London to Cotswolds & Lodging info

Sounds lovely! We just recently visited the Cotwolds and it looks just like the pictures you see! I can't speak toyour questions about booking for 8/13-19, as far as what to do in London, I might suggest the Churchill War Rooms. We've been to London many times and had never been there, so it might be something you'd be interested in. Get tickets now if you want to visit. I do always love the Tower of London, it is probably my favorite site in London.

We also did a fun thing, outside Paddington station, there are barge restaurants. Very different and fun. We went to the Cheese Barge because I saw it on a YouTube video and it was very good! Make reservations here too, they book up quickly as they are very small restaurant.

I would suggest reserving a hire car with an automatic transmission (the default is manual) - one less thing to worry about. I’d suggest getting a good Sat Nav (or being able to use Google maps) with the sound on which will help you get in the correct lane as you approach roundabouts. Be aware of the various speed limits (20 mph in some places which may include parts of Oxford) and the rules on bus lanes (beloved by Oxford council). These are often a series of on-off lanes (to permit cars to turn left) and may have different periods when the lane is in force (eg 24/7, 24/7 on weekdays, only certain hours on weekdays etc etc). Infringements are often enforced by cameras which don’t show mercy to visitors.

Leney,
My wife and I planned a 28 day drive tour of England and South Wales in 2017. We rented a car at Heathrow and spent 6 nights in the Cotswolds, using Chipping Campden as our base to visit Oxford, Blenheim Palace and Stratford upon Avon as well as a thorough coverage of The Cotswolds.

Recommend renting an automatic transmission vehicle, since if you rent a manual, you would be shifting with your left hand. Also, the automatic takes away some of the natural confusion with driving on the left. Also, do not speed and take special care turning at intersections. After a couple of hours, you will find it no big deal.
Roundabouts are a concern, especially the double roundabouts. However, some have red lights, which help. Just be patient and don't try to hurry.

We stayed at the Volunteer Inn in Chipping Campden. It had spacious rooms for reasonable rates, the best pub in town and a great Indian Restaurant.
Renting at Oxford is not a bad idea. Seeing Oxford without the car is wise, since parking in that city is difficult.

I can't emphasise enough how unwise it can be to drive into central Oxford. Between the ubiquitous 20 mph, all the one way roads and bus gates as well as the almost total absence of parking, you are really truly advised to see Oxford and then get the car rather than the other way around.

I love the place but I speak with years of experience to say it is not a good place to learn the ins and outs of driving over here. Not even if you know well how to drive here.

Forgot to mention the daily mandatory environmental charge for driving in Oxford unless you are in a 100% electric car and it is registered with the City.

There's nothing wrong renting a car in Oxford to drive elsewhere, but as Nigel says, stay out of central Oxford with you car (or at least don't waste your time trying to park there). We have driven and parked in Oxford, but it was a total pain, and I can't imagine how it would be if you're not used to driving on the left.

So appreciate the great advice. No driving in London for sure and definitely as little as possible in Oxford. I figured I would do an automatic I will have enough to do trying to get out of the roundabouts ... now I hear there are double ones, oh my! If you get stuck behind some American in the roundabout I'll go ahead & apologize now. Smile & wave I'll get out of your way as soon as I can!
Loved the Barge restaurant ideas something special for our day!
Please feel free to offer any more ideas folks I'm writing them down.
Thank you

Windsor is the opposite direction from the airport. Do you really want to travel back out of London to get to Windsor? Perhaps you could go to Windsor at the end, on the 20th, drop luggage at a hotel, see Windsor, stay the night and then taxi to the airport the next day. I believe that is quicker than going from London. Or go the evening of the 19th, see Windsor on the 20th, and move to an "airport" hotel for the night of the 20th, depending what time your flight is the next day.

Have you reserved Premier Inn? Is the County Hall PI near the train station you need for Oxford?

Maybe add Salisbury or Avebury to Stonehenge?

Is the County Hall PI near the train station you need for Oxford?

