My daughter and I will be staying in Chipping Campden for three days in May, and she really wants to visit the Dr. Who Experience in Cardiff Bay while there. I am racking my brain trying to figure out the best way for us to get there.

I will have a rental car but am not sure I want to drive 2 hours each way in unfamiliar territory (I hate to admit it, but I tire easily these days!). The train from Moreton-in-Marsh takes 3.5 hrs. each way, with 3 changes, and is relatively expensive, so that's a no-go. I'm thinking perhaps we'll drive to Gloucester (50 minutes), then take the train from there to Cardiff Bay (1.5 hrs, with 2 changes), which seems much more affordable (although I haven't figured out how much petrol will cost).

Anyway, am I missing anything? How is the drive from CC to Cardiff? I may just decide to drive the whole way but wanted to weigh all the options.

Thanks so much!

Drive - it is the fastest/easiest way to get to Cardiff from Chipping Campden. An easy drive motorway almost the whole way and around 2 hours.

Thanks for your reply, Janisj. You've certainly tipped the scale in that direction. If I drive, would it make sense to go through Tewkesbury and Ross-on-Wye, rather than across the river? My understanding is that there are significant tolls otherwise. Is either drive "easier"? I know, I sound like a wimp...

Tolls? I think think the only till road in England is around Birmingham...

" If I drive, would it make sense to go through Tewkesbury and Ross-on-Wye,"

It doubles the time. The A46/M5/M4 route is the only way it's really possible to get there and back comfortably in a day. The toll on the Severn Bridge is £6.40 westbound/free eastbound.

If you've got time, the bit from Ross to Monmouth along the A40/A449 is lovely in places, especially round Tintern Abbey. Personally, I'd get up early, drive via Tintern (budgetting time to get out at Tintern, and climb up to the escarpment over it) then come back via the motorways and Severn Bridge.

If the Dr Who timetable allows it.

I notice that Google Directions has the gall to disagree with me.

It's wrong. Except at summer and May Bank Holiday weekends, the motorway route is painless (and Google exaggerates the likely time.) The alternative is very unreliable, with delays likely. Google underestimates the typical time, and doesn't take account of the likelihood of delays.

In tests from my Cotswold house, anyone going via the A40 typically takes an hour longer each way to Cardiff

The train from Gloucester to Cardiff takes around 1 hour. I know, because I take it at least once a month. Costs £18.10, and car parking at the station is £8 per day (extortionate!). But I park in the Bruton Way carpark over the road which is £3 all day, just a couple of hundred yards further to walk.

There is a toll on the Severn Bridge, I think it's now something like £7, but you only have to pay to get into Wales! So if you are driving, go via Gloucester, Ledbury, Tewkesbury, and then come back into England for free!

Thanks so much for the information—very helpful! Julia, good to know about the alternative carpark.

"If you've got time, the bit from Ross to Monmouth along the A40/A449 is lovely in places, especially round Tintern Abbey. Personally, I'd get up early, drive via Tintern (budgetting time to get out at Tintern, and climb up to the escarpment over it) then come back via the motorways and Severn Bridge."

Well, flanneruk, that's probably what I'll do if we get an early enough start. So, shall I budget 3 hours for the drive to Wales and 2 hours back? Dr. Who will probably take under 3 hours, so that will be the whole day, I guess.

fischerl -

I agree with all the above save with the advice to go the long way round, come back the short - as you don't know how long you're going to want to stay in Cardiff, I'd go the short way [yes, I know that means you have to pay the toll] and them meander back. In May the days are pretty long and you'll be able to enjoy less traffic and perhaps a meal at a nice pub en route, and not feel that you've got to rush to get to see Dr. Who.

Annhig, excellent idea!

Severn Bridge toll is indeed £6.40,only paid on entry to Wales, leaving to go into England is free

The traffic at the tolls in both rush hour periods is very heavy and from that point the run past Celtic Manor Resort and Newport through the Brynglas Tunnels is even worse, I use it daily and I refer to it as the M4 carpark.

My advice would be to aim to be in this area after 9am and after 6pm.

However from Chipping Cambden I would head to Ross on Wye -Monmouth A40-A449 (lovely area) then to the dreaded Newport BrynGlass Tunnels M4 area.If its rush hour, you could take the A48 avoiding Newport BrynGlass Chaos area - B4239 which leads practically to the Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff Bay.(Quite a slow road) If its later or earlier take the M4 through to Cardiff.

If all that is too much, (and I suspect it might be) train in to Cardiff from Gloucester. Take a bus or taxi to Cardiff bay. In fact its only about 20 mins walk from Cardiff Central Railway station to Cardiff bay.

One other point is that there is parking in Cardiff bay,it is not free, a few pounds for a few hours I suspect.

I am about 200 yds from Dr Who as I write.

Muck

Thanks so much to all of you for your help—this is great information! Still haven't completely made up my mind, but I've got a lot more to go on. I'll follow up with a trip report when I get back.

We've been back a few days and I've yet to write my trip report, but I wanted to mention that I drove the whole way (about 2 hrs. each way) and took the short route over the river. I really appreciate the advice and encouragement—the drive was fine. And my daughter LOVED the Doctor Who thing—I'm so glad I made the effort.

so pleased it went well, fischerl - and two hours each way was pretty good!

Well done, so pleased you missed the traffic. Look forward to hearing about it all.

So... I'm only about two years late, but I finally posted my trip notes! "One Week in England".