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Final 2 nights before flight home from LHR

Posted by (TX, USA) on

So I have a an 8 night trip scheduled for November, which will be 4 nights Brighton, 1 night Portsmouth, 3 nights Winchester, 2 nights TBD.

Originally the last night was a bit of a throwaway to be closer to the airport because I don’t want the bother of a 1 1/2 - 2 hr journey to the airport from Winchester on flight day, with several train changes - although my flight is not till 2:00 pm, so it is completely doable.

But I have now extended by a day and am looking at three choices:
1) an extra night in Winchester plus a night closer to LHR,
2) 2 extra nights in Winchester (total of 5) with a morning trek to Heathrow, or
3) 2 nights somewhere else that still has easier morning access to the airport.

I have been to Windsor twice (once for this very reason) so not really looking at that as an option. I have looked at Oxford, which might be nice. I have only been there for half a day, which was not the way to do it. Even Bath is possible, although I have been there also. One day in London doesn’t sound relaxed. Somewhere else with a bus direct to Heathrow? Guildford?

However, I am not necessarily looking for a place with a major “sight”: just a pleasant place to be. Leaning toward 2) or 3)-Oxford.

Thoughts?

*Nigel, I told you I would have a question to send your way. :)

Posted by
6515 posts

You'll want to be at LHR by 11 AM so you won't want to be too far from there on the final night. Oxford might be a good plan for your last two nights, with direct bus service to LHR. The current timetable shows a 9:45 departure that reaches Terminal 5 at 11. There's another an hour earlier if you want a bigger time cushion. There's good rail service from Winchester to Oxford via Southampton.

But I would defer to Nigel on this and any other question.

Posted by
4090 posts

Thanks, Dick! I think you are right about the timing.

And given all my other parameters, Oxford may well be the best choice. Thought it was worth throwing out here to see if anyone had any other ideas. :)

Posted by
131 posts

If you find Oxford still too far from Heathrow, you can choose cities closer.

Slough may give you some flexibility. It has easy access to Heathrow, to Oxford and London Paddington. Trains to Oxford and Paddington are served by the Hitachi trains.

Bus to Heathrow
Directions:
https://citymapper.com/trip/Tfh8rus97sf

In addition to Oxford, you also have Henley on Thames and Marlow within reach.

Another option is High Wycombe.
https://www.theairlineoxford.co.uk/heathrow/#times

Posted by
6405 posts

I agree that Oxford seems like a good option. Frequent and reliable buses to Heathrow, and a charming town that is worth a night or two to see what it looks like after the day trippers leave.

Posted by
4090 posts

Well, now I have good things to research!

Jeff, I have stayed in Slough for a couple of nights so will skip there; but Marlow, High Wycombe, and Henley-on-Thames all look like good options (and the sort of information I was looking for). Thank you!

Badger, I agree about Oxford. I saw enough to know I should go back at some point, but when I have time to spend. My afternoon (which should have been a full day) was impossible and I shouldn’t have bothered. Two nights might do it.

I am happy with thoughts of nice options!

Posted by
457 posts

Just a thought ... what about hopping over to Dublin or even taking the Eurostar to Paris for those last few days ... the taxes/fees out of LHR to (I'm assuming) DFW are brutal (over $200) ... much cheaper from DUB or CDG to DFW ... so that $125+ taxes/fees savings pays for the plane/train to another city ... depending on, of course, the ticket prices.

Posted by
4090 posts

Hi, DQ. That is some nice thinking out of the box. I didn’t mention, though, that I have my ticket on miles - and I have no idea why on earth the taxes weren’t much. Sometimes they are more than a cheap ticket would be…..
I thought I had a pretty good miles bargain the first time, but then I decided to add a couple of days - and found I could save 30,000 miles with a little increase in taxes but not what the miles would be worth. A fluke. So I am happy with leaving from London. Oh! And that gets me all the way home - not just to DFW!

And in the spirit of trying to be, not run around and see (ha!), I am happy to just see something pretty in England for a day. :) If Winchester weren’t just a little further than I want to be for my last night, I would have just opted to stay there. Maybe I should go back and see if I can add another night…. Lol!!

Posted by
32776 posts

hmmm...

November...

Will you have a chance to get to Chawton (is it open in November? Do you care about Jane Austen???

Number 2) may be a lot of days in one place...

I won't knock the other suggestions except for the home of The Office, especially since you've ruled out Windsor and the best thing to do in Slough is to go to Windsor.

November... early November or late? Bonfire night..., towards the end of the month the trees should start appearing above shop doors.... hmmmm... if late enough in the month Christmas at Kew is a wonderful light show and great fun, even my wife and I came out of lockdown to do it last November, but it does put you back in West London.

If you can't get to Cambridge (too far for easy Heathrow as shown on another thread) the Oxford is a good choice. Plenty to see and do, and if November the nights will be early enough (mid to late afternoon depending on weather) to see Oxford with the lights on... when they graduate they even wear funny hats there and I know you're up for funny hats... and easy to Heathrow in the morning...

High Wycombe? The caves will probably be closed and it is a bit of a hike out of town. Disraeli's place isn't easy without a car, and will probably be closed in November... hmmmm.... there's the Model Village in Beaconsfield but I don't know if it would be open either and are you a model village type of lady??? hmmmm...

Bit of a puzzler there, Tammy.

Posted by
4090 posts

Thank you, Nigel! Well, still a bit of a thought. A few days too early for Kew Gardens unfortunately (on a tentative plan for Dec. 2023). I did bookmark Chawton in case it’s open and I want a day trip from Winchester. Looks pretty easy. And yes, I am up for model villages (had that bookmarked already) and hats, although I would let someone else wear them this trip - Ha!

I am really there for a Brighton concert and really wanted to see Winchester and Chichester Cathedrals with evensong in each; hence the move that direction. Seemed like an opportune time. Have based in Salisbury and Canterbury before so didn’t need to head there.

It will probably end up being Oxford, since everything is so convenient. But I will keep looking just to be sure. :) I do have a bit of time. :)

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