Krista

I want to go from London to Stonehenge and Bath for a (long) day trip. The car rental is very cheap, but I don't know if I want to go through the hassle of driving and finding my own way. I would prefer taking the train to Bath and hiring a guide to take us to Stonehenge. However, when I check the RailEurope website it gives me fares of over $200 for 2 people roundtrip? Is that really how much it costs? Does anyone know of a website with cheaper fares that I can book in advance? Thanks

AnnaC

Krista - I'd be really surprised if you had to pay that kind of money, unless you were travelling in peak hours and bought the ticket on the day. Try www.thetrainline.com - that should give you an idea of the prices if you buy in advance. Also, check out www.thamestrains.co.uk/news/newsindex.htm for details of the "trio" ticket which costs £50 and is available until the end of September, giving 3 days of unlimited off peak travel throughout the Thames Valley and in Avon. This is especially good value if you also plan a trip to Stratford or Warwick. <BR> <BR>As for which you should do - driving into Bath and finding somewhere to park is a nightmare. I would definitely get the train if I was just going to Bath. I don't know about the costs/details of getting a guide to go to Stonehenge, though, so that may impact your decision.

elvira

www.thetrainline.com says return day to Bath is 21.60GBP.

ron

Krista, the price you were quoted was for an open return. Just drop into Paddington Station the day before your trip and buy a Super Advance Return for £25.50 each.

simon

<BR>You don't need a guide to do Stonehenge. They provide all the orientation you need in the form of recorded commentary which you can rent on the spot. <BR> <BR>Anna C is right: parking in Bath is seriously painful. <BR> <BR>In fact, don't drive over here at all, unless you have to. <BR> <BR>If you do want to drive over here and haven't much experience of it, there are a couple of threads on this board that give lots of good advice. Use the search function to find threads about 'driving.'

Kathy

We did a day trip to Bath last summer. We took an early train that arrived in Bath around 9am. We entered the Roman Baths right when they opened, which was great because of the crowds later in the day. We also saw the Costume Museum and did the tour of the city on the sight-seeing bus. We did a bit of wandering and shopping. We returned to London on the 5:00pm train. There are trains that leave later, but we had 4 children with us and didn't want to push the sightseeing too much. As it was, the family really enjoyed Bath and we could easily have spent the night. I second using trains. It is so nice to sit back and enjoy the trip, not worrying about where to park. I think if you want to throw stonehenge into the mix, I would stay overnight somewhere

Linda

<BR>Highly suggest the Evans Evans tour to Bath & Stonehenge. Takes the hassle out of travel and gives you plenty of time in Bath, plus you get to see Stonehenge. Well worth the price.

Pete

If you do drive to Bath here is a hint for parking. Make your way to the Roman Baths and continue past them to the west and then turn left on the bridge over the river and continue not too far and on the left side is a community center (as I recall a sport center) that has a parking garage open to the public. Park there and walk back over the bridge to city center. Easy walk and I have never had problem parking there.

kam

I am trying to book advance tickets for London to Bath - please help. The trainline.com shows Paddington to Bath spa takes 3 hours and makes several stops and uses three different train lines/service providers. Is this correct or am I missing something? Thanks.

Krista

Thanks, everyone, for all the great responses. I've decided to skip the car and take the train, but I'm having problems with thetrainline.com. <BR> <BR>Elvira said the price for a return ticket is 21.60GBP but I show the cheapest for same day return on Sep.13th is 35GBP. Also, when you have the train schedules/availability screen up it shows which ones are available with a circle next to each available fare. The cheapest fares don't have a circle next to the trains I want. Does this mean the fare is sold out on the train or just through this ticket service? Any other ways I can get cheap fares?

alan

I'd advise the train.

elvira

The cheap fares are for offpeak hours and not on certain days, so if you plugged in anything outside those parameters, the prices will be higher. thetrainline.com can mail within the UK; otherwise, you have to pick up the tickets, and I think that's at Euston station only. I use the site for schedules and general prices, but not to book.

Kathy

When we took the train to Bath it was a direct journey with brief stops along the way, but we did not need to change trains. It took no where near three hours - more like two. I think it depends on when you leave. We left very early so as to arrive in Bath around nine. You might check to see if a change in departure time would give you a journey without changes.

ron

kam, change the setting on Trainline from cheapest routing to fastest routing and you will get the direct train, not the one that goes via Salisbury and someplace else.

Ann

If you want to arrive in Bath by 9:00am you will not be able to get a cheap day return. It will cost roughly £35 return per person at that time .

Ann

And I forgot to mention, you should be able to go without any changes and it should take an hour and a half or less.