We are looking to rent a car for the second week of our trip (Cotswolds, N. Wales, York and a night in Windsor). I can't seem to decide, or find my previous posts to re-read. Should we rent a car from Heathrow and return it to Heathrow the day we fly out? or.... Rent a car in Oxford, turn it in in York, and take the train back to London? Our first week is a flat in London, so we would have to get to Heathrow to rent the car. I'm leaning towards Heathrow but let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
You dont need a car to see York (easier without one, and train is very convenient) however, car is very useful to get out into the Yorkshire moors and countryside is that interest you. Do NOT take a car to Windsor, parking is very limited (and we found it expensive). Train from London is all you need
Posted by
Spring, Texas
635 posts
There are places to pick up rental cars all over London. I'm not sure but I think most train stations have them. Oxford is a short train ride from London and would be a great place to pick up a car. You won't need a car in York unless you're planning to see some of the surrounding sites. The biggies are Hadrian's Wall and Bamburgh Castle but there are many others. Once in York you can save the 4 hour drive to London and take a 2 hour train ride. By the time you get to Heathrow it will probably be 3. Of course, you have to weight the cost of train tickets against the rental car rate. What about doing it in reverse. Rent the car in York (right next to train station) when you're ready to leave York and end up in Windsor?
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
Agree with Ken's suggestion to first go to York by train & see the city, and then rent the car to work your way back to Heathrow. I recently did a similar trip; rented car in Edinburgh and returned it at LHR.
Posted by
OP
Hendersonville, NC
112 posts
Tim and Ken, Unfortunately I have already made reservations so I have to stick with Cotswolds first. I guess I will see about renting a car in Oxford and returning it in York, then taking the train from York to Windsor.
Thanks
Posted by
NC, United States
970 posts
Actually, if you reverse the order of things and put the week in London at the end, it would go something like this: Arrive Heathrow, get across town to King's Cross, catch train to York. See York. (Stay inside or very near the walls.) Rent a car. Drive southwest and see Cotswolds, Oxford, and Wales. Drop car in Wales. Grab train back to London. Spend a week in London. Go to Heathrow and fly out.