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London-Bath-Stonehenge, Windsor-Oxford - Car question

Posted by on

We are headed over Friday for two weeks. Originally we had planned to take a train from London to Windsor then on to Oxford from Windsor. Stay over in Windsor and rent a car there to head out toward Edinburgh (that piece all planned). However, now realizing issue of suitcases (there are four of us - two adults and kids 15 and 12) which won't work for stopping in Windsor as there is no luggage lockers in train station.

Thoughts.... wondering if we should rent a car in London and then drive to Bath/Stonehenge and then head straight to Oxford where have hotel booked. Or should we train to Windsor and pick up car there - then head to Bath and Stonehenge. Or Forget Oxford and find a place to stay somewhere there.

Thoughts anyone? What would teens/tweens enjoy best.

Posted by
16899 posts

If you either pick up the car in Windsor or stay/sleep in Windsor, then the car rental agency or the hotel could probably hold your luggage. Or make an earlier pick up for the car and put the luggage in.

[edited] If you were coming from Heathrow, then you can make one connection at London Paddington station to reach Oxford but would need two connections or a bus to reach Windsor. Trains from central London run direct to either Windsor or Oxford in about an hour (but stations are different).

Posted by
10 posts

No we are spending 5 days in London first so will have adjusted to time/jet leg etc.

Posted by
7875 posts

Windsor is a short drive from Heathrow, so after your time in London, pick up a rental at Heathrow and drive. Windsor to Bath should be around 2 hours. Stonehenge is southeast of Bath while Oxford is well northeast of it, so hopefully you don't want to visit all in the same day. If you see Windsor in the morning then drive to Stonehenge and see it in the afternoon, you could spend the night in Bath, but that's a lot for one day. Windsor is worth a full day by itself as is Bath. From Bath you could skip Oxford (unless there is something specific you want to see) and head towards Edinburgh via the Cotswolds. Overall it sounds like you still don't have a set itinerary. The route you take will be dictated by the itinerary.

Posted by
35497 posts

Windsor has difficult and expensive parking. Difficult because there is virtually no street parking anywhere near the castle and expensive because if you find a space in one of the carparks they are expensive. On weekends you can park by the Riverside station for a moderate price and reasonable availability if you are early.

Be aware that the 15 and 12 year olds are eligible for child tickets (ages 5-15 inclusive) on trains, and you can save even more if you invest £30 in a Family and Friends railcard.

Posted by
2815 posts

Consider train from London (Waterloo) to Salisbury and check into a hotel. Then take shuttle bus out to Stonehenge. See Salisbury cathedral. Next day, train to Bath - another place with difficult parking. Check into a hotel - ideally within walking distance of the station.Then, consider renting a car to head wherever - possibly Cotswolds first/or/ continue to use trains to eventually end up in Edinburgh / or/ fly from Bristol to Edinburgh. www.skyscanner.net

If using trains - get a family railcard and pre-book longer trips ideally 11 weeks out for lowest prices. www.nationalrail.co.uk

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