We are flying into LHR early in the morning (9am) and will most likely still be on California time. I have a feeling we will be very tired and jet lagged. We need to get to Bedford and so far these are the options I have come up with:

1. Train into London and switch onto the train to Bedford. Then rent a car to take us to Riseley to our cottage rental.

2. Rent the car at the airport and drive straight to our cottage.

I know that the car is the more timely and economical way but do you have any other suggestions as to how to get to Bedford that is still somewhat economical? Very concerned about the drive with being tired, etc.

Also, because I really don't want to spend a lot of time driving outside of Riseley or Bedford, do you have any suggestions how to get to Stonehenge and Bath economically?

DO NOT rent a car and drive on your arrival day. Very dangerous.

Have you already booked everything / Did you book your cottage from your arrival day? If so, that's too bad, since otherwise you could have recovered from the jetlag and got your bearings staying the first night in London or Windsor or somewhere and then taken your time up to Riseley the next day.

But if all is set in stone - take the train to Bedford. The drive from there to Riseley will take about 30 minutes and is fairly straight forward. Still not a great idea but MUCH better than driving all the way from LHR. Not sure where the rental agencies are in Bedford (I'll try to look them up later) but definitely try not to use a location in the city center. If possible, pick one outside of town and take a cab to the agency. You don't want your first experience behind the wheel to be jet lagged AND in an English city centre . . .

But if either your flight or cottage booking can be changed -- that would be better.

"Rent the car at the airport and drive straight to our cottage"?

You're seriously considering driving a lethal weapon when you think "we will be very tired and jet lagged."?

There's a VERY simple answer to your question.

Stay in California and be a threat to your compatriots'lives. Even contemplating anything so criminally asinine makes you unwelcome here.

Normally I would go with not driving upon arrival - but Riseley is about 70 miles away.

When we fly to LAX we drive to La Crescenta - OK only half the distance, but far more stressful on those LA freeways.

On returning from LA we are usually fine for a few hours - jet lag hits in the afternoon normally.

Since you have to have a car to get to the cottage it's either pick it up at Heathrow and get the driving out of the way, or face a difficult train journey and then drive.

Or get a taxi and hire the car the next day. If that is acceptable to you then that is the best option. Train to Bedford and then a taxi, or even (though expensive!) a driver all the way from LHR to your cottage. Obviously you'll need a taxi again the following day to pick up the car, assuming you can do that in Bedford.

If you opt for the hire car then be prepared to stop somewhere along the way for a break if you feel too tired to continue.

janisj, I was hoping you'd reply. We have already booked the cottage but as we have stayed there before, I am sure that it could be changed if need be.

My first thought was to take the train to Bedford and then pick up the car there. Yes the drive is pretty straight forward and I am sure it wouldn't be a problem from Bedford to Riseley as I am familiar with it; just not from Heathrow.

Do you have any ideas what I might be looking at for the train to Bedford?

Wow flanneruk, Thanks! I'll be sure to offer the same kind of advice should you ever make it out my way.

And I'm quite sure that all of our family there in the UK will beg to differ on who the "ass" is in this post.

hetismij, you offer some good advice. The train to Bedford is looking better and better. Once there, I'm sure some of the family would be willing to take us out to the cottage and then back into town the next day to pick up the car.

It could have been said in a friendlier manner, but I agree with those who urge you not to drive. You would be driving on some of the busiest roads in the UK.

Where you unfortunate enough to be involved in a major accident, then you would most likely face prosecution and probably imprisonment (UK courts take a very dim view of drivers who are knowingly fatigued)

You could get a National Express coach, but it is rather an extended journey as it has about an hours wait in Milton Keynes.

willit, thank you for your kind reply. I should not have responded to flanneruk as I did but just feel as though people should not answer if they don't want to genuinely help.

I have tried to figure out the National Express Coach or other ways of getting to Bedford. I think in the end, it will have to be the train.

Any ideas of how much the train should costs?

It will take a while by train but I think that's the best option. We used to live in Bedford and travelled by train into Kings Cross/St Pancras regularly. It takes roughly an hour and costs about £17.90 for the dearer train (see note below). I would get the tube to Kings Cross and then the train out to Bedford. If you have a huge amount of luggage this will be more difficult as there is no one to help with bags and steps everywhere.

You can find timetables and fares here -

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

There are two train companies that do this route, First Capital Connect which is cheaper and slower, and East Midlands which has newer trains and is quicker. The trains go from St Pancras International which is next door to Kings Cross tube station. From the tube station (stay inside the entire time) walk towards St Pancras International, follow any signs for the Eurostar. Walk past the Eurostar area down to the end where you should see ticket machines etc for your train. Tickets are often valid for only one train line so be careful as you can get fined if you hop on the wrong train.

At Bedford there will be a row of taxis waiting outside the station, they can take you to your cottage and you can pick up a car the following day. We used Enterprise hire cars a few times but had some bad experiences, then we switched to using Europcar who were good. They have a branch in Bedford so you could get a taxi from your cottage to the Europcar office.

Kay

Thanks Kay. This is great information and I am more certain now that this is the way we will go.

"<i>Once there, I'm sure some of the family would be willing to take us out to the cottage and then back into town the next day to pick up the car.</i>"

Problem solved

If you have family in the area that would be BY FAR the easiest, cheapest, and safest option. No need to drive on arrival day, save one day of car hire, and if you doze off -- not to worry . . .

(Don't take flanner wrong -- he did get your attention after all )

Stay in California and be a threat to your compatriots'lives. Even contemplating anything so criminally asinine makes you unwelcome here.>

Be sure that you will indeed be welcomed by the average Brit -who IME are not nearly so anal as this one is! Most are much much more welcoming as my 40 straight years of visiting Britain proves. Disregard this boorish response! He makes a good point but says it so so let's so anallly!