We are not planning to rent a car on this trip. Flying into Heathrow, spending night and next day in London, then traveling to Chipping Campden as our home base for two weeks. Best way to get there? Thinking tube and train to Moreton-in-Marsh and then maybe taxi to Chipping Campden?
Also, daughter and I will be attending Harry Styles Concert at Wembley Stadium. Planning to spend night in London after concert. Already have lodging at Hyatt Regency Blackfriars. Best way to get to and from venue that night?
Thank you for any ideas and suggestions!
Great! Thank you for this information!
First off, there is always the possibility of some type of strike action on the Tube,
so be alert to that.
From Blackfriars to/from Wembley, use the Transport for London trip planner to
find best route at the time you plan to go. While I would hazard a guess that
District or Circle from Blackfriars/connect to Jubilee to Wembley Park is the
most efficient Tube Route (and there are other options involving trains), on
the day you want to travel, there could be delays on any route, especially
at rush hour.
me.crewe has addressed the Chipping Campden part of your query...
I will answer your Wembley query- as someone very familiar with NW London, to travel between Blackfriars and Wembley Stadium, I would take the Thameslink from Blackfriars to West Hampstead, then change for the Jubilee line to Wembley Park. Note this change requires you to walk a block from the Thameslink station to the tube, but it's a very easy and quick change. When you exit at Wembley Park you'll be looking straight at the stadium and you can just walk right up to it. Then do the same in reverse. The Thameslink trains aren't as frequent as the tube but they are very frequent- like every 10-15 minutes.
You will find you are surrounded by other fans on the journey- we can always tell when something big is happening at Wembley based on the composition of people on the Jubilee line. I remember once the train driver even making an announcement to passengers that he'd ensure they were on time for their date with Harry Styles.
I'm not exactly clear on your plans. Are you staying at the Hyatt Regency Blackfriars when you fly in as well or only when coming back in for the concert? If not, where are you staying as that may change how you get to Paddington.
Yes, we're staying at Blackfriars first night and also when traveling in for concert. Thanks, everyone, for such great advice!
We used Chipping Campden as a base for six nights, stayed at the Volunteer Inn, that has a great pub and Indian Restaurant.
We visited Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Stratford Upon Avon and the Cotswolds.
We rented a car and it worked quite well. Not sure how you will manage touring from Chipping Campden, since the train doesn't go there.
Where did you rent the car? We don't want to rent at Heathrow day of arrival since we're spending the night and next day in Londo. Read somewhere that renting a car is Oxford is a possibility. Suggestions?
From the Hyatt the quickest way to Paddington for a train to the Cotswolds will I think be a Thameslink train north two stops from Blackfriars to Farringdon and then the Elizabeth Line to Paddington. Both are full size trains rather than tubes.
For car hire Heathrow is a bit of a faff as you have to get back to Heathrow and then take a shuttle to the car hire depots. But they do have the advantage of long opening hours. You can hire from Oxford but the drawback there is having to drive out of and back into Oxford which is definitely not car friendly. Not a great place to seat driving on the left if you're not used to it.
Alternatives for car hire are Didcot (has Enterprise car hire) and Swindon (Enterprise and Europcar). Both quick to get to from Paddington but a bit further to drive to Chipping Camden. Cheltenham is another option, near Chipping Camden but a bit further on the train. Bear in mind depots at these places are likely to be open 9-5 only and probably closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
Thank you!
Update:
Spent night of arrival at Hyatt Regency just minutes from Heathrow.. Staff was super courteous and professional . Room was small but quite comfortable with noon check-out. We ended up renting a car at Heathrow and driving to Chipping Campden. Very quick and easy process. Have enjoyed having a car to motor around the countryside! Highly recommend.