I need train and car hire help. Arriving in London Jan 16th!

National Rail is the portal site for the train operating companies:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

I think your best bet is to arrange to pickup your rental car at Heathrow on arrival.
Despite Heathrow's size and the reputation of the M25 (London's orbital motorway), it is really not too much of a hassle for rental car users. When are you utilizing the 2 nights at a hotel? Before you fly out?

think your best bet is to arrange to pickup your rental car at Heathrow on arrival.

Don't do this. Really. Don't.

If you absolutely want a car from the off then Heathrow really will be your easiest place on a Saturday after noon.

If you don't feel up to the drive after the flight I suggest you take the underground to Victoria (change at Hammersmith), and then the 'classic' route to Rye via Ashford. Train websites might push you towards the high speed route from St Pancras, but starting from Heathrow this isn't that much quicker and can be much more expensive, particularly if you use the Heathrow Express. Do something local for the rest of Saturday / Sunday, then pick up a car Monday morning.

Pick up Oyster cards at Heathrow and you can use them later when you are back in London.

Thank you all for the replies! I know I don't want to drive in London.
We plan to go to Paris on Monday.
Our 2 days in London are tues-wed and we will take the train there and back.
Maybe I should just rethink renting a car for the week. maybe just Thurs-Saturday. we leave Saturday to come home.

I want to explore some of the countryside, hence renting a car. Being from the Midwest, athough KCMO has 1million people, we don't have good public transportation, so I'm not used to it. I'm unfamiliar with the UK train infrastructure how easily accessible it is. (Makes me nervous, 2 girls sitting on the side of the road with their luggage, wondering where to go). lol

We plan to go to Paris on Monday.

To sightsee or for football?

If sightseeing, you should know that because France is an hour ahead of London you are going the "wrong way" for the one day super fast see Paris from the outside kamikazi trip. Even if you catch the earliest Eurostar from Ashford (6:24, arrive 9:17) the day is already well underway. And because there are relatively few trains back to Ashford the last train back leaves Paris at 19:13 (arr 20:07) and because you have to check in an hour before the Eurostar departure you can have a maximum of 11 hours there.

If it is football check your times and be sure you can get back.

Hi Joni,

Is this right? You arrive on Saturday and are going to Rye. You will be in Rye on Sunday. On Monday you are going to Paris. On Tuesday you will go to London and stay there until Thursday, at which point you will go back to Rye and stay there until you return to London for your flight home on Saturday.

Ann

Emma & Ann,
After some above replies, I took the advice from Marco? and decided to rent a car Monday. We get into heathrow 11am Saturday. Taking marco's tube directions to get to Rye. We will just stick around Rye sat-sun and go to Ashford to rent a car Monday. I do not want to drive in any big cities. I've driven in Chicago and LA but steering wheel/left side of road...no thanks!

I think we are going to do Paris on Thursday- just to go. No football.

We will take the tube/train/train/tube? ha, back to London tues-wed, getting back to ashford/rye later wed.

Friday... explore other things in small town, east coastal England.
I will note the daylight hours. (I already want to go back to England in nicer weather/better time of year but this time, no choice).

we leave sat jan 23rd at 325pm (1525) to come home. Wish we could stay longer. next time!

Sent you a private message.

I agree with Marco. Rye is pretty accessible by train. And if you get fed up with Rye, you can get the train from there to a number of other places. One of them is Battle Abbey which is where the Battle of Hastings (1066, William the Conqueror and all that) was fought. You can also go to the Seaside at Hastings. And there are local buses too. Winchelsea is a pretty little village near Rye, but Rye itself is a gem. Reading suggestion: the Mapp and Lucia books by EF Benson, the town of "Tilling" in that is based on Rye. But do wear sensible shoes: the cobbled streets in Rye can be a bit treacherous.

thank you so much, simon!!!! I started looking at restaurants in rye and oh my! my foodie heart is excited! :)

I am so pleased you are not renting a car. Driving in England would be NOTHING like Kansas. People are so helpful with transportation questions in England -- at the stations, on the street, on the platform. Have a lovely trip!