Luton Airport Basics
The Luton Airport was considered the most profitable airport in all of U.K. until one if its primary carriers, the Court Line Airline, ceased operations in the early 70's. Since then the Luton Airport has been successful, but not like a couple of its U.K. counterparts Heathrow and Gatwick for example. The airport is situated about an hour's drive from London and is still well-located if your ultimate destination is London.
Luton Airport Car Rental
Car rental companies are situated in the first level in the arrivals area of the terminal. Avis, National, Alamo, Europcar, and Hertz are all located in what Luton calls its Onward Travel Center. Coaches, Easybus tickets and train tickets are all available in this area as well. There is a free shuttle service available for car rental customers. The shuttle will take customers from the terminal to the car hire center a short distance away from the airport. Shuttles run consistently throughout the day.
To get to London from the Car Hire Center at the Luton Airport, you will travel out East on Percival Way towards the Holiday Inn Express near the traffic circle. When you get to the Holiday Inn Express, travel around the traffic circle and go down the hill and veer left on Airport Way / A1081 for about 3 km until you encounter another traffic circle. You are going to travel straight through the circle to get to M1. After a little less than 1 km, you will veer left onto M1. Travel about 38 km until you come to an area underneath an overpass where you will turn hard to the right towards Kilburn A5. You will actually be hopping back on the A406 for few meters to finally get on A5 towards the city center of London.
Traveling back to the airport form London, you will essentially travel back to the airport the same way, via M1. Remember to turn back left at the Holiday Inn Express on Percival Road. Travel about 1.6 km until you reach the car hire center.
Remember that you may need to re-fuel. There is a petrol service station on a road near the car hire center. When turning on the Percival Road near the Holiday Inn Express, drive about 1 km until you come to a traffic circle. Go left on the circle and watch for signs. You will go left again, go downhill a little ways and the Shell Service Station will be on the left-hand side of the road. Travel back the way you came to deliver your car back to the car hire center.
Hotel Near the Luton Airport
When leaving the airport (and the car rental center for that matter), you will see a large Holiday Inn Express at the corner of Percival Road and the Airport Way. This is easily the closest hotel to the Luton Airport and rooms can generally be had for less than 140.00 throughout the year - which isn't too bad considering you get a free breakfast out of the deal. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lounge and in the business center for your convenience. There is no swimming pool.
As far as restaurants go, we have chosen the A One Dosa in Luton. Luton has a growing mix of ethnicity to the area. In fact 10-15% of the population of Luton is of Asian descent, such as Pakistani and Indian. As a result, some of the best food you'll eat near the Luton Airport may be the ethnic food that has been created as a result. The One Dosa is on 129 Dunstable Road on the other side of Luton. Go down Dunstable on the North side of town, and the restaurant will be on the left side of the road - about half way down. Tripadvisor.com ratings give this little spot a pretty strong score, so far. Stay posted.
Luton Airport Amenities
There are some decent eating places both before and after security. Before security (public areas) you have options such as Yam Yam, Food Village, Costa and Caffe Nero. In the after security areas, food options get a little better. Places like Pret A Manger, Pip and the Real Food Company have areas set up before you take off on your flight.
Shopping includes the basics. The Tie Rack, Voyager and Galleria are some names that will sell you just about anything you could imagine (at least the typical airport shopping experience). As the Luton Airport is smaller than some of its airport counterparts, your shopping choices will generally be relatively fewer as well.
Wi-Fi is available through a provider called Spectrum. It is not free, but there are a couple of plans to choose from - ranging from just an hour or two to a full day's plan.
Luton Airport Car Rental Options
Just about every type of car you would expect to be able to rent at an airport car rental service is available at the Luton. You will have options such as economy cars, standard cars, luxury cars, SUV's, and compacts as well. We generally recommend that you reserve early, especially if you are reserving a more expensive car. The more expensive options are usually stocked less at most locations as to keep less-used, higher-cost inventory items down. Also, look into a GPS it you're unfamiliar with the London area. Often GPS's (among other add-ons) can be picked up when booking your rental car. In fact, occasionally car rental companies will entice customers to step up their rental car choice with a free GPS or other add-on.
Another thing to consider when booking is adding additional drivers to the booking process. Doing so will confirm insurability for any other drivers that may be driving the rental car. If you allow someone to drive that hasn't been authorized to drive the car and an accident occurs, you might find yourself in deep trouble. Do the right thing and let the car rental company know beforehand - even if it costs you money on the front end.
