UK Travel Guide - Flying Into Stansted Airport? Use a Hire Car to Tour the Surrounding Area

19th November 2008 - by Donald Donaldson

Flying Into Stansted Airport? Use a Hire Car to Tour the Surrounding Area

A look at some of the destinations that are in the immediate vicinity of Stansted Airport and why those using a hire car to tour this region is an ultimately worthwhile experience.

Stansted Airport is referred to as London Stansted in many pieces of literature; however this is somewhat of a misnomer, whilst it may only be an hour from London the airport sits in the quaint and beautiful district of Uttlesford. This stunning region is the perfect excuse to hire a car and explore rather than jump straight onto the M11 motorway. With a wealth of succinctly English towns and villages within a short drive of Stansted the tourist is given an impression of life in the countryside. Subsequently car hire services at the airport are not purely there for the onward journey, they are a way to see one of the most amazing regions in the entire country.

Stansted takes its name from the nearby town of Stansted Mountfitchet. This town is literally five minutes from the airport and has a range of attractions to entertain the visitor. One of these attractions is Mountfitchet Castle, a replica of a motte and bailey castle that is a fascinating day out for children and adults alike; giving a unique insight into life during the times of the Norman Conquest. As well as historical attractions the town also has some excellent pubs for lunches to break up the driving in your hire car.

In the other direction lies some of the most historical and gorgeous English towns in the South of the country; one of these towns is Great Dunmow, an ancient flitch town that has a range of stunning old houses full of rural charm. An interesting event is the flitch trial that takes place every four years. The purpose of the trial is for a couple to convince a jury of local residents that they have not argued at all over the previous year, if the couple are successful they win a prize of a flitch of bacon. This interesting ceremony is a small element of what is available to those using car hire services from Stansted airport.

Another fascinating town is Thaxted, a settlement that had a rich heritage in the manufacture of cutlery. The result of the wealth of town is a church that is regarded by many to be one of the finest in England, its stature dominating the town from all angles. Additionally the main high street of Thaxted has a wonderful guildhall that is perfect for those postcard images. Within the town is a vibrant social scene with a large number of pubs considering the size of the settlement, each of these pubs has its own individual charm and are usually filled with friendly locals. Be careful however, it is too easy to forget the time and overindulge in these pubs, meaning that your car hire journey will have to be postponed.

If the towns and villages become a bit much within a short drive from Stansted Airport is the city of Cambridge. The city is renowned for its scholarly traditions and with marvellous architecture it is the perfect place to spend the day. Whether you choose to leave the hire car and instead rent a punt is up to you, but on a summer s day there is little more enjoyable than messing about on the river. With a range of shops and restaurants Cambridge is a tourist destination in its own right that attracts visitors from all around the globe; its timeless elegance and beauty make it the perfect destination all year round.

Hopefully this article has given those using car hire services from Stansted Airport an idea of what attractions are in the immediate vicinity. For the tourist it is advisable to postpone the trip to the capital and spend some time in this most gorgeous region of England.