Another Bath-Cotswolds etc itinerary question.

Drop off the car in Bath.
Get an automatic shift, it's not automatic for rentals in UK.

Tuesday
Fly in to Bristol
Pick up hire car and drive to Sherston
Wednesday
Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge and Bath
Thursday
Cotswold Villages
Friday
Blenheim Palace and Oxford
Drop off hire car in Oxford and train to London

Thanks for your answers. I realized I wasn't clear about the timing. The plan is to arrive at Bristol airport early evening on tuesday, rent a car (definitely an automatic) and drive to our B&B in sherston. So we will have Wednesday, Thursday and part of Friday for touring the area. I guess we'll be driving to Bath. Is there a way to park outside of town and take public transportation in? There is an outside chance that we will take a morning flight to Bristol and that would give us more time in the area but I imagine that we would still rent a car at the airport.

I have reorganised a bit taking your travel in to account (see above).
Most towns (small cities really) have Park'n'Ride on the outskirts with transport in - best is to Google the local council for info.
Check if you can leave luggage at the rental car office in Oxford before you get a later train to London.

You don't say when the trip is, but if you will be there in autumn you will be just a few miles away from one of the best places in the country to see trees and shrubs in all their glory - Westonbirt.

And you won't be very far from where the Princes William and Harry grew up.

Nigel, we will be there from October 5th through the 9th. Is that a little early for the height of the color?

David, that is more or less the itinerary I was thinking could work!

I am hoping that taking a train into London on a Friday afternoon will not be crazy crowded. Two of my most uncomfortable travel experiences (on in London) involved being on trains with large suitcases at ridiculously busy times!

No, you should be fine as you will be travelling against the peak hour commute.
Look for accomm near Paddington Station if you are concerned about travelling across London once there.

David, once we arrive in London, I fully intend to splurge on a taxi to our hotel!

Right now we are booked on a Bayswater hotel but maybe I will check to see what is available in Paddington. I've staying in Bayswater before and liked it but I should branch out I suppose.

Lisa:

My family and I have just returned from two weeks in England. We rented a car. You should use a GPS if possible. In Bath there is a parking garage right in the center of town called Southgate. This GPS address will take you near it : "47 St. James Parade Bath BA1 1UQ". If you get to this point the garage entry is just in front of you, on the left. There are signs.

If you attempt Oxford you should park at one of the Oxford Park & Ride sites. All day parking for 2.00 BP. There is virtually no parking available in the city center.

Wayne

Thanks so much for the information, Wayne. How did you find driving in the UK? Was this your first time?

I just got back from the UK where I drove in the Lake District as well as North Wales. I survived. Driving on the left side is not that bad. You just need to concentrate on the person in front of you. Roundabouts (and there are a lot) are not that bad. Again, follow the traffic. What unnerved me is that the roads are so small and everyone drives fast down them. This made me the most nervous. Also, I would go down a road and wasn't sure if it was a one way road and I was going the wrong direction.

If I could give you any suggestions it would be

1. Get the smallest car possible
2. Have GPS. Also, have the rental return location programmed into that GPS before you even leave the lot. I spent an hour in North Wales trying to find the Enterprise return location.
   1. Take a map as backup.
   2. Have the passenger say "left, left, left" a lot.
   3. Learn the street signs so you understand what they mean.

Other than the small roads, driving is not that bad. It is a great way to see the scenery. The people are very friendly and helpful. Though I think that the reason why there are rail passes is to keep us off the road.
Joci