickets are around £3, and up to three children travel free with every paying adult.

York

Driving time: 50 minutes

With its timber-framed cottages, gothic cathedral and 13th-century walls, York is the north of England's medieval city flag-bearer. This charming cobbled labyrinth teems with museums, traditional pubs and cafes. For a little culture, choose between York Castle, Barley Hall and the National Railway Museum.

Or if you prefer the fresh air, take a two-mile (3.4km) walk around the surviving city ramparts, stroll along the leafy riverbanks, or explore the narrow, atmospheric shopping streets. Afternoon tea at Bettys and an amble past timber-framed houses on The Shambles are absolute musts.

Bradford and the moors

Driving time: From 30 minutes

Rather like Leeds, Bradford has rebounded from the textile industry’s decline by rebranding as a city for the arts. Home of the National Science and Media Museum and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, it's also the perennial winner of the Curry Capital of Britain title.

City Park provides a new focal point for Bradford, with its 100 fountains, laser lights and mist. Just beyond the city, the West Yorkshire moors provide windswept expanses and panoramic hilltop views and the cobbled lanes of Haworth deep in Brontë country.

Fountains Abbey

Driving time: One hour

Just outside the medieval city of Ripon lies one of the largest and best-preserved monastic ruins in the UK. Set in the beautifully-landscaped Studley Royal Park, the iconic Fountains Abbey is a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 1132, the monastery operated for more than four centuries until it was seized and destroyed by Henry VIII in 1539. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors explore the vast ruins, the surviving abbey mill, and the adjacent Georgian water garden, which is full of canals, lakes, cascades, temples and fountains.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.