When visiting England’s rugged east coast, enjoy your stay to the fullest with car hire in Ipswich. See everything that this coastal town has to offer with your own vehicle that can take you from the famous café-lined waterfront to the picturesque greenery to be found around Suffolk. Having your own vehicle means you can even visit sites of interests nearby, such as Christchurch Mansion, or further afield, such as the Ipswich Transport Museum.
Ipswich is dominated by the majestic River Orwell, and you can find car hire locations on both sides of the water. For those coming by plane, the nearest airports are Southend SEN (39 miles away) and London Stansted STN (40 miles away), meaning you can get from Arrivals to Ipswich in just over an hour. Picking up and dropping off in the area is as easy as can be, and the handy location puts you close to the A14 road for journeys further afield around the UK.
In many ways, Ipswich is an ideal city for hire car drivers, as it is big enough to offer plenty of sites to see, while small and quiet enough to offer nice open roads for smooth and stress-free journeys. Driving alongside the marina is particularly enjoyable, but be aware that Ipswich’s city centre is implementing a number of one-way systems to help ease congestion, particularly during the week. Always remain alert to the growing community of avid cyclists that can be found around Ipswich as well.
The city centre suffers with congestion during commuting times, so be sure to only drive during rush hour (8:00–10:00 and 17:00–19:00) when it’s absolutely necessary. Also, as a coastal town, Ipswich suffers from extreme weather, including strong winds and heavy rain during the colder months. These should all be taken into account when planning your car hire in Ipswich.
Book your rental car in Ipswich at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Mini rental cars in Ipswich are around 45% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Ipswich
The choice is truly yours with the huge variety of vehicles available from car hire companies in Ipswich. Economy vehicles are a popular choice for Ipswich car hire, offering an easy and cost-effective way of getting around the coast, however you may want something different depending on your needs. If travelling as part of a large group, perhaps a people carrier would be better suited, while business trips may call for premium vehicles instead.
An increasing amount of urban areas and streets in residential villages are introducing 20mph speed limits, so be careful when heading into the more quiet areas with your Ipswich car hire. The area’s A-class and B-class roads generally follow national guidance on speed limits, so no surprises there, but be careful when travelling on the larger roads such as the nearby A14, which has been known for having both fixed and mobile speed cameras in use.
As well as offering plenty of on-street parking, you can find car parks in Ipswich city centre for both short-term and long-term stays. These include Crown car park, which is the largest in the city and offers 536 spaces. Prices start at £1 and you pay for each hour you stay, with even cheaper rates offered during off-peak hours such as after 14:00 and after 20:00. Ipswich Borough Council is also introducing a number of cashless parking stations, meaning you can simply park up and pay via your smartphone to make things even easier when you want to find a spot for your vehicle.
The average gas price in Ipswich is ₪23.87 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₪286 and ₪382, depending on the car size.
Mini (Fiat 500 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Ipswich.