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Public transportation: Gatwick to Hotel in Bexleyheath for 3 people

Posted by (Owasso) on

I currently have a car reserved from Hertz at Gatwick in mid-November. We'll be in the UK London area for 15 days and will spend probably 70% of our time in London but also want to visit spots up to 3-5 hours away from our hotel. Our hotel is 12 miles Southeast of London but will spend two nights mid-trip in another hotel in Norwich.

After reading about thieves braking car windows out, central London parking fees and other driving difficulties I'm thinking seriously about trying to just use public transportation.

I did drive our car in London (left sided driver wheel) that we drove down when living in Denmark but that was 20 years ago (this December in fact).

I was in London in 2003 but had a company driver but even then driving looked manageable.

I'm a good driver and have driven in Europe & Scandinavia but that was 20 years ago.

So with that said I would love to get your advice on the following:

1) Is it feasible to take public transportation from Gatwick to our hotel in Bexleyheath then from Bexleyheath to Norwich? (No hotel shuttle)

2) Should I keep the car given most of my time will be spent in the London area?

3) Should I go with the train/bus exclusively?

4) Is it easy to rent cars in Bexleyheath?

I apologize up front for such a complicated posting but hopeful someone will have just the right advice.

Best Regards,
Brian

Posted by
81 posts

I wouldn't want to drive in London for several reasons, not least because the congestion charge means you cannot drive in central London anyway, plus it is so well served by rail and bus.

Contact the hotel, first about hiring a car in Bexleyheath (their concierge should know) and about which National Rail station is closest to them.

Go to the Transport for London trip planner: http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&ptOptionsActive=1

Under "From" enter "Gatwick Airport"; under "Travelling to" enter "Bexleyheath" (or whichever station the hotel says) and times, then press the search button.

Using the above example, the trip planner returned several options from Gatwick Rail Station usually to London Bridge Station, changing trains and on to Bexleyheath Station, total time a little over one hour. Taxi (or bus) to hotel.

Get train tickets at Gatwick; for tube and buses in the city you should get an Oyster card for the best fare, available at National Rail stations.

Posted by
8700 posts

According to www.nationalrail.co.uk, the single fare on National Rail trains from Bexleyheath to central London is £3.80. Bexleyheath is in zone 5. According to www.tfl.gov.uk, a seven-day day travelcard for zones 1-5 costs £39.80 and covers all National Rail trains as well as the tube, bus, Docklands Light Railway, and trams within those zones. A seven-day travelcard for zones 1-2 (central London) costs £23.20. You could buy extensions for each trip beyond zone 2, or you could keep it simple and buy the zone 1-5 travelcard.

If you buy the zone 1-5 travelcard at Gatwick, then you could take a Southern train to Victoria, the tube to Charing Cross, and a Southeastern train to Bexleyheath. You would have to buy a ticket to cover getting from Gatwick to zone 5, but your travelcard would cover the rest of the route.

If you don't rent a car at Gatwick, a good place to pick one up might be London City Airport.

Posted by
619 posts

Brian

I think you may be worrying too much.

Bexleyheath is well outside central London, so you will not be subject to the congestion charge, and parking is probably free at the hotel. For travel into central London, it will be best to use public transport, but for other journeys the car will be much more convenient, especially if you are a confident driver.

The journeys from Gatwick to Bexleyheath and Bexleyheath to Norwich can both be done by public transport but are not straightforward. Having a car would be easier.

Car crime happens, and can happen anywhere. Don't leave valuable stuff on view, and have adequate insurance. However, your chance of being a victim is small.

It is possible to rent cars in or near Bexleyheath, but your choice of cars will be less, the office will be open shorter hours, and they will be less accustomed to dealing with overseas visitors.

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