Audrey

Family of 3 (w/17 yr old son) will be visiting older son at University in Swansea. We will be leaving London on Tuesday morning and would like to stop in Bath, Cardiff and Swansea and return to London on Saturday. Should we take the train everywhere or rent a car in Wales (not sure what is the best for 3 or 4 people). Also, any suggestions for stops along the way?

janis

You could use the trains - but for three a rental car is both cheaper and more convenient. The trains could get you to many places but if you want to get off the beaten path at all you would want to drive. I would rent the car at LHR and drive to Bath and on to Wales from there.

I would visit Bath for most of the first day and then drive on to Swansea that night. Then with your sons in tow you could take one day over to Chepstow (wonderful castle) and Tintern Abbey. Then one day to the west to St David's and the Pembroke coast (many think this is the prettiest part of Wales)

Audrey

Thanks for your advice, Janis. We are flying out of Gatwick on Saturday. Should I still rent the car at Heathrow on Tuesday? I'm also wondering how long of a drive it is from London to Bath and Bath to Cardiff and Swansea.

janis

You could either rent the car at LHR (more convenient for Bath) and return it at LGW - or you could pick up and drop the car at LGW.

Sometimes you will pay extra for a one-way rental but most companies would do LHR to LGW w/o a surcharge.

The drive from LHR to Bath will take less than 2 hours. More if you stop at Avebury along the way. Bath to Cardiff is about 1 hour.

Davidx

I found Gower much more striking than I expected. Don't neglect the more immediate environment.