Driving in the Cotswolds

I think the decision depends on how much you or your husband are affected by jet lag. If you arrive with a headache, are half asleep, and your mind's not focused (like me) then taking a bus to a less busy area to rent a car might be the thing to do. Heathrow isn't that hard to get out of, but you've got to be alert. I've started out several trips by taking a bus to Oxford and then renting a car at Avis. You're just 20" away from the Cotswolds from there. Works for me, maybe not for you.

Get the car at Heathrow, getting out is simple. Goofing around is Windsor is just going to slow you down. One thought: If you're starting toward the south end of the Cotswolds, it's going to be a bit easier. If you've never driven on the left before, and if you're going toward the north (i.e., through Oxford), you're going to hit a heck of an interchange a couple of miles out of Heathrow as you get on the ring road, and another in a couple more miles as you get off. By the end of the day you wouldn't have had a bit of trouble with either one. If you stay on the M4 (which is the first freeway as you come out of the airport) and stay on it toward Bath, you will have time to adjust easily. If you're dead set on starting on the north end, stay on the M4, ducking under the M25 ring and make your cut to the north around Slough or a bit after. The time differential is inconsequential (five minutes) which you might have lost anyway if the M25 is clobbered (or you miss one of those first two turns). If you're using a gps, let it get you onto the M4 initially and then disregard it until you're a couple of miles past the M25 and it should correct you back nicely.

In addition to Ed's coments above- I find Windsor difficult to drive in- central streets seem narrow and very busy with tourists- parking is extremely difficult. We often rent in Slough or Guildford. Motorway driving is comparatively easy, as is any street where you can follow traffic.

Thanks for your replies! Ed - our reservations in the Cotswolds are in Stow which is north. But we are arriving at Heathrow very early, so I guess we could start in the south and move north. Brian - I've heard the same about Windsor being difficult. Where is Guilford? Tim - I'm a bit concerned about jet lag also. It all depends on if we are able to sleep on the flight. If we can sleep, I think we'll be good to go. But I'm ok with taking a bus to Oxford and renting there. Is Oxford very busy to dry through? Any recommendations on a place in Oxford to rent from?

We always rent the car at Heathrow and find it very easy to drive out of. However, we don't drive very far that first day. One time (when we were going to the Cotswolds) we drove to Swindon (west - straight freeway shot) and in the morning headed north into the Cotswolds.

For a little perspective, Heathrow to Gloucester is right at two hours. To Swindon is a bit over an hour. If you arrive on an early flight, you've burned a whole day cooling your heels where you didn't especially want to go.

Well, that is a good point, Ed. We arrived a bit later (late afternoon) and by the time we got the car and drove to Swindon, we had dinner, drove through the town and then went to bed. There are other places I'm sure that would be easy to drive to and more entertaining.

Guildford is south west of London; reachable from Heathrow by a combination of bus and train. Oxford, Slough and swindon are much closer to Cotswolds. All reachable by train from London. Swindon is on the Southern border of Cotswolds, fairly large town

If we were to bus to Oxford to rent a car, would it be out of the way to drive to Blenheim Palance before going on to Stow?

When we were in the Cotswolds last year, we stayed in Witney. We drove from there toward Oxford and parked our car at the Park & Ride. Blenheim was very close there right before we got into Oxford. So, I think it would be right on your way to go to Blenheim before going to Stow (Oxford, Blenheim, Stow)

Blenheim is close to Oxford and in the rough direction of Cotswolds. Problem is that you can easily spend at least a half day in Blenheim palace, and then there are still the gardens to explore. You may consider staying in Woodstock (right at Blenheim's door) that first night. You are on the edge of the Cotswolds

Avis is on the far west side of Oxford behind the train station which is just a couple blocks from the A34 bypass; no city traffic to deal with. You'll need to take a taxi from the bus station to Avis.
Blenheim Palace is just a 15 minute drive away beside the village of Woodstock & not really out of the way en route to Stow. Woodstock has several nice hotels (The Bear, Feathers,etc) if you decide to spend a night there. Stow-on-the-Wold is a good choice for a central location.