London day trips - train or car ?
 

I am taking my parents in the 70 and my husband to London, we are planning few day trips to Bath, Windsor, Salisbury and Stoneage.
I am wondering if we are better off taking the train or renting a car ??? What will be easier for my parents and lesse expensive ??
We will be staying with a friend in the Belgravia area.

Thanks

Train for all of them - and it's Stonehenge

For how to get to Stonehenge from Salisbury see www.wdbus.co.uk/htm/ta/sdo-stonehenge.asp

Thanks for the suggestion.
Is driving way too complicated or too expensive ?? How about renting for one day only ? In United States is very easy from any major city but maybe in London in not that easy ??

I would pull out my toenails with a pliers before I drove in London. Trains are so much easier, you'll be much happier.

I'd suggest car for all except perhaps windsor. The trains will likely be more expensive(for 4 ppl) than a car. I'd expect a car(manual) rental to cost around 35gbp per day. Also trains inevitably mean steps and quite bit of walking ; are your parents up for that?

I had my grandmothers (70s) vist last year and we did daytrips both by car and train. They enjoyed the trains too but were definitely more tired on those days.

I had only moved to London a few months before they visted me (lived in chicago before that), but had no problem driving. We did however only drive during weekends - so no commute rush.

Thanks for the suggestions.
On week end there is no problem driving from the central part of London ?
I was thinking of the car in order to make it easier for my parents...in order to avoid too many steps up/down and too much walking in/out stations...
From the Belgravia area is easy to get to a rental car and then out of the city ? The concern of driving on the opposite side of the road also comes to mind....so I am still very confused...

Years ago when I still lived in England I drove up to London fairly often on the weekend, staying south of the river and only driving into a couple of places in the center - I knew the route, I knew where I could park, and it was the weekend. There is absolutely no way I would drive in London these days.

Is this your first trip to England? Do you drive a stick shift at home? And have you considered the cost of gas?

I would suggest looking into bus tours. Or, you say that you're staying with a friend. Does the friend have a car, and is s/he willing to take any of these day trips with you?

Windsor by train is extremely easy!!! the Train station is right in the city....definitely not worth driving a car, because from what I saw in Windsor, parking wouldn't be easy either.

I also stayed in Bath for 3 days, I went from Gatwick directly to Bath and then to London, did it all by train, I wouldn't do it any other way it's easy and much more relaxing... The only way, I'd do it differently is if a resident was willing to be my private chauffer :)

I think it would be easier for your parents if you rented a car and drove. I agree with ssahida about the walking and stairs etc. involved with taking the train, especially if getting to Stonehenge involves connecting to a bus and/or doing multiple day trips on the train.

Because the places you mention are in the same area, you could do it over 2 days and stay overnight somewhere outside of London.

Others on this board have suggested in the past how easy it is to go to LHR to pick up a car and to get on the highway to go west.

In my experience driving on the right took a little getting used to - I found I just needed to concentrate more, but it was fine.

Jane

>>On week end there is no problem driving from the central part of London ?

it's easier than during the peak hours on a week day. There will still be plenty of traffic and the occasional jam, but no more so than any big city.

>>I was thinking of the car in order to make it easier for my parents...in order to avoid too many steps up/down and too much walking in/out stations...

exactly. a car is much easier on them but will be a bit more effort for the driver and the navigator :)

>>From the Belgravia area is easy to get to a rental car and then out of the city ?

i use autoeurope or easycar to find a rental. hven't driven in the belgravia area, but try getting an early start if you re that worried bout traffic.

>>The concern of driving on the opposite side of the road also comes to mind.

that is something you'l have to consider. i found tht i was okay after the first couple of miles when i tended to drift towards the pavement too much.

In the end, you have to decide if your fears and stress out-weigh your parents' inconvenience. for my part i was glad to have rented the car esp. for bath and stonehenge.

good luck and have fun!

