My husband and I are planning to stay about 10 days in London but have at least one day out to go to Windsor, Bath, Stonehenge and Wells...maybe Hampton Court, and another day towards Cambridge or York. I know that there are tours covering some of these, but not all in one tour. I was wandering if it wouldn't be more practical, cheaper and quicker to do it renting a car at the airport, even just for the two of us. How much would it cost?
Of course I could do that on the first day, starting in Bath (right from the airport, since airplanes generally arrive very early morning), sleep somewhere on the way around that area, and ending the car tour at night, returning the car in London...which would save me time and fuel. What do you advise?
Posted by
Freedonia
16278 posts
I would say don't do it. Parking and driving in London is ridiculously expensive. (You have to pay to drive in central London.)
The train system is fantastic and gets you to just about all of these destinations easily and inexpensively if tickets are purchased in advance or you use a tour. Most of the places you mentioned are highly walkable and you wouldn't need a car once you are there.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Stay in London, take a train out to Bath,, no need to pay for gas, parking, or get stuck in traffic. You do not need a tour for Bath. Really, I did it by myself and managed just fine. I personally wouldn't bother with Stonehenge,, but Windsor would be interesting. I would see if I could take public transport( bus or train) to Windsor.
Renting a car is not a good idea. The traffic is horrible, and they drive on the wrong side of the road!! LOL
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Why bother driving? Gas (petrol over there) is extrememly expensive. You can do what you want with a BritRail pass. You could base yourself in London and do day trips! Much less stressful and really fun. We've done similar trips for more than 20 years and find we enjoy setting up in one place and doing day trips. With 10 days you have plenty of time !
Posted by
Corsicana, Texas, USA
354 posts
If you decide to purchase point-to-point rail tickets, most rail companies offer substantial discounts on a few of the tickets for each journey. You just need to check the company's website a few weeks or even months in advance of the actual trip.
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
I've driven through that area. We really loved the freedom of the car. BUT, absolutely DO NOT drive in London. Taxis are inexpensive, the drivers knowledgable and friendly. You can take the Gatwick Express to Gatwick airport or the Heathrow Express to Heathrow and rent your car there.Driving from the airport is no problem. If you rent the car from Autoeurope online from home, you will save money. Be sure to take the insurance from the rental company. Stonehenge is not much fun because it is all fenced off, but Avebury is in the vicinity and you can go right up to the stones.Bath is enjoyabloe too. Driving in England on the left side of the road is one of my favorite experiences. We spent 10 days with a car last summer and drove all the way to northern Scotland. It was the best part of our trip.
Just my perspective. Hope it helps.
Thomas
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
I've driven through that area. We really loved the freedom of the car. BUT, absolutely DO NOT drive in London. Taxis are inexpensive, the drivers knowledgable and friendly. You can take the Gatwick Express to Gatwick airport or the Heathrow Express to Heathrow and rent your car there.Driving from the airport is no problem. If you rent the car from Autoeurope online from home, you will save money. Be sure to take the insurance from the rental company. Stonehenge is not much fun because it is all fenced off, but Avebury is in the vicinity and you can go right up to the stones.Bath is enjoyable too. Driving in England on the left side of the road is one of my favorite experiences. We spent 10 days with a car last summer and drove all the way to northern Scotland. It was the best part of our trip.
Just my perspective. Hope it helps.
Thomas
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
All experienced travelers will tell you not to rent a car for your plans. The trains are too easy to use and much cheaper. I have driven in over 20 countries including London and I would not drive there again.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
780 posts
Dont forget the 10 pound (i think) congestion charge every time you cross over into central London. They have cameras and you have to pay the charge or you will be fined. There are signs stating "Congestion Traffic Charge Begins Here" something to that efect...
Posted by
Emporia, VA, USA
3 posts
I agree completely that you should NEVER drive a car into London itself, for all the reasons already stated. You can get good train connections to Windsor and Hampton Court; both are quite worthwhile. You can also take a train to Bath, Cambridge, and York, though the latter is a bit of a stretch for a day trip from London. I thought Stonhenge and surroundings worthwhile. However, it's a real stretch for a day trip from London by car. Remember, you have to take the tube or train to Heathrow, then get to the car rental lots, then get on the road. The rental cars are quite convenient to the highways, but the driving can be a challenge if you've never driven on that side of the road. I do agree, however, that it s a terrific experience once you warm to it.
