My wife and I are driving from Gatwick to Bath the morning of May 12. We will have about 6 hours before we need to arrive in Bath. We would appreciate any suggestions regarding a route to take and things to see on the way.

How about getting some sleep before setting out on unfamiliar roads on the side of the road you aren't used to.

Are you arriving on a long haul flight? If so -- DON'T do it! It is about 140 miles of very congested roads and would take at least 3 hours just straight driving w/o any stops/breaks. This is more than dangerous. Take the train instead. Get your rental car after you are rested up in Bath.

But -- if you are just flying in from the Continent, then you could drive via Winchester and Salisbury and Stonehenge. This route is about 160 miles and about 4.5 hours so you could do a couple of quick stops.

If you are driving after a long flight I would just stick to the freeways, M23->M25->M4. Windsor Castle is not too far from the M4 on the outskirts of London. If you want a more scenic drive, you could drop down to the A4 at Hungerford but it would increase your travel time quite a bit and its a hassle driving through the small towns. The Avebury Stone Circles are west of Marlborough on the A4. Note that Bath is not an easy town to drive around in.

"<i>If you are driving after a long flight I would just stick to the freeways, M23->M25->M4</i>"

No -- if you are driving after a long haul flight (which I suspect you might be since you are later taking a cruise and flying home from LGW) -- stay out of a car. That route is the one I mentioned above @ 140 miles. (They are called motorways BTW)

It is only 2hr 20mins by train w/ an easy change at Reading. Half the time of driving and no chance you'll kill anyone.

But just in case - please clarify about your flight . . .

Okay....we have decided to follow everyone's advice and take the train to Bath. Now, an additional question regarding this adventure! We have looked at the train schedule from LGW to Bath and it appears there is a train at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00am. Our flight is supposed to arrive at 7:00am. Obviously, we'd like to catch the 9:00am train. If we book in advance, that ticket is approx. 24.50 pounds, and the super off peak is 48.00 pounds, and any off peak is 58.00 pounds. Should we just buy at the station? Or should we try for the advance ticket at 10:00 or 11:00? How much more is the ticket if purchased same day?
Sorry for so many questions...we have tried researching this all day!

Good decision

I'd personally opt for the 10:00. If everything goes like clock work you could make the 0900. But a hold up at immigration, or delayed bags -- or just the jet lag catching up and you not firing on all cylinders - it could be a bit of a rush. Lots of long haul flights land in the early AM so passport control can take a long time.

You should be able to make the 10:00 easily. Of course -- if your plane two hours late you wouldn't even make the 11:00. If it was me I'd book the 10:00 - and IF you have travel insurance you can be reimbursed for the missed train to soften the blow of having to buy tickets for a later train.

The train to Bath has 8 minutes to change in Reading. Is this "doable"?

It takes approx 15 seconds westbound to connect between the two trains. The ex-Gatwick train arrives at Platform 4A: Platform 3, for Bath, is at the front of that platform, to your right, on the same surface. Max 20 yards walk from train to train. (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/statio...tml?rtnloc=RDG)


It's a max 2 minutes doing this in reverse, eastbound. Even with the dog, whose insistence on expl;oring the station can cause a few delays.

Thank you so much flanneruk! We have been reading that Reading station is confusing and very busy...so you have put our minds at ease And I would like to thank everyone else for your thoughtful replies to our inquiries!