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions....
For Windsor we might try the train but for Salsisbury and Stonehenge I think we might try to drive...
Our friend does not have a car for us to use so we need to rent one.
We will try to go on the week end ..

...As sshaida said finding the balance between my stress of driving on the opposite side of the road (yes I do have a car with manual change) and the idea of making the tour easier on my parents and their knees (especially for my mom).......is not easy....

You could also take a look at this site: http://www.londontoolkit.com/whattod...enge_tours.htm

Driving around the UK is fine - except for the center of London. That - like the center of any large city - esp an old one with lots of one-way streets - is hell for driving.

Since all of the places you want to see are in approximately the same direction from London why not simply spend a few days in London - then pick up a car and do a road trip to these other places (staying in one of the towns). This will be MUCH easier than driving in and out of London several times.

If all you're doing in Windsor- no need for a car - just 30 minutes on the train.

Stations are currently being upgraded to comply with the DDA so you shouldn't encounter too many steps. Even the ones that have steps have goods lifts - not pleasant but better then stairs. You just need to ask the staff.

If you book in advance (24 hours min)you can ask for assistance at train stations.



http://www.disabledpersons-railcard....stanceservices

you don't need the railcard to use the assistance service.

Both Bath and Windsor are easily accessible by trains, so I won't recommend renting a car.

On a more fundamental question, seems like you're concerned about your parents being tired. Will they be able to manage so many day-trips? There will be lots of walking around, esp in Stonehenge.

No congestion charges on weekends, though most rental places in central London are closed on Sundays (I know Hertz at Marble Arch is open on Sundays, but probably not before 9 or 10am).

Just be VERY weary of street parking in London. Belgravia area is infested with very aggressive traffic wardens!

Traffic within the city is less congested on weekends, but you might see congestion on motorways and bridges coming back into city on Sunday early evenings.

As well as the difficulty of driving in London, there is also the problem of parking. Does your friend have an offroad space you can park in ? Otherwise it's likely to be *very* difficult and/or expensive.

I lived in London for 10 years and hardly knew anyone who had a car, as it's more trouble than it's worth. One guy in a flat above me had one; but only used it at the weekend, then parked it a mile away from the house (the nearest free parking) and left it in situ all week, as otherwise he would have lost the spot.

I think the suggestion of hiring a car for a couple of days & staying outside London while you have it is a good one. Otherwise this may be one time when it would be easier (for your parents' sake) to go on an organised bus tour.

re parking - in Bath parking centrally is extremely difficult with most car visitors using the park & ride schemes on the edge of town.

For none of the places you mention will a car be better than a train even with elderly parents unless you are intending to do a 2 or more day loop of London, Windsor, Bath, Salisbury & Stonehenge and back to London with an overnight stay in Bath

We saw Bath, Stonehenge, and Salisbury by bus tour from London in 2006 and it was great! Normally we tour on our own, but we were tired after driving around Ireland. The tour company left one guy for an overnight in Bath, with plans to pick him up the next day to complete his tour. That was a great idea and could work for you too. There was minimal walking since the bus drops you at the entrance of each site. We did not buy the meals offered with the tour and instead ate in the museum at the Salisbury Cathedral. The cafe was very clean and bright and the food was good. As I recall, the bus tour was less expensive than the train, for a family of 6 anyway.

I have driven with a standard shift my entire life. Years ago I rented a standard transmission car in England. The learned movements with my right hand did not translate to my left hand. It was a nightmare. This summer I am returning to England and paying up for a car with automatic transmission.

That seems so odd to me. I drove sticks long ago but have had automatic cars in the States for the last 25 years. And yet I have absolutely no problem whatsoever converting to driving a stick in the UK. Now- the turn signals and windscreen wipers are a <u>whole</u> 'nuther thing :)

But since one is not racing a sports car nor trying to beat other drivers off the line, I honestly don't see how a stick is such a big problem. So you miss a shift now and then - big deal.