Bath
 

There will be 5 of us taking a day trip to Bath. I know parking is not the best in bath but it does seem like it might be cheaper to rent a car for the 5 of us, rather than the train. What do you think?

Where are you travelling from

Assuming (big assumption) that you are traveling from London, I think our round trip ticket from Paddington was 31 pounds each. I don't know what the car would cost, then you have to look at the hastle. Please note though that we experienced some train problems both ways. However, once in Bath, walking is easy to the Abbey and the baths, hire a cab or a sightseeing bus for the rest.

I am the type of traveller that likes to have my own transportation. We drove to Bath last year and had no problems with parking. We had a great day - and were able to see Stonhenge on the way. Plus - if you see something else you like - you can go there too!

My experience some years ago was different from Karen's<BR>We found driving in Bath to be a nightmare, and it wasn't even our first experience driving on the left side.<BR>Bath had a lot of narrow streets, one-way streets, and, it seemed to us, limited parking except on the outskirts.<BR><BR>You might want to look into hiring a driver and van for the day and compare it to the train fares.

Driving in Bath can sometimes be a nightmare. But driving TO Bath is really no problem. There are park and ride lots just outside of town. You park for free and take a frequent shuttle bus right to the center of town. The bus fare was 50p last time I used it (about 2 years ago)<BR><BR>A rental car would be much cheaper. <BR><BR>

DEFINITELY rent the car. Cheaper and easier. Parking can be a hassle in Bath, but just park the car right away and forget about it. There are plenty of self-park lots right off the main streets. It is a walkable city and you won't need the car once you're there. ENJOY! Don't forget to have a bun at Sally Lunn's tea room, it's a must during any trip to Bath.

Just one piece of advice. If you haven't driven in the UK befsore I suggest spending a few extra dollars and getting a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

Rental car for sure. The countryside around Bath is wonderful. You might want to consider an overnight trip.

Almost forgot....book the car rental BEFORE you go. If you just rent for a day whilst in the UK, the rental rate will be very high, perhaps as much as double.

I'm so jealous. Parking really isn't any worse than most cities you've been to. People always complain about it, but you can always find a spot. Certainly cheaper than five train tickets and much more flexible. I agree with other posters, that it is worth any minor inconvenience to DRIVE, not take the train, in and out of Bath. The parts outside of Bath are essential to a trip to England, in my opinion.

Ric, I live about 12 miles away from Bath and I used to work there. Driving in Bath is difficult, because of the large number of one-way-systems. In most towns you can sort of head in the direction you want to go. You can't do this in Bath. Parking in Bath is not easy. When I worked there, parking before 9 am was possible, but if I needed to get back to the office in the afternoon, I could spend an hour driving around all the car parks trying to find a space. It used to be possible to park on the streets around the centre, but when I tried this a few weeks ago, I discovered these streets are now reserved for local residents with permits.<BR>I use the park-and-ride carparks on the edge of the city. They are clearly signposted as you drive in. Parking is free all day. You pay for the return trip on the bus (about &pound;2 each). Believe me, it will save a lot of stress. Bath itself is small enough to cover on foot.

Second the info. about parking. Park and ride is the way to go. If you do find a car park, don't leave ANYTHING on show, front or back - lock everything in the boot. Park in a well-lit place or car park with security. Be aware of traffic wardens who will fine and clamp (boot) you if you park illegally. <BR><BR>Car crime is fairly prevalent in the UK.

Thanks for all the replys and great advice! To clarify, I will be taking a day trip from London to Bath.<BR><BR>I am going to decide in the next few days on renting the car or not. If I do, the park n ride will be the way to go. I also checked out Astral Tours day trip to Bath and the Cotswolds. I don't mind a tour going via mini-bus that holds 15. I am concerned that you only get about 3 hours or so in bath and is that enough time or is it rushed?...on the flip side you get to also travel the countryside and see the cotswolds. With my limited time for my trip, an overnight stay is out. Any comments on the Astral Tours day trip would be appreciated. It's only 49 STG per person which seems reasonable.

"It might be cheaper to rent a car"<BR><BR>At a guess, for 5 of you it would be nearly &pound;200 cheaper. BIG difference!

Again thanks for the replys. Decided to rent a car and drive to Bath. Can anyone tell me what the closest/easiest/most convenient Park n Ride to Bath is? I'm thinking there are several, some further out than others, and want to be sure I choose the right one. Any help is appreciated!

ttt

Ric - There are 4 'Park & Ride' carparks around Bath.<BR><BR>If you're coming from London, the best one is LANSDOWN Park & Ride, north of the city centre. It's signposted as you approach Bath from the M4.<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve

I was reading all your advice about driving to/from Bath. We will be coming from Cardiff, Wales and stopping in Bath before driving back to London to return our rental car. Where the is the best place to park coming from the other direction? Actually, we may be staying overnight somewhere around Bath if time permits. Any suggestions?

Hello Audrey,<BR><BR>The LANSDOWN Park &amp; Ride, north of Bath, is the most convenient from the M4 motorway, - whether you're coming from Cardiff or London.<BR><BR>If you plan to stay overnight, your hotel/B&amp;B should be able to advise on safe parking if they don't have their own.<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve

The discussion above of train vs. car rental for a day trip to Bath from London has covered well the factors of cost, flexibility and parking in Bath. What it seems to have ignored is the complexities of the car rental in London.<BR><BR>If you rent in central London, there is the possibly stressful drive out of and back into the city. And since city centre rental offices generally close at 6 PM, you have to decide whether to leave Bath early enough to return on time or to be prepared to find expensive overnight parking.<BR><BR>If you choose to rent at Heathrow Airport, where the rental offices are open 24 hours, you have the usual choice of a slow but cheap tube ride to and from the airport, a slow but medium-priced minicab ride to and from the airport or a fast but expensive train ride to and from the airport. <BR><BR>Since you can buy an Apex return for &pound;17.50 or a Super Advance return for &pound;26.50 per person, I’m not so sure that a car rental is such a great value.

We drove all over England and enjoyed our driving in Bath - we did remark how fortunate it is that the cars are small, as the roads are quite narrow!!! We had no problems and in fact many nice compliments, as we put a sign in our rear window, with our country flag and the words &quot;foreign driver&quot; - as a result, the locals and tourists were very friendly and most helpful!! We just taped the signto the back and side windows!! Worked VERY well!

we rented a car at the airport (stansted) and drove through to the Cotswolds (take the London ring road) and made a day trip from there to Bath. My second trip to Bath, but first time driving (and parking). My dh was the soul of patience with the other three of us trying to navigate! Get an automatic, and remember the steering will is on the other side of the car (if you are from North America_ and beware of the rotaries! Also we found the driving in Bath complex, but did find a park and walk! I would go back again..

We are planning to visit Bath by train from London on Sunday, Dec 29.<BR><BR>Is Sunday an 'ok' day to visit Bath? Will we find a lot of shops or things closed? Should we plan a weekday or Saturday instead?<BR><BR>thank you in advance!

You should check train schedules carefully as they are very different on Sundays. There are often delays and diversions owing to work being carried out on the tracks, but this is unlikely between Christmas and New Year.

thanks, Geoff, already have the train schedule for Sunday (out of London at 08:00 and return back from Bath at 18:42).<BR><BR>Do you have any info on what to expect in Bath on a Sunday as far as what's open and what's not, or reduced hours?<BR><BR>thank you!

It's difficult to know what will be open on 29 December as it is not like a normal Sunday, because so many British people are off work between Christmas and New Year. Many businesses now close down at this time, but tourist attractions may be busy.