With an arrival will into Heathrown around 9AM, what is a good recommendation to see enroute to the north end of the Cotswolds? Buying time until check in that afternoon and fighting jet lag by staying in motion until after dinner. Renting a car at LHR.
My plan was to do Windsor Castle on the way, but looks like it will not be open that day.
Fighting jet lag and driving around for hours isn’t a good mix. Please don’t do it. Take public transport and hire a car day 2 in the Cotswolds.
There are several attractive small towns in the Cotswolds on your route where you could break journey - Burford, Charlbury, Kingham, Shipton under Wychwood, Chipping Campden, Bourton on the Water...
@Jennifer, No worries, can't get the car any other way due to cost and travel plans, but the idea is not to drive all around but drive straight there except with a stop to see something interesting. Oxford? Stonehenge?
The Broadway Tower. Batsford Arboretum and Garden Center
EDIT: Be hopeful you are through immigration and out of Heathrow in under 2 hours. You’ll need to bus to your car rental spot as most are located on the Perimeter Road. Unless you’ve eaten on the plane or grab something at LHR you’ll want some nourishment. Might you consider eating at the airport? That will eat up (no pun) time.
Have you driven in the UK before?
Stow-on-the-Wold is on the same road to Chipping Campden. You have to get off it to get to Oxford.
Years ago, my sister and brother-in-law travelled to Heathrow with another couple who had been to England multiple times and always rented a car. Shortly after leaving the airport their friend totaled out the vehicle, luckily no one was injured.
No idea why b.paul1 was so harsh as it was uncalled for. Generally speaking, Jennifer is correct if you’re unfamiliar with the area, roads to where you’re going, or driving on the left. Chipping Campden is between 2-2.5 hours from the airport and I wouldn’t want to drive any further than that. That’s my limit after a long flight. Assuming you can get a couple hours sleep on the flight, I’d drive straight there. Based on your arrival time, by the time you get through immigration, get your bags, get the rental and drive there, you’ll probably be able to check in. If not, drop the bags, and get something to eat. Chipping Campden is small. If you can check in, unpack and maybe take a short nap. When you get up, you could drive 10 miles to Stow-on-the Wold and Upper Slaughter to walk around. Or, for a smaller and closer village, go the 6.5 miles to Broadway. Either way, I wouldn’t wander in the car very far that first day after arrival at your lodging.
I wouldn’t stop at Oxford or Windsor as you’d be shortchanging each, and at some point you’ll realize just how tired you are and you’d still need to drive the remainder of the way to Chipping Campden. The Rollright stones are en route, as is Blockley (seen in the Father Brown tv series).
Oxford is a commitment - not fast and easy. Windsor also would have been. My advice is to head straight to the Cotswolds. I am always more likely to feel the effects of jet lag the later it gets in the day. It’s real. And if you get there and are fine, there are any number of cute villages to visit.
Edit: cross-posting with jaimeelsabio. :)
Everybody has a different tolerance for overseas flights depending on age and health. But jet lag is very real and the older we get the more it takes its toll. Driving in England is no easy task. There are a lot of cars on the road, driving fast with little tolerance for nervous drivers. It takes a lot of concentration and fast reflexes. Nonetheless, If that is your plan, I would suggest you go directly to your accommodation, drop bags, and look for a place to eat a good meal.
hey thanks guys- some really helpful stuff here! Next time I will add to my starting post to please just assume we have done this before, we are familiar with the driving aspect, we are young enough to do it, etc etc...) just looking for some stopover ideas and we can decide the rest! Don't be concerned or fearful for the other UK drivers or our safety, we are not basing our entire decision matrix and itinerary off of this forum!
Since Oxford was not originally on our itinerary at all, even grabbing lunch in a great town would be a bonus addition with value added.
