>>Would a train from Oxford back into London/Heathrow qualify us for the 2-4-1 for all the days in between.<<

>>days 6-7 Cotswolds, Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford ( with car, dumping car in Oxford and training to Heathrow in eve to fly to Dublin) <<

Are you asking if trains from Gatwick to London and Oxford back to London would qualify -- technically I suppose. But that itinerary really doesn't make a lot of sense.

First of all there is no train from Oxford to Heathrow. If you did want to travel from Oxford to LHR - then a express coach makes more sense. BUT even more sensible is to drop your car at either LHR or BHX (or even BRS) depending on where you are staying, and flying to DUB from there.

No need to faff about for the 2for1's -- you WILL need public transport while in London, a seven day zone 1-2 paper travelcard WILL provide that, plus get you the 2for1's.

Are you asking if trains from Gatwick to London and Oxford back to London would qualify -- technically I suppose.>

Why 2-4-1 is for a return ticket to and from London, right? Both one-ways to London should seem to be only valid for the day of arrival.

<As I understand the 2-4-1 deal you can only take advantage on the day you use the train ticket unless a return ticket is purchased. And in that case you are eligible for all the days in between.>

Yes you need a ticket into London and one out of it.

7 day TC is overkill for OP's plans.

>>7 day TC is overkill for OP's plans.<<

Tisn't . . . they plan on being in London 5 days. The break even point for a 7-day travelcard is at about 4.5 days. Ergo a 7 day travel card is what they want. Ergo only one travelcard would be needed UNLESS they just want to mess around with a bunch of unnecessary individual day travelcards. Ergo . . .

7-day London TC = 32 pounds so yes in that number of days it should be a good deal even though on Day 1 they will be doing little- you never know how much you will end up using Tube and buses even though many days their sights are clustered together and day 1 probably little.

But yes I agree easiest way.

>>But yes I agree easiest way.<<

Which would have been good <i>before</i> muddying the waters . . .

No janis if folks were not going to use tube that much and like to walk around a very walkable London they may be interested in other info and it was a response to a direct question they asked.

OP will be doing little first day I think transport-wise. In fact I see them using transport much at all to warrant a 7-day TC - look at like Day 4- all those sights are together and walkable from many hotel areas.

I said the easiest way but not necessarily the most cost-effective way whereas a cheap return ticket to London may be for those not using transport much. Agree?

Just presenting things for all types not a prescriptive this is the one solution like you - present options and let OP chose.

Yes easiest but to many not best.

I will muddy the water with options you chose to ignore and pooh-pooh. I was answering questions - what's wrong with that?

We did a short trip to Normandy/ Brittany last year tagged on to a conference in London. We stayed in Rouen(took Eurostar from London), Bayeux, and Dinan ( also stopping in St Malo, and Honfleurs- just saw Mont St Michel from distance). It doesn't take long to see the tapestry- you should be able to squeeze it in on arrival day or day of DDay tour. I think Rouen is more interesting to stay for the second night instead of Bayeux. Best to get rid of car at train station in Rouen. It doesn't take long to see Joan of Arc sites- Rouen is very compact. It also has a nice art museum. We had a lovely dinner at a pub in the square by the cathedral- I think it may have been called St Pauls.we stayed at a great b&b outskirts of Bayeux called Chateau de Damigny. The apple cider in the region is amazing and cheap. St Malo is worth walking around in old city for a few hours. Dinan is a hidden gem but looks like you are short of time. You could consider seeing St Malo/Dinard/ Dinan- spending one night in Dinan; seeing Mont St Michel enroute to Bayeux - and one night in Bayeux. Both Rouen and Dinan are lovely.

I think Rouen is more interesting to stay for the second night instead of Bayeux. Best to get rid of car at train station in Rouen.>

Maybe keep car and bop by nearby Giverny and Monet's House/Garden?

Had a wonderful trip
trip report here

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-ireland.cfm

Correct trip report... hate that you still can't preview. this is the good link

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-441861-2.cfm

Also, does anyone know how to delete a trip report so I can get rid of the first one that isn't correct?

You can't delete anything once posted -- but you can click that orange triangle and ask the moderators to do so, giving some reason for that request. They may or may not oblige. If that doesn't work (and give it some time -- at least a day!), you might post your request as a new thread on the Forums Help board....

In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, you might post a note at the end of the "wrong" trip report and with it, a link to the "right" one.

Would not worry since the correct link is right below the wrong one.

>>Would not worry since the correct link is right below the wrong one.<<

Actually the 'wrong' one is gone so no issue.