Compare Tonbridge car hire

Sitting just north of the lush High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the River Medway in Kent, Tonbridge is a quaint English market town. Highlights here include the ancient Tonbridge Castle, built around 1066, Haysden Country Park and the Tonbridge Battle of Britain Museum.

Being in Tonbridge also sets you up nicely for day trips around the South East of England. Hire a car and drive north for a cultural day trip to London or head south to the beautiful coast.

There are some local and lesser-known hire car providers in Tonbridge, including Ton Hire and Practical Car & Van Rental. The latter has an office near the town centre, which is handy for picking up your keys.

Elsewhere, Enterprise is down the road in Royal Tunbridge Wells – a 15-minute cab ride away. At London Gatwick Airport, 35–40 minutes from Tonbridge, you’ll find Avis, Hertz, Sixt and Budget among other providers.

Once you have your wheels, there’s plenty to explore nearby. Take scenic walks through the nature trail at Haysden Country Park or explore the grounds of Penshurst Place, which was the birthplace of famous Elizabethan poets Mary and Philip Sidney. Medieval moated manor house, Ightham Mote, is a short drive away, and you can reach Hever Castle and Gardens – Anne Boleyn’s childhood home – in less than 30 minutes by road.

If you’re keen to explore beyond the immediate area, set out for the A21, which heads both north and south from Tonbridge. It’s often busy, especially as you travel down towards the coast – so leave plenty of time and be aware of varying speed limits along the route.

The A21 weaves through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and boasts some lovely views. Follow the road for approximately an hour to get to Hastings, where you can enjoy fish and chips on the beach and visit the castle ruins. Stop at the National Trust’s Scotney Castle on the way to Hastings for a walk around the gardens. On the way back, why not visit historic Battle – named after the famous battle of Hastings? You might even catch a re-enactment.

To explore a different part of the coast, the A26 leads to Brighton’s pebbly beach in just over an hour, while the A22 will take you to the Victorian seaside town of Eastbourne in around an hour and ten minutes.

Alternatively, head north on the A21 for the M25, which leads to the rural Surrey Hills and London. You can drive to Greenwich or Hampton Court Palace in about an hour, or park in Croydon, where there’s ample public transport into London city centre.

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.