Hi!

I am thinking of using Winchester as a home base for 12 days this summer with different one-day side trips to various places such as London, Southhampton,Bath, etc. We won't be traveling everyday but want to do several train trips to sightseeing.

My concern is since that we will not rent a car and we want to use the train for almost daily day trips...is there a such thing as a package of several days trip tickets for train for cheap price? Or it is pay as you go? I have a family of 7 and don't want to spend a fortune on too many tickets.

Is there a better idea?

Thanks for any tips or suggession!

There are several version of BritRail passes you might want to investigate which may be cheaper than buying individual tickets, depending on how many train trips you take during your visit. You can check out the details at www.britrail.com.

I rather think you will spend a small fortune for 7 people on rail tickets, now I could be wrong, but I think it will be quite a bit. Not sure why you do not want to rent a car (actually a van if 7 people). I've driven around Winchester and it is not all that bad .. honest !! I would not want to drive in London, but once you get the hang of left hand driving it's do-able. Do figure out what rail vs. a rental would cost. With a car you are free to go where you please/whenever.

Incidentally, Winchester is a nice town with a very interesting cathedral, nice shops, etc. You can also get into London in about 1 hr.

for a group of seven you will spend a fortune on train tickets whether you get a pass or not. Now there are some "family day out" excursion-type tickets that are quite discounted. But mostly for weekends and for 2 adults and up to 2 kids. So even they would have to be doubled to meet your needs.

What is your problem w/ driving? For one person train are cheaper (but driving is sometimes more convenient). For two - it is often a wash. For three or more it is almost always cheaper to drive. And for a group your size - it would be tremendously cheaper to have a van, plus you would not be limited to where you could go.

Thanks everyone for your tips. I hasn't consider driving due to left side/right side style and was concerned about getting in an accident. (Remember Matthew Broderick?)

Can anyone offer the best reasonable price car rental agency?

Can we drive rental van from airport to the town of Winchester? Or we must ride the train into London from airport in order to pick up van rental? Any better way than this? I really do want to make this trip affordable since there's many of us.

Thanks so much!

I live about 8 miles outside of Winchester, and would agree with other posters about train fares being very expensive - Places like Hertz rent out 7 seater mini vans like the Ford Galaxy, and even 12 seater minibuses.

From Heathrow, or Gatwick to Winchester is straightforward by road - motorway nearly all the way. The city itself does have an interesting one way system, but it is not too bad, and quite straightforward once you get used to it.

The only exception I might make driving from Winchester is London, but even then, I would be inclined to drive as far as e.g. Richmond, then buy a london travelpass.

Lori:
Seems that renting and driving a van is your best move. Please reconsider...it's all a matter of getting used to it. Maybe my story will help you. Several decades ago, I drove on the left for the first time...rented a car from Swan whose office was just outside of the core city of London...I took the tube out to get the car while my wife waited back at the hotel near Victoria Station...8 o'clock on a Monday morning! I white-knuckled it back into town easing through a horrendous traffic jam and countless roundabouts...finally got to the hotel where my wife was waiting on the sidewalk with our luggage. I was ready to chuck the whole venture, were it not for my DW's calming influence. However, once out of town (with a great deal of difficulty) I began to feel more comfortable and the rest of the trip through England, Scotland , Wales and Ireland (north and south) was a pleasure. My wife shared the driving and we both got used to it with nary a mix-up, and no mishaps. Try it...you'll get used to it faster than you imagine...the only way to travel that lovely countryside!

Stu T.