We would like to pick up & return our rental car as Rick suggests--pick up in Bath, return in York. We're flying into London Heathrow, leaving immediately to start our trip in Bath, with York being our last destination before London (where we won't need a car), and ending with several days to tour London. We'd like to go with National as we get a corporate discount with them, but they won't commit to a York drop off. My husband is think thinking about just driving to Heathrow to turn in the car at the end of our trip, but that burns up a lot of precious time, plus I worry about us driving in/near London. We have previously driven in Ireland and Scotland. Any insight/suggestions be much appreciated.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
You could pick up at Bristol Airport and drop off at Manchester Airport. Then direct train from Manchester Airport to York. Train back to London
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for the quick response. That's actually the next thing we were going to research, although it appears that the problem is dropping the car off anywhere other than where it was picked up. When you call the 800 number, they say you can drop off at a different location but there will be a charge, and they don't know how much that charge will be. Based on inventory at that point for any location, we're guessing. We also might try finding the direct phone number for the local National office in York, rather than going through the 800 number. If the charge turned out to be reasonable ($500 or less), we'd pay it, but I'm worried that we'll get there and the charge will be exorbitant.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
if driving to Heathrow saves so much money with National you should expect the drive to be just under 4 hours if you are lucky.
You will have a choice between the M1 and the A1. Neither is a particularly pleasant drive, and you should be sure that the radio/audio system in the car is set to interrupt whatever you are listening to with traffic bulletins and be ready to switch.
The M1 is renowned for its traffic problems, and never ending construction, both with gantry speed camera dynamic speed restrictions. It has a lot of traffic. I have the thrill of using chunks of it frequently and I never look forward to it.
The A1 (with intermittent chunks of A1(M) ) is even worse for long distance driving. It is what the M1 was designed to replace, and while it has been upgraded in parts it is still a winding, narrow (often 2 narrow lanes each way) road that even has traffic lights and roundabouts in parts. It is is renowned for its traffic and number of trucks. Particularly awful is the bit between the A14 and the M25, incorporation among other thrills the Black Cat Roundabout. I have to drive that one from time to tie and don't recommend it, but when the M1 blows up it is all you've got.
Both the A1 and M1 dump out into the M25, the parking lot which encircles greater London. There are several hot spots along it including the Waltham tunnels, the M1/M25 interchange, and the whole distance of the western side of the circle, from before Maple Cross to the M40 junction and then all the way down to the M4 (for the airport) Junction, and on south all the to Leatherhead.
When you turn off the M25 - eventually - onto the M4 I need to warn you of the long term roadworks on both the junction and the main road. Don't let frustration get you - every inch is covered by speed cameras, some visible, others not.
I live between York and London, near the junction of the M1 and the A14. I deal with these roads a lot.
I hope that the rental discount is big. You'll be driving over 200 miles to the airport, maybe 2/3 of a tank. At today's prices that's a lot.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
£500 is the sort of a charge I'd expect for an international drop off. Not one within the same country.
Posted by
Cornwall
332 posts
Do you need a car? You can get a train from Bath to York with a change at Bristol.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
You can play around with the UK website and see prices
https://www.nationalcar.co.uk/en/home.html
There's no National outlet in York.
Posted by
11608 posts
Also, see what prices are on SutoEurope.com
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
I've just had a look - there is no National rental business in York according to the National webpage of UK locations. There are two Enterprise locations in York. You might be able to use Enterprise which is a big company here in England.
The nearest National desk is at Leeds Bradford Airport - not exactly on the doorstep....
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks so much for providing the National/UK website! I think you cracked the code. There is a "different return" option on the National UK website that accommodates a different drop-off location, and it looks like we can pick up at Heathrow and drop off at Manchester airport. We'll try the other website if this doesn't work. I'm even more motivated to find a better option after hearing about the traffic on road between York and London. Many thanks to all!
Posted by
2599 posts
If you are going Heathrow > Bath > York > London and not doing anything in between, you might just as well use the trains. Direct trains go from Bristol (Temple Meads) to York so you would just need to add the 15 minute short hop from Bath to Bristol to pick up on one going north.