The Luton Airport was considered the most profitable airport in all of U.K. until one if its primary carriers, the Court Line Airline, ceased operations in the early 70's. Since then the Luton Airport has been successful, but not like a couple of its U.K. counterparts Heathrow and Gatwick for example. The airport is situated about an hour's drive from London and is still well-located if your ultimate destination is London.
Luton Airport Car Rental
Car rental companies are situated in the first level in the arrivals area of the terminal. Avis, National, Alamo, Europcar, and Hertz are all located in what Luton calls its Onward Travel Center. Coaches, Easybus tickets and train tickets are all available in this area as well. There is a free shuttle service available for car rental customers. The shuttle will take customers from the terminal to the car hire center a short distance away from the airport. Shuttles run consistently throughout the day.
To get to London from the Car Hire Center at the Luton Airport, you will travel out East on Percival Way towards the Holiday Inn Express near the traffic circle. When you get to the Holiday Inn Express, travel around the traffic circle and go down the hill and veer left on Airport Way / A1081 for about 3 km until you encounter another traffic circle. You are going to travel straight through the circle to get to M1. After a little less than 1 km, you will veer left onto M1. Travel about 38 km until you come to an area underneath an overpass where you will turn hard to the right towards Kilburn A5. You will actually be hopping back on the A406 for few meters to finally get on A5 towards the city center of London.
Traveling back to the airport form London, you will essentially travel back to the airport the same way, via M1. Remember to turn back left at the Holiday Inn Express on Percival Road. Travel about 1.6 km until you reach the car hire center.
Remember that you may need to re-fuel. There is a petrol service station on a road near the car hire center. When turning on the Percival Road near the Holiday Inn Express, drive about 1 km until you come to a traffic circle. Go left on the circle and watch for signs. You will go left again, go downhill a little ways and the Shell Service Station will be on the left-hand side of the road. Travel back the way you came to deliver your car back to the car hire center.
Hotel Near the Luton Airport
When leaving the airport (and the car rental center for that matter), you will see a large Holiday Inn Express at the corner of Percival Road and the Airport Way. This is easily the closest hotel to the Luton Airport and rooms can generally be had for less than 140.00 throughout the year - which isn't too bad considering you get a free breakfast out of the deal. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lounge and in the business center for your convenience. There is no swimming pool.
As far as restaurants go, we have chosen the A One Dosa in Luton. Luton has a growing mix of ethnicity to the area. In fact 10-15% of the population of Luton is of Asian descent, such as Pakistani and Indian. As a result, some of the best food you'll eat near the Luton Airport may be the ethnic food that has been created as a result. The One Dosa is on 129 Dunstable Road on the other side of Luton. Go down Dunstable on the North side of town, and the restaurant will be on the left side of the road - about half way down. Tripadvisor.com ratings give this little spot a pretty strong score, so far. Stay posted.
Luton Airport Amenities
There are some decent eating places both before and after security. Before security (public areas) you have options such as Yam Yam, Food Village, Costa and Caffe Nero. In the after security areas, food options get a little better. Places like Pret A Manger, Pip and the Real Food Company have areas set up before you take off on your flight.
Shopping includes the basics. The Tie Rack, Voyager and Galleria are some names that will sell you just about anything you could imagine (at least the typical airport shopping experience). As the Luton Airport is smaller than some of its airport counterparts, your shopping choices will generally be relatively fewer as well.
Wi-Fi is available through a provider called Spectrum. It is not free, but there are a couple of plans to choose from - ranging from just an hour or two to a full day's plan.
Luton Airport Car Rental Options
Just about every type of car you would expect to be able to rent at an airport car rental service is available at the Luton. You will have options such as economy cars, standard cars, luxury cars, SUV's, and compacts as well. We generally recommend that you reserve early, especially if you are reserving a more expensive car. The more expensive options are usually stocked less at most locations as to keep less-used, higher-cost inventory items down. Also, look into a GPS it you're unfamiliar with the London area. Often GPS's (among other add-ons) can be picked up when booking your rental car. In fact, occasionally car rental companies will entice customers to step up their rental car choice with a free GPS or other add-on.
Another thing to consider when booking is adding additional drivers to the booking process. Doing so will confirm insurability for any other drivers that may be driving the rental car. If you allow someone to drive that hasn't been authorized to drive the car and an accident occurs, you might find yourself in deep trouble. Do the right thing and let the car rental company know beforehand - even if it costs you money on the front end.