Posted by
Emporia, VA, USA
3 posts
I agree completely that you should NEVER drive a car into London itself, for all the reasons already stated. You can get good train connections to Windsor and Hampton Court; both are quite worthwhile. You can also take a train to Bath, Cambridge, and York, though the latter is a bit of a stretch for a day trip from London. I thought Stonhenge and surroundings worthwhile. However, it's a real stretch for a day trip from London by car. Remember, you have to take the tube or train to Heathrow, then get to the car rental lots, then get on the road. The rental cars are quite convenient to the highways, but the driving can be a challenge if you've never driven on that side of the road. I do agree, however, that it s a terrific experience once you warm to it.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I noticed that no one even answered your question about how expensive can it be? I too someone who enjoys driving in the UK, but I don't think that you could pay me to drive in London. ; ) If you want to see a bit of the countryside then find a rental at a smaller city. I was able to rent a car in York. I drove it through the countryside and ended up dropping it off at the Glasgow airport. You could drop it off at a city or airport in the midlands and catch a train back to London. Pam
Posted by
OP
Lisbon, Portugal
3 posts
Thanks to all of you. I am well travelled and I really would NEVER think of driving in any big town in the world, least of all London. I own an autocaravan which I have driven from Portugal ( I am Portugueses now living i Canada) all over Europe, as far as Bergen, Berlin and Istambul... and this time I am not thinking of taking it exactly because of the Town and direction problems. I am flying to Portugal with a stop of 10 to 12 days in London and neighbour sites.
I have been doing my home work and I could find on the net the answer to my main question = the PRICE of a rented car, since I think we can make more than three sites a day if we are alone with a rented car. I have been in most of the named places and more, but I would like to revisit and show them to my husband, without the delay inmplied in a group tour. If necessary we wil stay longer, or stay one night in the area of Bath/Wells/Winchester/Stonehenge/ Salisbury, to cover it all without so much driving back and forth. And we will buy the seven-day-Oyster-card for London.
Keep in touch, and thanks again for your concern.
Maria
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Maria- I still believe you would do better by using the trains and /or buses rather than driving. Parking -even in small Windsor is a big pain and very expensive. York has traffic at least as bad as London and so do Bath.
Posted by
NC, United States
970 posts
Maria, the only reason I'd rent a car on a UK visit is if I wanted to spend some time driving in the countryside. Even then, however, I'd take a train from London to that area, and rent the car there. AutoEurope, I'm sure, has shops in many cities.
If, however, you are going to focus on London with day trips to Windsor, Cambridge and York, then a car will be more a burden than a pleasure. Windsor is on the age of London's western suburbs and a quick and easy train or coach (bus) trip.
I'd recommend doing separate day trips to Cambridge and York. You'll want to spend a day in each. The Cambridge station, if memory serves, is about a 20-minute walk from the town center, while York station is a bit closer to the center of York. So, both are easy walks or cheap taxi rides.
Bath is also only an hour or so by train, making for an easy day trip.
If you want to see Stonehenge and some of the other territory in Somerset and Devon, then renting a car could be a good move. Stonehenge is, I think, worth seeing but it certainly won't take a full day. You might think about combining a drive to Stonehenge with a visit to Salisbury, with its cathedral. More extensive touring would require an overnight stay. But, again, I'd avoid driving out from London. I'd take a train, probably to Salisbury, and pick up the car there. (I was in Salisbury 18 months ago and noticed an AutoEurope shop just across the tracks from the train station.)
Bottom line: Leave driving in London to the people who are paid to do it.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
473 posts
If you decide to got to Hampton Court Palace, which I highly recommend, the train is by far the easiest way. Pick up the train at Waterloo Station. It ends almost next door to the palace. http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/planyourvisit/gettingthere.aspx
You can easily see the palace from the Hampton Court train station.