Getting around in the UK
Feb 6th, 2004 | 10:16 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Getting around in the UK
We are going to be in the UK for 14 nights for our honeymoon 3/28-4/11/04. Our original plan was to get a Britrail pass and use it for everything except we'd buy a tube pass for London. Now we are rethinking that and I'd like your thoughts. Economy is important to us, but efficiency is a close 2nd.
We will be in London until the 1st, when we depart for York. We will spend the night in York and leave to go to Hadrian's Wall. Since Hadrian's Wall is not "rail-friendly", should we rent a car in York or wait until Newcastle?
We are seriously considering spending the 3rd at Langley Castle and going to Edinburgh the next day. Our itinerary is fuzzy at this point, but planning on a day or two in Edinburgh and a few days (2?) in Northern Scotland/Highlands. Should we drop off a car for Edinburgh or keep it? We were toying with the idea of perhaps renting a car and then dropping it off in Glasgow and flying to Cardiff- not sure if that one is logical. We don't have any definite plans for Wales yet, but I'm guessing we should rent a car there too from the limited info I know. We need to be at LHR by noon on 4/11 for a 2:30 flight to the US.
One option is the Britrail pass that includes car rental, but is that too expensive? What combo do you all suggest for rail passes and driving. Does flying make sense from Glasgow (or Edinburgh) to Cardiff? We would appreciate any help you all can provide. Sorry our Scotland and Wales trip legs aren't more developed.
TIA!
Gidget
We will be in London until the 1st, when we depart for York. We will spend the night in York and leave to go to Hadrian's Wall. Since Hadrian's Wall is not "rail-friendly", should we rent a car in York or wait until Newcastle?
We are seriously considering spending the 3rd at Langley Castle and going to Edinburgh the next day. Our itinerary is fuzzy at this point, but planning on a day or two in Edinburgh and a few days (2?) in Northern Scotland/Highlands. Should we drop off a car for Edinburgh or keep it? We were toying with the idea of perhaps renting a car and then dropping it off in Glasgow and flying to Cardiff- not sure if that one is logical. We don't have any definite plans for Wales yet, but I'm guessing we should rent a car there too from the limited info I know. We need to be at LHR by noon on 4/11 for a 2:30 flight to the US.
One option is the Britrail pass that includes car rental, but is that too expensive? What combo do you all suggest for rail passes and driving. Does flying make sense from Glasgow (or Edinburgh) to Cardiff? We would appreciate any help you all can provide. Sorry our Scotland and Wales trip legs aren't more developed.
TIA!
Gidget
Feb 6th, 2004 | 11:00 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,872
Likes: 0
Congratulations on your wedding!
I don't think any of the BritRail type passes will save you money - You won't use it in London (except perhaps for the airport expresses) and you won't use it the days you are diving. Point to point tickets will probably be cheaper - but plug in some of your planned journeys and compare.
One thing to consider - a car rental for a few days will cost a lot more than one for a week or more. It is really hard to get any discounts on short rentals. If budget is not a concern that is OK, but if it is you would be better off getting a car for all or most of your time outside of London.
You really don't need or want a car in Edinburgh or York so one way to maximize you car/budget might be to take the train to York. Then another train to Edinburgh. After a night in York and 2 in Edinburgh you will have 7 days (not counting the 11th to see some of northern Scotland, Hadrian's Wall and part of Wales.
You could pick up the car on the way out of Edinburgh and do something like: 3 days in Scotland (2 in the north and one somewhere south of Glasgow), one night in Cumbria or Northumberland for the Wall. From there it is an easy drive down to Chester and into N Wales. You could stay in Wales 2 nights and then make your way back to Wiltshire or Berkshire for your last night before flying home. You could stay in Windsor, Marlow or Maidenhead and be a short drive from LHR. A 7-day car rental will probably cost 1/2 what two shorter rental periods would.
I don't think any of the BritRail type passes will save you money - You won't use it in London (except perhaps for the airport expresses) and you won't use it the days you are diving. Point to point tickets will probably be cheaper - but plug in some of your planned journeys and compare.
One thing to consider - a car rental for a few days will cost a lot more than one for a week or more. It is really hard to get any discounts on short rentals. If budget is not a concern that is OK, but if it is you would be better off getting a car for all or most of your time outside of London.
You really don't need or want a car in Edinburgh or York so one way to maximize you car/budget might be to take the train to York. Then another train to Edinburgh. After a night in York and 2 in Edinburgh you will have 7 days (not counting the 11th to see some of northern Scotland, Hadrian's Wall and part of Wales.
You could pick up the car on the way out of Edinburgh and do something like: 3 days in Scotland (2 in the north and one somewhere south of Glasgow), one night in Cumbria or Northumberland for the Wall. From there it is an easy drive down to Chester and into N Wales. You could stay in Wales 2 nights and then make your way back to Wiltshire or Berkshire for your last night before flying home. You could stay in Windsor, Marlow or Maidenhead and be a short drive from LHR. A 7-day car rental will probably cost 1/2 what two shorter rental periods would.
Feb 6th, 2004 | 12:08 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,873
Likes: 79
Janis has the right idea. Skip the car until you're ready to leave Edinburgh, then keep it until you drop it at Heathrow before flying out. Any of the major agencies can set up a one-way rental, and drop-off fees in the UK are uncommon.
Stop at Hadrian's Wall on the way south rather than north. It's just as easily accessed from the west side of the country as the east. Then zig back west through the Lake District before heading down to north Wales, if that's on your itinerary. If it is, don't overlook central Liverpool and Chester en route. Have a pint at the Philharmonic in L'pool, and take a peek at the gents room, even if you have to have a guide. Now <i>that's</i> the essence of Empire.
Stop at Hadrian's Wall on the way south rather than north. It's just as easily accessed from the west side of the country as the east. Then zig back west through the Lake District before heading down to north Wales, if that's on your itinerary. If it is, don't overlook central Liverpool and Chester en route. Have a pint at the Philharmonic in L'pool, and take a peek at the gents room, even if you have to have a guide. Now <i>that's</i> the essence of Empire.
Feb 7th, 2004 | 05:07 AM
#5
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Agree with the others, don't get a Britrail pass. You won't get too much value given your itinerary.
If you stay at Langley Castle, try to get a room in the castle proper. They also have rooms on the castle's grounds (I think they are called Castle View). All the rooms are nice but the castle rooms are most impressive and, I think, more romantic.
If you stay at Langley Castle, try to get a room in the castle proper. They also have rooms on the castle's grounds (I think they are called Castle View). All the rooms are nice but the castle rooms are most impressive and, I think, more romantic.
