We plan on arriving at Heathrow from the states around 7:00 a.m. We don't usually sleep well on the flight, so we don't think it would be wise to rent a car right away and drive all the way to the Cotswolds. This will be our first time driving in the UK, so we need to be rested and thinking clearly. I thought about taking a taxi to Windsor to spend our first night, but I've heard you can't rent a car in Windsor. I wouldn't mind seeing the castle, but I know there is not much else there. I've read there is a car rental in Slough and also Oxford. Should we just taxi or bus to one of these cities and then rent a car the next day?
Thanks, Cindy Oh, one more thing. We plan on going on to London after a couple of days, just didn't think it practical to go to London first and to the Cotswolds and back to London.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2800 posts
Cindy, there is now a small Avis office in Windsor....http://www.avis.co.uk/CarHire/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Windsor/Windsor ~~~~ it's in the Regus Blg., on Victoria Road. But if you don't want to use Avis then Slough is only 3 miles from Windsor and has most of the other car rental companies. You could take a taxi to Slough, so easy. I think you would really enjoy staying in Windsor. You could visit the castle, take a 5 minute walk to Eton to see Eton College which is actually a junior and high school where the rich send their sons. A 5 minute walk in the other direction will take you to Windsor Great Park, you get a fantastic view of the royal residents of the castle from the park. In the park is the Long Walk which is the private road that the royal family uses to enter and exit the castle. Also, St. George's Chapel within the walls of the castle is beautiful and worth a visit.
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
There is regular bus service from Heathrow to Oxford which I've taken several times and then rented a car from Avis (located behind the train station). You can rest up from jet lag and explore Oxford before getting a car the next morning.
Avis is on the west side of Oxford, so you won't have to deal with the city traffic as you head out toward the Cotswolds.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
We fly from West Coast to London (heathrow) and generally have no problem driving to the Cotswolds the day we arrive. Its really not far, and if you just want to get there you can stay with Motorway and main roads. When you get to your hotel you can spend the rest of the day walking around your village. You arrive early, will probably miss rush hour traffic. Should not be a problem
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
Sometimes we do London totally first - spend however many days we are planning to there, then take the tube to Heathrow and rent the car in order to tour the countryside. Return the car at Heathrow and stay at a hotel by the airport to fly out the next day. Either way works well.
Posted by
Galt, Calif., UK
214 posts
You should be able to drive it just fine, it should not be more than a hour and a half to most parts of the Cotswolds especially if you are driving after 9am. If you drive the M-40 to the A-40 you will hit just a little bit of traffic around Oxford though.