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Renting car vs. taking train from Gatwick airport

Posted by on

Hi all-- I'm arriving at Gatwick in the early afternoon. I'm planning on staying the first few nights in Salisbury, and then using a rental car for day trips and to explore south and southwest England. I'll do London as a day trip (or maybe two) using the train from Salisbury.

It looks like renting a car at the airport is slightly cheaper than taking a train to Salisbury and renting a car there. But I'm a little nervous to drive when I first arrive—this will be my first time driving on the left side of the road, and there's always that sense of disorientation when you first get off a plane. I've driven in other countries—Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece—but never directly upon arrival. I'll be alone, so there won't be anyone to navigate for me.

How is the Gatwick airport? Is it small, out of the city, easy to navigate? Is the convenience and cost savings of renting a car worth the potential stress of driving while jetlagged? What do you guys think?

Posted by
8889 posts

Only you can comment on your ability to drive, and on the "correct" side of the road, after a long flight.
Gatwick is a large-ish airport, well out of London (half way to Brighton on the south coast). Driving out is easy, straight on to the motorway (M23).

Go to https://www.viamichelin.com/ for directions and driving times. This estimates 159Km (100 miles) in 2h09.
The easiest route, and probably the quickest (though not the shortest or most scenic), is:

  • North from the airport on the M23 (towards London).
  • West on the M25. This is the "London Orbital Motorway", and can get busy.
  • South-West on the M3
  • Then on the A303 to Andover, and A343 / A30 to Salisbury. This is all motorway or dual carriageway until Andover, you don't encounter single carriageway roads (and oncoming traffic) until Andover, and the only town you go through is Salisbury (Andover is by-passed). It should be an easy route without much stress, though a bit boring.
Posted by
5237 posts

Personally I wouldn't drive on the same day of arrival -- especially using the other side of the road. Jet lag, lack of sleep, and not being familiar with the local road system can all be a problem. There are some people that are not bothered by any of those things. Others think they are ok but are really driving somewhat impaired. Still others are complete zombies and should never drive the same day. The money saved by renting a car at the airport is probably not enough to justify the hassles of driving right away. Don't mean to rain on your parade, just something to think about.

Posted by
5467 posts

Salisbury is rather a fiddly place to get to on the train from Gatwick. The quickest way is to go almost right into London and change at Clapham Junction. Otherwise it requires at least two changes at Guildford and Woking. Heathrow would have been an easier alternative in this respect as there are direct coach services and a one stop coach/rail alternative.

Posted by
1075 posts

"this will be my first time driving on the left side of the road,"

In that case, please read the relevant sections of the Highway Code before you drive. You may think it'll be like driving in the US, just on the other side of the road........It's not:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code

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