On July 18, I will travel from London to Hastings. I want to rent a car for one week of travel in Kent and East Sussex. I had thought I would travel by train from London, and then rent a car at Hastings or nearby, but seems train to and fro would cost 400+ (69-year-old and 17-year -old), and since I want a car for a week around Kent and East Sussex anyway, I should probably skip the train. I thought I'd take the tube to an end point and rent a car there, to minimize London driving. I would appreciate suggestions. I'll return the car to the same place, then take public transportation to hotel in Bayswater for a week in London. Thank you.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6547 posts
I always just rent at the airport upon arrival when I’m not staying in London. From there I’ll drive to wherever it is I’ll be staying the first night (never more than 2.5 hours away since it’s after a long flight).
Posted by
UK
1015 posts
How about hiring a car at Gatwick Airport for the best choice of hire cars? It’s an easy train ride from London, and well-located to explore Kent and East Sussex.
Also you may be doing something very wrong to get those train prices to Hastings....
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
U may want to check rail cost again. I got senior at London - Hastings 19 econ, 78 first class, one way. Of course u would need to pick up train in london at charing cross or st pancreas.
If u have never driven in UK u will be much happier taking as much train or bus that u can. Right hand drive and roadways opposite to us are difficult to get used to.
I have done it many times but i do not relax Much while driving.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for the info. I got the price by calling the Britrail office. I have driven in Ireland. For the stops we have in mind in Kent, I'll need a car.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
I'll check rail prices more carefully, from Charing Cross or Victoria. Thanks to all!
Posted by
UK
1015 posts
I got the price by calling the Britrail office.
BritRail does not run trains in Britain. It is a business that makes money selling rail passes to foreign tourists only. The name might suggest that they have some connection to the old British Rail, but don’t be fooled.
Out if interest I checked the website and note that BritRail also sells individual train tickets. I checked a train journey I know well, and noted that the website only offered the most expensive possible tickets, namely an Anytime ticket.
www.nationalrail.co.uk is the place to go to check out train information.
Posted by
2412 posts
Seems to me that Britrail are not showing the cheapest prices to foreigners in order to induce them to buy their passes - which are also expensive. That is appalling and deceitful. Use www.nationalrail.co.uk for the true prices.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5326 posts
It should be noted that "All BritRail Products are managed by the Rail Delivery Group on behalf of the Train Operating Companies of Great Britain." Rail Delivery Group is a member organisation of all the operating companies and National Rail.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Indeed, once I went to the proper web site, the ticket prices were appropriate. Thank you to all who provided input. I'm all set with rail and car.