Keswick to LHR

your choices are train from Penrith to London Euston (over 3 hours)

or train from Penrith to Newcastle (about 2.5 hrs) then fly to LHR.

Newcastle is the closest airport, then Manchester, then Glasgow, then Edinburgh.

If I were doing it I think I would chose to fly and spend the night at an LHR hotel.

If I understand correctly you are going to London just to catch a plane the next day. Correct?

Flying saves the hassle of getting from London out to LHR.

My $0.02

Hi Sue -

Or, in addition to the above, you can catch the 555 bus from Keswick, through the Lakes, a really pretty and scenically interesting ride, through to Windermere (town) where you can catch the branch line train out through Kendal to Oxenholme where you connect with the West Coast Line high speed trains for London. It looks a little implausible that the express trains would stop at a little country halt, but they do!

I’m not sure what your interests are from and around Keswick, but for me there’s great walking from your doorstep of all kinds from Keswick.

Have a great trip!

Ian

Take the train from Penrith to London. It is easier than train + plane, and probably faster as well considering the time it will take to get to the closest airport.

Did only a quick search but it looks like its 3-4 train connections to
do it all by train.

There are direct trains from Penrith to London.

Is your airfare already booked? If not, could you possibly fly home from Manchester?

Our airfare is booked

There are numerous trains from Penrith to London without a change. The trip is just over 3 hours.

Taking the train to another city to catch a flight to London will take twice as long.

Just take the train. The schedule may not be out yet for your dates of travel

Use this site for schedules: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

By the way, the train from Oban to Penrith will include 2 to 3 changes and take between 5 and 6 hours. Compared to that, Penrith to London is a piece of cake.

I spend quite a bit of time in the Lakes and I've done it several ways. If you take the bus from Keswick to Windermere then the train to Oxenholme then change to Manchester you can easily fly to LHR. The train station in Manchester is directly adjacent to the airport - just follow the signs for a short walk to the airport. This is the fastest way via public transport. OR you can take the bus from the main bus stop near Booths to Penrith, and the train down to London. You'll need to get out at Euston, then take the tube to Paddington and then Heathrow Express to LHR...or just take a taxi from Euston to LHR.
You can easily navigate the bus system in the Lake District. There are attendants at the major hubs (Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick) who will set you up with a pass for the period of time you'll be there and a printed timetable of how to get everywhere. They have a great system worked out.

The train from Penrith to Newcastle Airport would take 3 hours with multiple changes. The train to Manchester Airport is around two hours and involves one change in Manchester. (Either Piccadilly or Oxford Road)

I once flew from Manchester to Heathrow to change planes for a flight back to the USofA. But it was on one ticket so if there was a problem I was covered. Of course, while I said take the train in an earlier post, flying would at least get you directly to the airport and you wouldn't have to hassle with going from Euston to LHR.

It all depends on where you want to spend your last night in the UK.

the train is dramatically better for the environment. Of course there is a huge transatlantic flight the next day but every little bit helps.

And after being in such a beautiful place like the Lake District to then have an airport I would think would spoil the magic.

Thanks for the help. Will start researching all of the options you have provided.