Cotswolds over New Years

Posted by laurierooper on 11/26/18 02:07 PM

We will be travelling from London to Painswick on December 29 and returning to London for our flight back to the states on January 2. We were planning to rent a car for this period to make it easier to get around the Cotswolds, especially with limited holiday public transport. I am looking for recommendations on where we should pick up the car. Is it better to take a train out of the city, pick up a car at an airport, or is it easy enough to drive in London that we'd be better off picking it up in the city?

Also any must do's in the Cotwswolds over New Years? We do want to see Bath, but otherwise are planning to keep to the smaller villages, lots of walks in the rain and pubs.

Posted by Claudia

Land of La

11/26/18 02:34 PM

8664 posts

Easy to rent at LHR.

That's what I did when I visited the Cotswolds in 2016. Arrived LHR, took the shuttle to car rental place located on perimeter road and then drove to Winchcombe.

To avoid any mistakes I Googled scouted my route via the satellite and street view image options paying attention to towns in between LHR and my Winchcombe destination. Didn't use my iPhone or GPS.

The reason I Google via street view is to locate the inevitable roundabouts to make note of signage to follow. Very helpful if you're not used to roundabouts. Helps you know the proper exit.

Or you could also train from London to Oxford and rent a car there.

Edit: training to Oxford might be and renting a car there might be more practical.

Posted by JC

Portsmouth

11/26/18 03:58 PM

5261 posts

If you're planning on spending NYE in a pub or hotel etc bear in mind that most hold ticket only events. I can't speak specifically for any of the pubs in the Cotswolds but it's worth checking the various pub websites that you may be inclined to visit.

I can't think of any "must do's" over New Years, just the same as any other time of the year except many places will be shut on New Years Day and it's likely to be quieter.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

11/27/18 08:52 AM

32745 posts

If you want to rent a car in Oxford check that the place will be open on that Saturday. No guarantees during the holiday period.

You would do well to avoid Paddington for the train to Oxford. There is a reduced service that day due to planned holiday engineering works. Use the Chiltern trains from London Marylebone instead who are scheduled to operate a normal service that day.

You say you expect to walk in the rain. Maybe, maybe not. I'm more used to frost and a whisp of snow in the Cotswolds at that time of year. Rain in London, or maybe clear.

The general rule is wet and warm (above freezing) or cold and clear. But with global warming nobody knows these days.