My husband and I will be in the Normandy area next summer and will then travel to England - specifically to Oxford and the Cotswolds. We will have a rental car in France and will pick up another one in England. There is a ferry to England, but there doesn't appear to be car rental places near the ferry locations. Would it be easier to go back to DeGaulle and take a plane to London or???
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
I suppose you mean Calais to Dover, where there is a train station for your next leg. Or u could consider the eurochunnel train english channel to britain.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
You could also consider driving back to Beauvais airport better than de gaulle and closer to u in normandy. There u can take a cheap european airlines to airports outside of London.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
From Normandy, you could take the ferry from Cherbourg to Portsmouth, Cherbourg to Poole, Caen to Portsmouth or Le Havre to Portsmouth. See http://www.directferries.co.uk/routes.htm for details
These ferries do carry foot passengers, but they are a very minor part of their business and they do not provide many facilities for them. Expect to have to either get a bus or taxi to or from the ports. There should be plenty of car hire places in Portsmouth as it is a large city.
Plan B, the easiest and fastest way from Paris and Northern France to London is the Eurostar train. Drop your French car off at Lille and take a train to either Ashford or Ebbsfleet. Don't go all the way into central London if you are picking up a new hire car. Current timetable here (assume next year's will be similar): http://www.eurostar.com/sites/default/files/pdf/timetable/6551%20UK%20issue%2077.pdf
There is one train per day from Lille to Ashford, and 4 to Ebbsfleet.
Plan B2, as above, but train Lille to London, spend night(s) in London, then train to Oxford and pick up a new hire car there.
Do not go back to Charles De Gaulle airport and fly to London, that is probably the most inconvenient option.
I hope one of these options is right for you.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Unless you enjoy a long ferry ride for its own sake, drive to Lille, drop your car at Lille, and take the Eurostar to London. Discount Eurostar tickets go on sale six months before travel date.
My personal suggestion would be to travel by train from London to Oxford and pick up your UK rental car once you've done everything you want to in the city. Oxford is one of the worst towns in Britain to drive in and this is unlikely to change as many locals like it that way. If you want to stay in Oxford while you are exploring the area by car, make sure you stay somewhere outside the centre and make ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that the hotel has exclusive guest parking.