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From Highclere to Windsor: where to drop off the rental car?

Posted by on

My wife and I are visiting England in mid-April. We wanted to see the countryside and drive from town-to-town at our own pace so we have decided to rent a car. That being said we hope to give London a wide berth as we have never driven in UK before and would like to avoid heavy traffic. We will pick up a car in Oxford and drive around countryside for several days.

On our last day of driving, we will be waking up in Bath early and driving to Highclere Castle (AM admission tickets) and then on to Windsor Castle in afternoon. That evening we plan to take train to our London lodgings for what I'm sure will be much needed rest!

I've read on this site that Windsor traffic can be bad and that Newbury or Reading may be better locations to drop off a car to avoid it and take a train to Windsor. That being said, I've also read it is difficult to tout around / find secure stowing for your luggage when visiting Windsor Castle. Would it be easier to drive to Windsor and park in the visitor lot before dropping off car in Windsor and then taking train to London?

Posted by
1075 posts

If you've never driven in the UK before, please read these:

http://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/uploads/3/2/9/2/3292309/the-official-highway-code-with-annexes-uk-en-12-04.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMQtO6qhkIo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diu1k_5H45k

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k6722631-Driving_in_the_UK_for_Americans-London_England.html

You may think that's it's like driving where you live (the U.S?) only on the other side of the road......It's not.

Posted by
34010 posts

visitor lot

there isn't one. You can park in one of the public car parks around town if you can find a space.

What day of the week? That is critical for the correct strategy. Is this during Holy Week?

Are you absolutely sure that you want to tackle Windsor Castle, which is a full day easily to visit - my wife and I went back several times in the course of a year and haven't seen it all - on to all that driving and Downton Abbey? It would be too much for me, but perhaps you are made of sterner stuff.

Date and or day of the week is critical.

Posted by
2805 posts

Slough would be a great place to drop off rental car. You could either take the train or taxi, either one would be a six minute ride, train would be £2.40, taxi would be around £15.00. Slough is 5 miles from Windsor.

Posted by
16895 posts

Last October, I did manage to navigate into and back out from the Alexandra Car Park in Windsor without getting lost, despite a construction detour, with a combination of Rick's book, Google Maps, and intuition. However, we were dropping the car at Heathrow, so I was not comparing other drop options. The car rental office itself would probably be the best place to leave luggage if you do drop in Windsor.

Posted by
8 posts

Thanks for the suggestions, all! It will be during the middle of the day on weekday. I do like the idea of dropping off the car in a less travelled area and taking train/taxi to Windsor, however, I'm left with the issue of the luggage. When in England last, I was able to find hotels in both Lincoln and Salisbury who agreed to store my luggage for the day for a nominal fee. I wonder if there are any in Windsor willing to do the same?

Posted by
34010 posts

Mid day weekday - there goes my plan phooooot. I would have suggested to drop your stuff and the car in London and take a train back to Windsor carrying nothing, just a bit further on the M4/A4.

But no - we don't want heavy traffic and the Congestion Charge and creeping along in a difficult city to drive in.

So I think one of the other plans is better - but don't leave luggage in the car.

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