The short answer to that is no. County Hall is next to Waterloo station. Trains to Oxford leave from either Paddington or Marylebone stations.

There is a PI very close to Paddington called 'Paddington Basin' which is available on 5 August for £106 or £123 for an upgraded Premier Room. compared to £125/£139 at County Hall.

It is possible to get to Oxford from Waterloo to Oxford by train without having to take a tube- but slow. Every 30 minutes there is a Waterloo to Reading train- takes 1 hour 20 minutes, and then change at Reading for Oxford. It is a nice scenic run, especially in it's latter stages. I used to use that train quite a lot, especially when trains into Paddington were disrupted- and did so again a month or two ago just for nostalgia. After 12 noon daily it is also the cheapest walk up London to Reading route - if only travelling from Reading to London.

isn31c Thank you for the information I had no idea it was a distance away.
I'm wondering what all I might fit in to a 8 hr tour in London on Monday the 5th?

I took a Travalger tour back in 2018 with my Granddaughter and saw some of the sights there in London. I think my husband would enjoy the Tower of London and the Changing of the Guard I would like to see Kensington Gardens and definitely Hyde Park but I don't know if all that would be possible in 8 hrs? I'm certain some of you know what may be possible? I'm trying to locate a map that shows where some of the sights are located in relation to each other.

I also, do not know if I should get the Oyster card for the day on Aug 5th or would I be better of doing the hop on hop off or the train?
Should I sign up for a train pass since I need to go to Oxford and will need to travel back from Oxford? I would do a little more sightseeing maybe on the 20th. So suggestions would be most welcome please.
Again thank you to all that have responded with your knowledge and suggestions!

Leney,

We are doing a similar trip on September 1, flying into London, renting a car and heading for Bath. For the next couple-three days we will meander to Oxford, stopping at Avebury. I've opted not to drive in either Bath or Oxford. I recommend looking for a "Park & Ride" location so you can leave the car and hop the bus into town. They are very convenient. After you've selected one, find the nearest acceptable lodging and don't worry about driving in the city.

Coincidently, we are also 69 and heading to the Cotswolds after Oxford, but without the car. We will go by train and complete the journey walking circular from town to town.

Enjoy your trip!
Larry

If your only train travel is to and from Oxford then a rail pass or railcard will not benefit you.

Just buy Advance tickets- ones for specific timed trains. As of this morning on the 0923, 0952 and some later trains those start at £6 per person on 6 August.

For the day in London it certainly isn't worth buying an Oyster Card. I would buy a Zone 1 to 6 Travelcard which will cover your journey in from Heathrow on the Elizabeth Line) then all day use on the tube and London buses- not HoHo buses.

There will be a collective pursing of the lips but as you don't seem to know London well and only have a day to get used to the city, then to remove the learning curve of using the transit system there is a lot to be said IMO for using the HoHo (any of a number of such operators)- it will give you a good over view of London.

Looking at the other thread about using public transport in the Cotswolds I didn't realise you were still puzzling out the car rental for Highclere and Blockley.

You could take the train to Reading where Enterprise and Hertz have offices. From there it is 40 minutes drive to Highclere (allow an hour) and thence to Blockley is 1 hr 31 for the 64 mile drive. Route via Abingdon, Witney and Carterton to totally avoid Oxford.

Return the car to Reading- 62 miles, 1hr37 minutes skirting round the west of Oxford through Hinksey then Wallingford entering Reading through Caversham.

Then train or Rail/Air Bus to London/Heathrow.

EDIT- Enterprise also have an office in Newbury. So you could always take the train to Newbury, rent the car there, short drive to Highclere, then Blockley. That way you aren't starting on busy city roads, return to Newbury, train to "London"

isn31C
Oh thank you so much! Yes I was puzzling & second guessing myself but your response with details help clarify it for me. I believe I could do that after a good night's rest. May take me a bit longer but than projected times but would be nice not to have to worry about what to do with luggage while we tour Highclere.
Thanks again