Renting car at Heathrow but want to drop off near St. Pancras

I will leave it for one of our resident Brits to give you a better answer, but I have been in very slow traffic coming in from the West (and we didnt even try and get in to London). i would not take the chance. Why not drop your car in Bristol and take the train into london from there. You will probably end up at Paddington and can either use tube (or taxi if in a hurry) to get to St Pancras. It should be easy to choose a rental car you can drop in Bristol

Hertz (and other agencies) have a site in the parking structure of Euston Station which is walking distance to St.Pancras. You can check the various rental car websites. The suggestion to return the car in Bristol and take the train to London is probably the wisest way to go, though, taking into account the traffic. Also, when picking up our car at Euston, the computer was down and we had to go by shutttle van to pick it up at another location. Some of the in-London car rental agency sites have limited staff and facilities.

Thank you so much, Brian & Andrea. I think your advice to drop off car in Bristol is absolutely spot-on, Brian. I will work on that option. many thanks!

Patty, the train from Bristol is certainly one option. Another is to take the M4 from Bristol to Heathrow and drop the car at the same location from which you pick up. Then take the Piccadilly line to King Cross/St Pancras. If your train doesn't leave until 1400, you should have plenty of time. We left Cheltenham no earlier than 900 and turned a car at Heathrow by noon last fall. I would recommend Sixt. They have convenient pickup from the airport and a very easy return from M4. They are just across the street from the Piccadilly line for your return to London.

Thank you, David. That is another good option. I think we were trying to avoid traffic -- in case it was bad -- but I will keep that idea in mind. It could actually be a smoother option.

Patty If you stick with your original plan to drive to central London on a Wednesday you MUST be aware of exactly where the congestion charging zone is. If coming in on the A40 you will just be skirting it, if coming in on the A4 you must turn at Hyde Park Corner to avoid it. Cameras will watch you all the way. If you enter the zone, even a little, and even for a moment, you earn yourself a £10 charge. Don't pay it within the day and the price goes up and up, and your car hire firm will start charging your card on behalf of Transport for London. You must look out for the red round sign with the white capital "C" on it. Have you driven the Euston Road before? How about through Knightsbridge? I'd take the train.

Thank you, Nigel. I appreciate the advice. I definitely think we will take the train from Bristol to London. But, your tip alerts me to other issues we may have driving near London. We will definitely avoid driving there, I think and stick to public transport. Trying to follow Rick Steves' advice and use a car for certain areas. Thank you again!

Seconding all the recommendations to take the train. There's a reason commuter trains to and from the west of London are full day in and day out. Rail delays do happen, but road delays are more likely. Plus, driving on motorways is just like driving on interstates. For me, at least, not really much fun. To add to Nigel's comment, newbie American drivers in London are going to have enough trouble just finding the basic traffic signs, much less the warnings about the congestion zone. Like any big city, it's awash in road signs, and none of them look anything like American signs. So eat breakfast in Bristol, catch an early train to Paddington, and relax. BTW, I took a cab last fall from King's Cross (just down the street from St. Pancras) to Paddington. Cost about 20 pounds and took close to an hour at 8pm on a weekday.

Thanks j.c. & Richard! I am definitely making the plans to drop of the rental car in Bristol and take the train from Bristol Temple Meads station, after picking up my daughter at the U. of Bristol. I also appreciate your advice about the congestion charge, which I think Nigel also mentioned. I think we will avoid driving in or near London. My husband loves to drive the narrow country roads. However, we are 20 years older than we were when we were here last(!!) so I told him if he has any trouble, we're going to just turn in the car and take public transport as much as possible!

One other small thing about driving (or your husband driving) in England since your last trip. Some bright spark in the last government decided to encourage local councils to mess around with speed limits. When you were here last probably most of the changes had not taken effect but now screwy limits are everywhere. It used to be simple, 30 in built-up areas, indicated by the presence of streetlights; 70 on motorways and dual carriageways; 60 everywhere else (with a few exceptions). Now you will find lanes between villages with 40 mph, some 20 mph in town, beautiful fast completely divided dual carriageways like the one near my house at 50. The trouble is, very few locals obey the new limits, but some do. What was put in as a supposed safety feature has become a safety hazard. Most of these new limits come complete with cameras and / or "safety visors" which flash out the speed you should be doing. Some people have taken to using them like a video game, to compete to set them off. >>end of rant, stepping off soapbox<< The moral of the story is, Patty, please ask your husband to be aware of new signs and new driving patterns.

Thank you, Nigel. I know we don't want to be problem drivers in a foreign country. My husband is a very good driver, but he does like to go fast and I recall the speed limits were pretty high last time we were there. So, do you recommend we stick to the speed limits (otherwise risking a citation) or should we simply try to keep up with the traffic in the area? That's what we tend to do here in the SF Bay Area. As much as I love to travel, I hate being a tourist; not knowing all the local customs and standing out.

Hi Patty I would never advise breaking laws. Locals have knowledge of where the cameras are, and if you have an d GPS it may have the camera database on it. Locals will also know where the camera cars are. So if you see traffic suddenly slowing and speeding up that's probably the reason. Its particularly dangerous because people behind may not expect the big slowdown. Where the limits are down you best off staying at or near them, just be prepared to be overtaken by some people driving at what they think is the right speed. You will enjoy your trip, I'm sure; and your husband will enjoy his driving. Forewarned is forearmed. Just being aware of the changing playing field will make it easier.

Good advice again, Nigel. Thank you. May I check in with you at a later date, if I think of anything else? We won't be arriving in the UK until April 2, so I may have other questions prior to that date. I have an iPad that I was going to bring with me to use as a GPS, but perhaps I should just include one in the car rental. I know the iPad GPS works here in the States, but not sure how it will work there.

Patty Scout round recent messages here on the board about taking data plan devices to Europe. If you don't have the right plan it will eat your lunch. Be really sure if using your Ipad (we do have technology here too you know ;-) ) its not downloading all the maps as you drive.

My brother-in-law is in London working on the Olympic Project. he recommended us to get a car at Heathrow, do our driving around England, and return the car to Heathrow. Then we can take the train to Paddington and then St. Pan for the Chunnel. Does that sound reasonable? he said you avoid the drop off charges and the congestion charges.

Cindy
It makes sense to rent and drop off your car away from london- Haethrow or any town that works for your sehedule. Not sure that you need to drop it off exactly where you rented it though. probably depends on the rental company