There are 5 of us flying into Heathrow in June - arriving about 0900. Our destination is Oyster Wharf near Battersea Park. It was suggested that we take the train to Paddington station - not sure what I should do from there. I was thinking of hiring a car to take us the rest of the way. Is there a way to figure our most efficient stops close to destination.
After a few days we are going to Portsmouth to take the ferry to Cherbourg. Again I was thinking of hiring a car to take us there.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
If you mean by "hiring a car", taking a taxi, yes, that would be logical for a group of 5.
If you mean a self-drive hire car, no way in London.
Navigation in London works by tube stations. Whenever they quote an address, they always says the name of the nearest nearest tube station.
Oyster wharf is a long way from the nearest tube station, and therefore not a good location to stay at. You will have to get a bus to get anywhere, which will be slow.
No way go by car from central London to Portsmouth. Just take a train from Waterloo station.
Posted by
3439 posts
Whenever I land in the UK or the continent after a flight from the States, I am brain dead. Before I leave my house I use my hard-earned money to arrange for a car service from the airport du jour to my hotel or train station. That way, all I need to do is look for a little sign with my name on it. That's not living like a temporary local, but WTF - I don't live there and I've been up all night.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks for the responses - they have helped me make decisions. One more question - on the second leg of our trip I plan on taking a train from Caen to Paris. We are staying in the Montparnasse area. The only stop I can find is in St. Lazare - what's the best way to get to Montparnasse?
Posted by
Green Bay
21153 posts
ALL the trains from Caen go to St Lazare, that's the way they built the railways in the 1800's and they're stuck with it now. From St Lazare, you can take either the #12 or #13 Metro lines to Montparnasse. Depending on where in Montparnasse you are staying one might be better than the other. The #13 goes more to the station proper. The #12 goes to the Rue Montparnasse to the north of the station.