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Heathrow to Salisbury after long flight and need hotel recommendation

We are arriving Heathrow around 10:30 AM on a Friday after a long flight from central U.S. We thought we would spend the rest of the day and night somewhere around Heathrow to regroup, and then catch a bus or train on Saturday to Salisbury. So we are looking for a convenient hotel recommendation and then the best way to get from Heathrow to Salisbury.
We will have two nights in Salisbury and then hope to see (stay over one night) Stourhead before going to Bath to catch up with a Rick Steve's tour. Does that sound doable?

Posted by
8329 posts

Back in 2013 after a British Isles cruise, we rented a car for three days. We discovered the M25 parking lot on Friday afternoon. Renting a car is a great idea for going to Salisbury, as you can stop on the way at Windsor Castle or Stonehenge if you like. However, be aware when you drive, since traffic anywhere near the M25 is awful. The M25 goes by close to Heathrow.

We stayed at the Sheraton Heathrow hotel, which was a somewhat aged modern, but clean hotel with great rates. There is a Thrifty rent a car station next to the hotel (we used it to turn in our car).

I discovered when researching that getting to Salisbury on a tour required staying in a hotel closer to the centre of the city. I am sure others will be able to assist regarding the rail connections, etc.

Salisbury is great, loved the Cathedral and walking around the city. It brought to light the novel by Ken Follett, Pillars of the Earth. If you are ultimately going to Bath, a rental car would work well for you, dropping the car off there.

Posted by
14826 posts

If you are going to stay over one night before heading to Salisbury then I suggest you go in to London and stay overnight there. You can walk around in the sunshine that afternoon, have a nice dinner, then take the train to Salisbury the next day. You will be out of the airport by 1230-130 so in to town by early afternoon. Transportation from the airport in to London is pretty easy and if you have questions there are many helpful folk around.

I like to stay at the Lime Tree in London which is near Victoria altho you will get many recommendations for London lodging. There is a taxi stand nearby where you can grab a cab to Waterloo to get the train to Salisbury on Saturday. I like the location of the Lime Tree as I can walk over to the Buckingham Palace area, take a loop thru St James's Park and stretch out from being on the plane for so long.

Two nights in Salisbury sounds great. Are you going to take the public bus out to Stonehenge? I did this last year before my Best of England tour and it worked well. The bus runs a loop all day from Salisbury out to Stonehenge, back via Old Sarum. It makes a very pleasant day. Do you have your lodging set here? I stayed at Cathedral View B&B and enjoyed my stay with Steve and Wenda. BTW, you will not have to buy tickets ahead for London->Salisbury. There is no price break for an advanced purchase on this train line.

I've not been to Stourhead so can't comment on that.

Have a wonderful tour! I loved this itinerary and my guide was such fun!

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you for the recommendation. Will check out the Lime Tree. We hope to catch Market Day in Salisbury on Saturday and then do the Stonehenge bus tour on Sunday. Just not sure if we can get to Stourhead and on to Bath by Tuesday without crowding the days.

Posted by
2600 posts

I think you should just push on and take the national express coach to Salisbury and stay there.

By the time you get out of the airport and get to a hotel near Heathrow that's half the day gone and you may not feel like doing much. You'll end up unpacking, then repacking early the next day to go to Salisbury wondering why you bothered.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

Posted by
9265 posts

How much luggage will you have? If traveling light, ( a bag a piece )get your oyster cards at Heathrow, take the tube to Green Park, change trains ( there's an elevator at Green Park) then take the Jubilee line to Waterloo Station. Once at Waterloo stop at the Pret a Manager for some picnic items for the next day. Stay overnight at the Premiere inn. Short walk from the station. Next morning grab your luggage, head out to the quirky Scooter Cafe on Lower Marsh street. 10 minute stroll. have some great java and then board your train to Salisbury. Check in to your hotel, grab your picnic items and find a spot by the river in Queen Eizabeth's garden. Enjoy the peace and quiet. Or ignore the picnic items and head straight to the Saturday market. Enjoy your stay.

Posted by
533 posts

I agree with ramblin' on that you should at least consider going straight from Heathrow to Salisbury on Friday. It's a shame to waste your entire arrival day and part of the next day (assuming there's nothing in particular you wanted to do in central London during that time) when you can take a bus directly to Salisbury and be done with it.

According to the Stourhead website, the two closest train stations are Gillingham and Bruton. There are direct trains from Salisbury to Gillingham every hour, and trains from Bruton to Bath approximately every two hours. You can look up the schedules on http://nationalrail.co.uk. (Be sure to select "Gillingham (Dorset)" not "Gillingham (Kent)")

Posted by
8293 posts

I used to travel by Nat. Express to Winchester after arriving at Heathrow from Canada and found it very relaxing. So relaxing that I often had a nice little nap on the bus.