We are visiting the Cotswolds for 5 days and would like to rent a car for flexibility and to cover more ground. We realize parking and traffic can be issues, but with proper planning, mapping, visiting the more popular villages in early day or later afternoon, etc. we can experience more using Rick's suggestions versus bus or tours. Can anyone please suggest a car rental company in the Cotswolds?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33148 posts
not many in the Cotswolds. Maybe one in Cheltenham.
Advice generally given is either take the train to Oxford and rent there or get out to Heathrow and rent there.
What will you be doing immediately before the rental? Will you be in one or another city, maybe Edinburgh or London or will try to drive it the day you arrive from somewhere overseas?
Is the trip different from your question https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/rental-car-a47c98e8-8576-4ebf-b7f4-2a2d0d21983d on the 15th of this month?
Posted by
Nederland, CO
1497 posts
We rented a car from Bath to explore the cotswolds. Of course we had just spent 3 nights in Bath, but bath is very close to the southern end of the cotswold area.
My daughter was recently planning this and planned to rent out of Oxford as Nigel suggests.
Posted by
Indiana
871 posts
We rented from Enterprise in Bath, and were satisfied with the vehicle and their service.
Posted by
OP
20 posts
I have checked both Arnold Clark and Celtic legend from an earlier suggestion but with no nearby luck East Cotswolds. We will be in Bath beforehand and considered round trip Bath rental but decided not to spend a half day returning the car south back to Bath then heading north of Cotswolds afterwards. I think we're going to rent round trip out of Oxford unless someone else can refer me to a car rental in Moreton in Marsh where we would be arriving by train from Oxford.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33148 posts
a car rental in Moreton in Marsh
used to be one several years ago, long gone now, as far as I am aware has not been replaced.
Not in Moreton in Marsh. Sorry.
Posted by
Quilcene, WA, USA
177 posts
We rented from Enterprise in Oxford and returned the car in Bath.
Posted by
3 posts
Rented Alamo (Costco) at Heathrow, drove to York (4 days), Caernarfon (Wales 4 days), Gloucester (4 days), planning to return car to Heathrow before 4 days in London. Some traffic, tight lanes, lots of villages, we drive slow, follow the rules, and the roundabouts, I watched a few videos, parking lots and fees. My son is a very good navigator (16 yrs) as I am the only one that can drive a manual.
Posted by
155 posts
We were coming from York, so we took the train to Stratford Upon Avon. There was a car rental at the train station. We left our luggage in our car there and walked into SUA for lunch and a stroll through the town. After picking up our car we stopped at Anne Hathaway’s house and Mary Arden’s farm on our way , just 15 miles from where we were staying in the Cotswolds, Ebrington - just 3 miles from Chipping Campden. This was a great location to link together Cotswold villages before heading to Blenheim Palace and stopping off the car in Oxford.
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I did find a car rental place 7 miles north of Moreton in Marsh but they never got back to me for confirmation so we went with a round-trip car rental out of Oxford.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33148 posts
Shipston-on-Stour? We used to have a family business there, but it has been a few years. I remember a garage, but no car hire. Maybe the garage lets out a couple of cars?
I think that you have made a good decision and are more likely to get what you need...
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Yes, that's the Village. I think it was Robissons.